Higher Ed. Dive
March 28, 2023 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends, Research
A Supreme Court decision challenging race-conscious admissions policies is expected toward the end of June. Pundits predict the high court will limit race-conscious admissions, which would directly impact a small proportion of colleges. Researchers found the most effective way of bolstering diversity at selective colleges was to consider race in the admissions process.
Inside Higher Ed.
March 23, 2023 Pre-College Outreach, Research
Almost two-thirds of people who have never enrolled in higher education cite emotional stress as a critical deterrent. Stress ranked fourth among the most commonly cited reasons, after cost, inflation, and work conflicts. Researchers suggest colleges should start advertising the on-campus mental health resources they provide students to win over individuals who identify stress as an obstacle to attending college.
University Business
March 09, 2023 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
About 833,000 fewer students enrolled in public schools in fall 2021 than had been predicted, with the most surprising drops occurring in middle school, according to a report released by WICHE, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. A consecutive decline in U.S. birth rates, the impact of COVID-19, and ongoing educational inequities make it difficult to determine the primary driving force behind changes in public school populations. Falling enrollment could be a result of students shifting to homeschooling and private schools. Ramifications of this can impact college enrollment trends starting in 2025.
Inside Higher Ed.
February 27, 2023 Student Success
Students’ satisfaction with course registration and financial aid office interactions was generally higher if their college had a one-stop shop for student services, concludes a 2022 survey conducted by Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse. Institutions are consolidating student services into single offices in new ways—and building both data-sharing and relationship-building capacities to better serve students. A one-stop shop eliminates barriers of access for students looking for help, thereby promoting accessibility and visibility.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
February 14, 2023 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Of the roughly 2,600 colleges and universities analyzed by the Chronicle, more than 45 percent witnessed a drop by 10 percent or more in the enrollment of first-time, degree seeking students.
Public institutions generally had the most trouble recovering the following year, especially at the community college level. On the other hand, doctoral-granting and special-focus two-year intuitions were the most likely to recoup their losses in 2021.
Higher Ed. Dive
February 07, 2023 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
The COVID-19 pandemic limited students’ access to the testing centers where the SAT or ACT was administered, prompting many higher education institutions to make entrance exam score submission optional. In January, the Division I Council, one of the NCAA’s governing bodies, voted to end standardized testing requirements for athletes at the association’s annual meeting. Division II representatives followed suit, while Division III institutions set their own eligibility standards. Supporters of test-optional admissions argue that the tests position underprivileged applicants who cannot afford extensive tutoring at a disadvantage compared to wealthier peers.
Higher Ed. Dive
February 02, 2023 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Undergraduate enrollment decreased only 0.6% in the fall 2022, the smallest drop since the pandemic, according to National Student Clearinghouse Research Center data. Conversely, graduate student enrollment began to decline after two years of constant growth during the pandemic. Enrollment trends varied by region, with a notable decline in undergraduate enrollments in the Midwest and Northeast, while graduate enrollments rose by 1.3% in the Northeast. Across institution types, four-year for-profits saw the most significant increase in first-year student enrollment in fall 2022, at 6.9%, followed by community colleges, which saw a 6.1% increase.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
February 01, 2023 Student Success, Value and Affordability
$76 billion in federal funding was used to assist colleges and students through the financial challenges of the pandemic. Over 18 million college students have received direct financial aid, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Education. Colleges were required to spend about half of their federal relief money on any aspect of students’ costs related to tuition, food, housing, healthcare, or child care. The report suggests that roughly two-thirds of students enrolled in college in 2021 benefitted from the fund.
NASFAA
February 01, 2023 Student Success, Value and Affordability
3.6 billion in Pell Grants were unclaimed in 2022 as a result of students not completing the FAFSA, a new report from NCAN suggests. The class of 2021 left nearly $3.75 billion in Pell grants unclaimed. States with the highest rates of FAFSA completion for 2022 high school graduates include Washington, D.C. at 74%, and Tennessee and Louisiana at 71% and 69%, respectively. States with the lowest completion rates include Alaska at 35%, Utah at 48%, and Oklahoma at 43%. NCAN points to the pandemic as one reason behind the significant decline in FAFSA completions.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
January 25, 2023 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
As student applicant numbers from China plummeted by nearly 25% from the pandemic, two of the leading countries for international applicants are currently coming from West Africa. Nigeria and Ghana seem to be only behind China and India – the leading source of international students for decades now, suggests the latest data from Common App. Lack of capacity in local universities is driving African students to study abroad, and as of 2023, applicants from Nigeria and Ghana have at least tripled and quadrupled, respectively, from the 2019-20 admission cycle.