Higher Ed. Dive
July 06, 2022 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
Operating revenue increased in 2021 due to boosted state funding, federal pandemic relief, and institutions cutting expenses. However, enrollment declines, lower auxiliary revenue and increased financial aid caused revenue from students to decrease. Operating revenue grew by a median 3.1%, compared to 0.6% in 2020.
Higher Ed. Dive
April 28, 2022 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
About 9% fewer students completed FAFSA forms as of the end of March compared to the same point last year. This was driven by a decline in FAFSA renewals as the share of new FAFSA filers rose. Completions among already enrolled students fell by 12% from last year. The new data means colleges should expect fewer students to enroll for the 2022-23 academic year.
Inside Higher Ed
April 18, 2022 Student Success, Value and Affordability
A positive impact of the pandemic for many students has been access to post-secondary cost savings and financial aid, made possible through federal grants and institutional aid programs. Many institutions waived fees, temporarily eliminated charges for some services or forgave outstanding balances. It’s evident cost-saving measures for students, especially for first-generation, Indigenous and students of color need to continue.
Higher Ed. Dive
April 04, 2022 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
Free college’s momentum shifted from the federal level to state and local programs. Numerous initiatives covering tuition and other educational expenses have been proposed and enacted in recent months. There are about 350 state and local “promise programs”, compared with about 53 six years ago. Rutgers–New Brunswick recently launched the Scarlet Guarantee, a program to make tuition free for students with household incomes under $65,000 and decrease tuition costs for those with an income under $100,000.
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.
Inside Higher Ed
March 22, 2022 Student Success, Value and Affordability
Scholarships for students suffering with psychological disorders have proliferated in recent years. Often funded by donors who lost loved ones to mental illness, the scholarships range in eligibility and criteria. Such scholarships can be particularly useful because students with mental health needs may face unique financial barriers when attending college.
Inside Higher Ed
March 17, 2022 Student Success, Value and Affordability
When students are in crisis, they often connect with academic advisers, professors, resident assistants or student affairs staff. As such, these points of contact must be aware of financial wellness resources, such as emergency financial assistance and proactive financial literacy information, to assist students. A one-stop model focused on student financial business can make finding assistance and information more streamlined for students.
Higher Ed. Dive
March 15, 2022 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
Research-oriented public colleges raised tuition rates in recent years. Despite this, low-income students paid less to attend those institutions. This suggests public research universities provided more financial aid to students as they increased their sticker prices. However, the high-tuition, high-aid price model only broadly benefits those from the lowest income brackets.
Inside Higher Ed
February 18, 2022 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
College and university endowments grew by at least 20 percent in fiscal year 2021. The average value increased by 35 percent to $1.1 billion. The median endowment size swelled to $200 million. Surveyed institutions posted a median return of 30.1 percent in fiscal 2021, compared with 1.8 percent in 2020. While growing endowments are good for institutions, very few students benefit from the high returns.
Higher Ed. Dive
February 10, 2022 Student Success, Value and Affordability
The jobs crisis has been top of mind for employer-facing interest groups. The pandemic also put the spotlight on worker retraining, especially after mass layoffs. The US House of Representatives passed am omnibus bill Feb. 4. The amendments would make Pell grants available for rapid retraining programs and provide accurate and timely information to drive better decisions.