How community colleges are revamping their student onboarding process

Institutions nationwide are overhauling how they help learners understand, select and enter a program of study.

By Lilah Burke • Nov. 15, 2023

4 charts explaining international enrollment trends

The U.S. hosted more than 1 million international students in 2022-23, an 11.5% spike compared to the year before.

By Natalie Schwartz • Nov. 13, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Community Colleges

The nation’s community colleges look to innovative programs and funding models as they work to boost enrollment and stay financially afloat in the changing higher education world.

By Higher Ed Dive staff

Want to see more students on college campuses? Start by modernizing the admissions process

How higher education is breaking free from the traditional college admissions playbook.

By Luke Skurman, CEO and Founder of Niche • Nov. 13, 2023

Common App expands direct admissions, including partnering with Connecticut

The online portal has started two programs, one with Connecticut institutions and a second with 70 other U.S. colleges.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Nov. 2, 2023

Fall 2023 enrollment trends in 5 charts

We’re breaking down some of the biggest developments this term, based on initial figures from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

By Natalie Schwartz • Updated Nov. 8, 2023

Moody’s: Enrollment hinges on programs aligning with student interests

Subjects like computer and information sciences have attracted more students in recent years, but they can be expensive to expand and upgrade.

By Laura Spitalniak • Oct. 20, 2023

US accounting degree graduates plunge 7.4%

Students snub accounting for reasons ranging from its comparatively low pay to tough requirements for certification, according to financial executives.

By Jim Tyson • Oct. 19, 2023

UW-Oshkosh cuts workforce by more than 200 as budget crisis unfolds

The Wisconsin public college is laying off 140 staff members, while others voluntarily resigned.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Oct. 17, 2023

How Cornell could revamp admissions after the Supreme Court decision

A task force suggested how the Ivy League institution could diversify its student body after the high court’s summer ruling striking down race-conscious policies.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Oct. 16, 2023

University of Wisconsin System to launch direct admissions program next year

The network’s president, Jay Rothman, cast the initiative as a way to boost enrollment.

By Natalie Schwartz • Oct. 9, 2023

PASSHE finds silver lining amid 2.2% drop in fall enrollment

Though the Pennsylvania system’s overall headcounts fell, seven of its 10 colleges increased their number of first-time students.

By Natalie Schwartz • Oct. 9, 2023

More colleges are resetting tuition. Does the strategy work?

Some institutions have seen short-term enrollment gains from slashing their sticker prices, but the strategy doesn’t guarantee a turnaround.

By Danielle McLean • Oct. 9, 2023

CUNY, SUNY, some private New York colleges to waive application fees in October

More than 120 institutions are participating in the initiative, which aims to remove financial barriers for applicants.

By Natalie Schwartz • Oct. 6, 2023

Georgia is the latest state to try out direct admissions

Starting next week, 120,000 high schoolers will be notified they have reserved spots at many of the state’s public colleges.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Oct. 5, 2023

The Ivies could boost economic diversity with a bit of effort, report says

A modest commitment from the highly selective institutions would make a big difference without harming their elite status.

By Laura Spitalniak • Oct. 5, 2023

Half of Hispanic students report difficulty staying in their college program

That’s the highest share of any other racial or ethnic group tracked, according to a recent survey from Gallup and Lumina Foundation.

By Natalie Schwartz • Sept. 28, 2023

Over 360 colleges agree to common standards for financial aid offers

The commitment stems from the College Cost Transparency Initiative, led by 10 higher education associations.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Updated Sept. 26, 2023

Testing executives, including College Board, talk future of admissions exams

Top officials spoke at NACAC, acknowledging the shift in many institutions no longer mandating the SAT and ACT.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Sept. 26, 2023

Contextualizing grades could help diversify college admissions

Researchers find that considering resources available to students when evaluating grades and test scores links strongly with college success.

By Naaz Modan • Sept. 22, 2023

U.S. News shakes up rankings methodology — but top colleges held their spots

The publication's rankings now further emphasize social mobility after some institutions abandoned them.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Sept. 18, 2023

How thinking small drives big wins in student retention

Could you help reverse enrollment losses with targeted tweaks to campus experiences? Industry experts believe so.

Sept. 12, 2023

Florida university system approves classical admissions test, an SAT and ACT alternative

The Classic Learning Test emphasizes Christian thought, prompting questions about whether the religion-infused exam fits in public higher education.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Sept. 8, 2023

University of Tennessee System to guarantee spots for top 10% of high school students

The policy means to entice students to attend institutions in the state, especially as college-going rates decline.

By Natalie Schwartz • Sept. 8, 2023

Yale changes admissions policies to end lawsuit from anti-affirmative action group

Students for Fair Admissions led complaints against Harvard and UNC-Chapel Hill’s race-conscious admissions, which the Supreme Court struck down.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Sept. 8, 2023

Calbright zeroes in on adult student support after rocky start

California’s free online community college is launching programs and hitting state mandates — but one analyst says its certificate awards are still too low.

By Danielle McLean • Sept. 8, 2023