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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Higher Ed. Dive
January 04, 2022 Pre-College Outreach, Admissions
Highly personalized methods for enrolling students are expensive and difficult for institutions to scale. Virtual outreach tools like social media and online campus tours are particularly effective. Institutions need to employ a dynamic model for determining enrollment. They should be the ones to choose how many variables to include in the model as they pinpoint student enrollment patterns. Predictive models will help even if the pandemic has upended the traditional factors for forecasting enrollment.
Inside Higher Ed
August 23, 2021 Pre-College Outreach, Value and Affordability
When several colleges stopping charging application fees in 2016, admittance rates increased. The study and experiences of fee-free colleges have prompted more colleges to drop their application fees. Officials say that the idea makes sense from an access and affordability perspective. Colleges are also looking at more steps to appeal to students.
Higher Ed. Dive
August 06, 2021 Pre-College Outreach, Admissions
Over two-thirds of four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. won’t require prospective students to submit an SAT or ACT score for the fall 2022 admission process. K-12 schools are looking at alternative ways to support high-schoolers’ applications, such as helping with writing skills or building online portfolios. Some high schools are also considering opening up schedules so students can enroll in college-level classes early in an effort to gain experience and save money.
Inside Higher Ed
July 26, 2021 Pre-College Outreach, Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Campus tours are back, but most of them differ from how they were before. They are smaller and more personalized. Tours frequently require preregistration and sometimes a health assessment. Virtual events still largely remain in place, and Admissions leaders worry about the Delta variant of coronavirus affecting future campus tours.
NPR
July 16, 2020 Pre-College Outreach, Enrollment Management Trends
The cancellation or shift to virtual summer camps organized by colleges and universities will be a financial hurdle for colleges. The cancellation or pivot of these camps not only reduces revenue for the institution, but also the employees that would, in other circumstances, be supplementing their income by supporting summer camps. The status of these camps also limits recruiting efforts.