Higher Ed. Dive
June 08, 2026 Enrollment Management Trends, Student Success
Growth in international enrollment in the U.S. has slowed after rebounding following the pandemic. College officials are now concerned that loss of momentum will deteriorate further under the current administration. In the year following President Trump’s return to the White House, the U.S. Department of State revoked some 8,000 student visas as part of a broader federal crackdown on immigration. Rapidly changing student visa policies and conflicting messaging have bred uncertainty for foreign students, potentially constricting the international pipeline further.
Chronicle
May 27, 2026 Enrollment Management Trends, Student Success
The Trump administration unexpectedly announced it would require most foreigners seeking green cards to leave the United States to apply for residency. The new policy mandates that people submit applications for legal permanent residency to American consulates in their home countries, “except in extraordinary circumstances,” rather than remain in the United States while the process is pending. The guidance affects visa holders generally, but it could have an impact on international students and scholars seeking to change their visa status to stay on in the United States. The change would effectively lock out applicants from countries subject to travel bans or where visa issuances are paused, such as Iran and Nigeria. It also could exacerbate existing backlogs in processing temporary work authorizations.
Higher Ed Drive
February 05, 2026 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
A 1.6 million increase in FAFSA applicants has been reported for incoming students in the 2026-2027 academic year. According to the National College Attainment Network, this marks a 52% increase from last year’s applicant pool at this time. With nearly 8 million FAFSA applications processed, the Department of Education credits recent increased changes to initiatives such as the rolling out of a new user-friendly FAFSA form. With cost of attendance becoming a top factor in deciding to pursue a postsecondary education, several states have introduced FAFSA filing requirements. The introduction of new regulations as well as the efforts set in place by the Department of Education to make filing for FAFSA more accessible has allowed them to celebrate the ‘historic milestones’ achieved in student applications.
Forbes
January 30, 2026 Enrollment Management Trends
International education is a strategic asset for American students, employers and the economy. However, the latest Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, which analyzes trends of international students and scholars in the United States and U.S. students studying abroad for academic credit, affirmed what many higher education leaders are seeing firsthand. Total international enrollment in the United States increased this year, yet growth is slowing. New international student enrollment declined by 7.2% this year after holding nearly flat the year prior. Additionally, while U.S. study abroad participation has begun to rebound, it remains below pre-pandemic levels. These trends place long-term pressure on the United States talent pipeline and weaken our competitive advantage if left unaddressed.
University Business
January 15, 2026 Enrollment Management Trends, Student Success
Over the past year, total enrollment for postsecondary education increased by 1%, though international graduate student enrollment decreased nearly 6%. Although international undergraduate student enrollment continues to grow, it does so at a rate nearly 5% lower than in previous years. Additionally, enrollment patterns have recently shifted by sector and degree offerings.
University Business
January 07, 2026 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
The high cost of tuition at American colleges and universities is a relatively recent development. Most public colleges in the United States—and even some private ones—were originally founded as tuition-free institutions. As late as the 1960s, tuition at most state schools was either completely free or low-cost to residents. In the 1970s, a sluggish economy put a squeeze on state funding for higher education. At the same time, the advent of federal student loans shifted the burden of paying for college more heavily onto individual students and families.
Higher Ed Drive
November 13, 2025 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
The reporting requirements of four-year colleges practicing selective admissions are expected to expand in accordance with the U.S. Department of Education. This proposal would require institutions to submit the last six years of admission data. When submitting this data, information such as race, sex, as well as parental education level and GPA must be omitted. This rule is set forth to address institutional admission trends following race-based admissions under the guidance of the Supreme Court’s 2023 race-conscious practice prohibition. This new requirement raises concern on the privacy and potential misuse of student data under the current administration.
Higher Ed Drive
November 11, 2025 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Undergraduate enrollment has been projected to grow by 2.4% in Fall 2026, the third consecutive year of enrollment growth. This growth is highly contributed to community college and trade school enrollment. Furthermore, an increase in short term certification and associate degree enrollment has been observed. Limited notable enrollment changes have been projected for bachelor and graduate degree-seeking students.
Inside HigherEd
September 10, 2025 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends, Student Success
Despite anticipated enrollment challenges, many colleges and universities throughout the United States are celebrating record-breaking enrollment this fall. Driven by initiatives such as dual enrollment, a growing interest in health sciences, and access to online education, institutions across the nation are witnessing the impact of their investments in strategic enrollment initiatives. Institutions like the University of Minnesota Rochester are highlighted in their successful prioritization of initiatives aimed at enrolling and retaining their students beyond the first year. These results underscore the importance of institutions adapting to meet the needs, demographics, and expectations of the incoming generation of students.
Inside Higher Ed.
September 08, 2025 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
High school student dual enrollment —education programs where high school students participate in college-level courses for credit — has skyrocketed throughout the last decade. Increased enrollment has prompted researchers to analyze the impact of participating students on their post-secondary collegiate enrollment, transition, and success. A study of nearly 500,000 students by the Community College Research Center at Columbia University’s Teachers College found that not only were dual-enrolled students applying to college admitted at higher rates, but these students were also more likely to obtain merit financial aid. With nearly half of all public high schoolers enrolled in college courses, future research aims to determine how dual enrollment boosts students’ confidence and enrollment participation.