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

High school graduates still engaged in certain activities, such as visiting campuses, but COVID-19 affected these decisions, according to ACT.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Feb. 24, 2022

Early college can be a second chance for struggling students

Dual enrollment offers a way for postsecondary education to stop replicating inequality. But programs must be built for students from more backgrounds.

By Karen A. Stout and Nick Mathern • Feb. 11, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Enrollment and Retention

A look at the pandemic's continuing impact on enrollment and how colleges can ensure students stay on course.

By Higher Ed Dive staff

Higher Ed Dive’s 2022 Outlooks

Here are the trends and questions facing higher education that we're watching, from enrollment pressures to key court cases and for-profit colleges' future.

By Higher Ed Dive Staff • Feb. 8, 2022

Student choice must be at the center of graduate admissions

The notion that eliminating the GRE® test from graduate admissions will improve program diversity and remove barriers for applicants is short-sighted.

By John Augusto is the Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives in the College of Arts and Sciences at Georgia State University, and a Strategic Advisor for ETS. • Feb. 7, 2022

Direct admissions show early success boosting enrollment in Idaho

Enrollment of first-time undergraduates and in-state students increased, especially at community colleges, but Pell-eligible enrollment didn't change.

By Laura Spitalniak • Feb. 4, 2022

CUNY permanently ends transcript withholding

The City University of New York joins its sister SUNY system in ending the practice after prodding by the state's governor.

By Rick Seltzer • Feb. 1, 2022

Supreme Court agrees to hear race-conscious admissions challenge against Harvard and UNC-Chapel Hill

Court combines cases challenging race as one of several admissions factors, fueling speculation its conservative majority could strike down the practice.

By Rick Seltzer • Jan. 24, 2022

Arizona State wants to reach 100M learners by 2030. Can it meet its goal?

The university launched an initiative to offer an online global management certificate worldwide that will be translated into 40 different languages.

By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 20, 2022

Transfer enrollment steadies in fall 2021 after sharp declines the prior year

Transfer student enrollment fell by less than 1%, according to new data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 19, 2022

Associations challenge selectivity in college admissions, call for simplified policies

Research from NASFAA and NACAC provides a policy blueprint for more equitable enrollment and financial aid procedures.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Jan. 19, 2022

Students less likely to attend college if they didn't think their families could pay

About a third of 11th graders indicated their families couldn't afford to send them to college. They ended up enrolling in much lower numbers.

By Rick Seltzer • Jan. 14, 2022

Colleges enrolled 1M fewer undergrads in fall 2021 than before the pandemic

Enrollment was 6.6% lower this fall than it was two years earlier, according to final figures from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 13, 2022

Iowa regents vote to no longer require SAT or ACT scores from applicants

The state board of regents unanimously approved the admissions policy change, setting up another success for the national test-optional movement.

By Laura Spitalniak • Jan. 12, 2022

Top-ranked colleges illegally conspire to limit financial aid offers, lawsuit alleges

Five former students say 16 selective colleges violated antitrust laws, artificially raising the price of attendance and favoring wealthy students.

By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 10, 2022

Disruptions in hands-on programs contributed to enrollment drop at community colleges

Course upheaval in male-dominated fields is linked to enrollment declines, an NBER working paper found.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Jan. 10, 2022

Strategies for recruiting first-generation college students

The competition between colleges and universities looking to attract first-generation students is fierce. So what strategies should you use to attract them?

Jan. 10, 2022

New York's governor shares ambitious new vision for SUNY

The plan calls for boosting enrollment to 500,000 students but could pit newly designated flagships against others in the 64-campus system.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Jan. 6, 2022

How can colleges convince admitted students to enroll?

Schools must use resources effectively and avoid expensive, personalized approaches for students who are unlikely to commit, a new EAB report says.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Jan. 4, 2022

7 higher education trends to watch in 2022

Politics bleeding into college operations, new regulatory action, continued expansion of online ed and more are stories we'll be following in 2022.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Jan. 4, 2022

Arizona scholarship to start covering tuition for low-income students attending 4-year universities

The promise program is meant to boost college enrollment in a state where just 17% of current 9th graders are on pace to have four-year degrees by 2029.

By Laura Spitalniak • Updated Dec. 23, 2021

Harvard's extension of test-optional admissions signals policy is here to stay

The university will not require entrance exams for four more years, and U of Kansas is offering new admissions pathways without the tests.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Dec. 17, 2021

Stable outlooks issued for higher ed as inflation undercuts revenue increases

Moody's Investors Service projects operating revenue rising by 4% to 6% in 2022, but labor shortages and inflation are likely to drive up spending.

By Rick Seltzer • Dec. 14, 2021

Northeast Ohio colleges aim to tackle 'stranded credits' in a bid to reenroll students

A regional partnership forged by a consulting and research group comes with high hopes for duplication elsewhere.

By Laura Spitalniak • Dec. 14, 2021

The ABA allowed the GRE for law school admissions. Will it improve diversity?

A contentious battle over alternatives to the LSAT had law schools waiting for more clarity.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Dec. 10, 2021

Hoped-for gap year enrollment boom turns out to be a bust

Report dashes hopes that members of the high school class of 2020 who didn't immediately go to college would enroll this fall.

By Natalie Schwartz • Dec. 3, 2021