Dive Brief:
- A new report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling finds a heightened need for flexibility among enrollment leaders.
- Yield rates are down, on average, which means fewer accepted students are choosing to attend a given college, complicating revenue forecasting for schools, The Chronicle of Higher Education reports.
- Recruitment efforts are focusing increasingly on transfer students, many from community colleges, and international students, some of whom have lived in the U.S. since high school, according to the article.
Dive Insight:
Four-year colleges nationwide have faced increasing competition from peer institutions, new online programs, and community colleges, which are becoming more of a draw as the cost of four-year degrees continues to rise. The NACAC report outlines the growing number of total applications by students. This reflects decisions to apply to more schools than students did in the past, which only serves to create more uncertainty in the admissions office. With tight budgets, admissions and enrollment officers must work even harder to stay one step ahead of their target population.