Education Dive
March 02, 2021 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Colleges using the Common App received nearly 6 million applications by February 15, driven by a variety of factors. Prospective students are applying to more institutions this year and interest in large, more-selective private schools rose, particularly from international and first-generation students, students from traditionally underrepresented racial minority groups, and those who receive fee waivers
Education Dive
February 26, 2021 Value and Affordability
With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to impact the financial status of many, the U.S. Department of Education is allowing flexibility for higher education institutions to better understand students’ financial need. Instead of relying solely on dated tax forms that may not illustrate students’ current financial circumstances, institutions are encouraged to use professional judgment to assess student files.
Inside Higher Ed.
February 22, 2021 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
While the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted many higher education institutions to implement test-optional or test-blind options for domestic students, most are still requiring foreign students to take a test to demonstrate their English proficiency. An alternative, new version of the test, offered by Duolingo, has gained market share in the past year, prompting ETS to unveil a new version of the TOEFL, called TOEFL Essentials.
Higher Ed. Dive
February 19, 2021 Student Success, Value and Affordability
The government spending package passed at the end of 2020 included several provisions intended to extend federal financial support to more college students. Financial aid changes include simplifying the FAFSA, expanding eligibility for Pell grants, rebranding the EFC (expected family contribution), and bringing more predictability overall to financial aid awards.
Inside Higher Ed.
January 26, 2021 Enrollment Management Trends, Student Success, Value and Affordability
The Common Application is the most widely used college application, with more than 900 institutions participating. Newly released data shows that larger and more competitive colleges are receiving many applications, but smaller and less competitive colleges are not. Additionally, first-generation and fee waiver students are not applying at the same rates as they used to, with application numbers declining by three and two percentage points, respectively.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
January 13, 2021 Enrollment Management Trends, Student Success
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, colleges were already dreading a “great enrollment crash”. The pandemic then induced a 13% decline in first-time undergraduate enrollment, lying outside any projection model. Institutions of higher education must use lessons learned from 2020 and develop innovative enrollment strategies to survive the approaching demographic reversal of 2026.
Education Dive
January 03, 2021 Enrollment Management Trends
Many of the higher education trends that dominated storylines in 2020 will likely continue to be highlighted this year. Areas of focus include decreased enrollment, instructional delivery (in person or remote), and test-optional admissions. A new presidential administration will also impact higher education policy.
Inside Higher Ed.
December 16, 2020 Student Success
A poll released by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation, a nonprofit advocate organization for equity in postsecondary education, found that about three-quarters of students rated the quality of their education to be “excellent” or “very good” despite disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
December 15, 2020 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Competition in higher education admissions continues to be driven by demographic declines and increasing price sensitivity, among other factors. The ongoing crisis created by the outbreak of COVID-19 has further revealed the fragility of the current admissions model, which relies heavily on campus visits and travel for recruitment. This article examines the possibility of replacing the current admissions process with a match process, similar to medical school model.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
December 10, 2020 Student Success, Value and Affordability
This year, 21.7% fewer high school graduates enrolled directly into college compared to 2019 as reported by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. The reflects a huge year-to-year change, and when comparing students from different socioeconomic backgrounds, it becomes clear that the pandemic has hit low-income students, especially those from urban high schools, the hardest.