Inside Higher Ed
January 10, 2022 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
A new report shows an unprecedented decline in college enrollment among high school graduates. College enrollment by the high school class of 2020 showed a decline between 4 and 10 percentage points. Preliminary data show freshman enrollment declined by 2.7 percent last fall. Overall postsecondary enrollment fell by 2.6 percent compared to 2020. Immediate enrollment fell from 55 percent to 45 percent between 2019 and 2020.
Higher Ed. Dive
November 29, 2021 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Only a small fraction of colleges accepting the Common Application required first-year undergraduates to submit admissions exam scores during the 2021-22 season. Just 5% of member colleges mandated test scores, falling from 11% in the 2020-21 admissions year. Testing experts predict that test-optional policies will remain as the health crisis subsides.
Inside Higher Ed
November 02, 2021 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
The National Education Equity Lab has created a model for helping low-income high school students and elite colleges connect. This model was designed to scale courses offered at elite colleges using Zoom to deliver them asynchronously to high school students nationwide. Since 2019, approximately 8,000 students received these courses. Participating universities provide classes at no cost. School districts pay a nominal amount to participate.
Inside Higher Ed
October 26, 2021 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Undergraduate enrollment fell by 3.2% this fall. Since fall 2019, undergraduate enrollments have dropped by 6.5%. Wealthy and prestigious institutions have nearly recovered their lost enrollments. Certain highly selective institutions had increased enrollment this fall. Public two-year institutions continue to face declines, with a net decline of 14.1% since 2019. Black and white students saw the largest undergraduate enrollment declines.
Higher Ed. Dive
October 20, 2021 Enrollment Management Trends, Research
According to an annual report from NC-SARA, student enrollment in exclusively distance education saw a significant increase in 2020. The share of EDE students increased from 53.7% to 67.6% for students attending college in their home state. These trends are likely to continue beyond the pandemic. Nearly 6 in 10 institutions plan to continue offering remote learning after the health crisis ends.
Higher Ed. Dive
October 13, 2021 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
The average composite score fell from 20.6 to 20.3 compared to last year. Average scores dropped in every racial and ethnic groups except Asian and American-Indian/Alaskan Native students. For fall 2022, more than 1,780 institutions have moved to test-optional or test-free admissions. Fewer students who used the Common App submitted admissions scores in the last academic year, of which the lowest reporting rates were from students in the bottom quintile of the median household.
Inside Higher Ed
October 05, 2021 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
Congressional Democrats’ social spending plan expects to face cuts as moderates in the Senate do not support the high prices. Low and moderate income students could be subject to added taxes for non-tuition related costs. The budget reconciliation bill includes a provision that would allow students to use their Pell grant for these expenses without additional tax liability. However, the provision has an uncertain future as lawmakers decide where to cut costs.
Inside Higher Ed
September 13, 2021 Enrollment Management Trends, Research
Political party, age and income level play a role in whether Americans believe a bachelor’s degree is worth the time and money. Wealthy and college-educated Americans are more likely to find a college degree worth it. Similarly, Democrats are more in favor of college degrees than Republicans. Gen Z and millennials are more likely to believe that college is worth the investment compared to Gen X and baby boomers.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
September 08, 2021 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
Increased spending on Financial Aid is key to keeping low-income students enrolled. Conveying to students that there is financial support can make a big difference. Some colleges are promising free tuition to low-income students without requiring loans. Making students feel welcome also matters a lot. Additionally, creating career development opportunities for students is beneficial.
Inside Higher Ed
August 31, 2021 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
A new report finds equity gaps in transfer rates during the pandemic. Colleges and universities lost about 191,500 students between July 2020 and June 2021. The report also found racial inequities in upward transfer enrollment, and major differences in upward transfer rates. A more granular breakdown of upward transfer enrollment reveals deepening racial and gender gaps.