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Rutgers Today

Rutgers Today provides a daily stream of news from across Rutgers University, serving both internal and external audiences.

House lawmakers pass bipartisan bill to mandate an Oct. 1 FAFSA release date

HIGHER ED DIVE

November 15, 2024   Pre-College Outreach, Enrollment Management Trends, Student Success

The House of Representatives recently passed the FAFSA Deadline Act, requiring the U.S. Department of Education to make the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form annually available by October 1. This policy would take effect for the 2026-27 FAFSA. The bill received overwhelming support after initially being rejected by a majority of house lawmakers. The bill seeks to allow users to complete the FAFSA form without experiencing complications in order to receive access to timely financial aid.

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How colleges can navigate a shifting test-optional landscape

HIGHER ED DIVE

October 02, 2024   Pre-College Outreach, Admissions

Higher education institutions are continuously evaluating the benefits and drawbacks of test optional policies. At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a drastic shift in over 2,000 institutions moving to test optional admissions practices. Proponents of test optional policies believe that SAT and ACT scores do not show the strengths of applicants but rather leads them to not apply to institutions that require these scores, ultimately impacting diversity in the applicant pool. Advocates of standardized tests believe that test scores indicate prospective students’ academic success and preparedness. Importantly, institutions that are currently test optional have reported no impact on student retention.

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College enrollment rate improved among high school class of 2022, report finds

HIGHER ED DIVE

September 12, 2024   Pre-College Outreach, Admissions

The class of 2022 is enrolling in college within a year of their high school graduation.  According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, high and low minority high schools saw approximately a 1% increase in college enrollment compared to low-poverty high schools that experienced a 1.1% decrease. Statistics reveal that the high school class of 2021 had a higher persistence rate compared to the class of 2020. Improving persistence rates is identified as a factor that shows signs of high school student’s college enrollment.

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Sticker shock: A look at the complicated world of tuition pricing

HIGHER ED DIVE

July 22, 2024   Pre-College Outreach, Admissions

The competitive nature of student recruitment at higher education institutions is a contributing factor to the debate on increased tuition sticker prices. Sticker prices signify to college students (prospective and current) the quality of education rather than the cost of tuition and fees after deducting grants and scholarships. With institutions trying to reach a specific diverse threshold and academic student demographic, finding a balance between being marketable without devaluing the institution’s prestige is a necessity. Conducting an academic reset to properly signify a more accurate net price of tuition is a solution that some institutions are adopting.

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House committee advances bill to mandate FAFSA release by Oct. 1

HIGHER ED DIVE

July 10, 2024   Pre-College Outreach

The House Committee on Education and the Workforce recently advanced a bill that would require the U.S. Department of Education to release the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by October 1 each year. This bill was presented to resolve the effects of the delayed FAFSA release that caused postponement in college commitment deadlines, and extended time given for students to complete the FAFSA to qualify for state grant programs. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) expressed concerns about the bill forcing a deadline that does not ensure the proper function of the FAFSA form. In response, an amendment was introduced to the bill that requires the Education Department to confirm a release on September 1. To further track the progress of the FAFSA release timeline, the education secretary would be required to testify before congress to provide updates on the form’s progress.

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FAFSA completions largely stalled in June, fueling enrollment concerns

HIGHER ED DIVE

July 10, 2024   Pre-College Outreach, Enrollment Management Trends

From June 2023 to June 2024, high school students’ FAFSA completion rates have declined by 7.2% representing about 250,000 fewer completions. The decline in high school students’ FAFSA completion rates can be attributed to the delayed release date of and subsequent technical issues with the updated FAFSA form. To help remedy high school student FAFSA completion rates, summer support services were instituted to assist in the navigation process as well as the implementation of a bill that would require the Education Department to release the form each year by October 1.

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Stress Prevents Students From Pursuing Higher Ed 

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.

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What Will Happen to ‘U.S. News’ Rankings?

Inside Higher Ed

December 05, 2022   Pre-College Outreach, Enrollment Management Trends

Eleven law schools have announced they will not continue to participate in U.S. News & World Report institutional rankings. Thus far, undergraduate institutions have not followed suit, and U.S. News does not plan to abandon its rankings system.

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FAFSA Requirements Aim to Boost College Enrollments. Here’s Their Impact So Far.

The Chronicle of Higher Education

March 28, 2022   Pre-College Outreach, Value and Affordability

Last year, $3.75B in federal Pell Grants were left unclaimed by high school graduates who failed to complete a FAFSA. States are now requiring students to complete a FAFSA in order to graduate. It is imperative that students take advantage of unclaimed financial aid, especially as the COVID pandemic has impacted both college enrollment and FAFSA completion.

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Some students missed out on college prep experiences amid the pandemic, report says

Higher Ed. Dive

February 24, 2022   Pre-College Outreach, Student Success

According to a report by ACT, nearly half of the high school graduating class of 2021 reported disruptions in college preparation activities. The pandemic most significantly affected students’ campus visits and college fair attendance. Low-income students, and those who are Hispanic/Latino and Asian were more likely to report disruptions.

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