Higher Ed. Dive
September 15, 2023 Admissions, Value and Affordability
In a recent Gallup & Walton Family Foundation poll, 85% of Gen Z K-12 students valued college, yet only 62% plan to attend. Fifty-three percent of prospective college-goers expressed affordability concerns. Demographics play a role, with differences in perception based on gender, politics, and racial disparities in affordability and enrollment rates. This situation raises concerns for higher education’s future amid declining enrollment rates.
Higher Ed. Dive
August 22, 2023 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
The Common Application’s direct admissions experiment involving 13 institutions and 33,000 students showed promise. Students with direct admissions offers were twice as likely to apply to those colleges. However, only 6% of the pool applied through this model, focusing on marginalized groups. This resulted in a 4% increase in underrepresented minority applicants and a 3% increase in low-income neighborhood applicants. Researchers suggest that while direct admissions helps, simplifying financial aid processes and providing support are essential for improving higher education access.
Higher Ed. Dive
August 28, 2023 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is undergoing a major revamp for the first time in 40 years to create a more streamlined process for students applying for federal aid. The form is expected to be released in December, two months later than usual. Colleges and universities must proactively prepare for the delay by reviewing admissions deadlines and financial aid practices.
Inside Higher Ed.
August 14, 2023 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Scrutiny intensifies over legacy admissions in colleges after Supreme Court’s affirmative action ban. Lawmakers are questioning traditional practices of giving preference to the children of alumni and are suggesting reforms to ensure a fair and inclusive admissions process.
Reuters
August 01, 2023 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
US colleges are revamping their student essay prompts in response to the recent ban on affirmative action. To ensure diversity, colleges are modifying their essay questions to concentrate on other aspects of applicants’ experiences and backgrounds, aiming to create a fair and inclusive admissions process while adhering to the new regulations.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
July 06, 2023 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
The Supreme Court ruling has limited the use of affirmative action in college admissions, raising concerns about the future of DEI efforts. Experts argue that this decision highlights the need for organizations to adopt new tactics to promote diversity. Despite the ruling’s impact, experts believe it is an opportunity to recommit to DEI work in different fields.
Inside Higher Ed.
June 29, 2023 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
The Supreme Court rendered a decision against utilizing race as a factor of consideration in the college admissions process. The court’s ruling suggests that race-based preferences in admissions violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. This ruling could have far-reaching implications for efforts to promote diversity in universities.
University Business
June 22, 2023 Admissions, Student Success, Value and Affordability
A report from The State of Higher Education 2023 found that the cost of a degree was the main impediment to adult enrollment in college. As a result, several colleges, universities, and systems have approved tuition freezes to offset burdening students financially. However, most public institutions cannot afford to freeze tuition without support from state funding.
University Business
June 15, 2023 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
The latest report provided by FairTest reveals that more than 1,900 U.S. colleges and universities will not require SAT or ACT scores for Fall 2023 admissions. At least 78% of higher education institutions have already extended these policies through Fall 2024 in anticipation of the pending U.S. Supreme Court decision on standardized testing requirements.
Higher Ed. Dive
May 24, 2023 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Undergraduate enrollment in Spring 2023 dropped by just 0.2% from the previous year, following a 3.9% decline in Spring 2022. Although enrollment losses are slowing overall, the numbers are still significantly below pre-COVID levels, down about 1.1 million students from Spring 2020. The undergraduate sector alone lost 1.2 million students since the pandemic, while graduate enrollment is up by just over 76,000.