Demographics tell us that the number of potential students in the typical age group is declining. Undergraduate institutions are already feeling the consequences. We’re next. From the Chronicle of Higher Education’s Daily Briefing (Dec. 15):
Most enrollment officers focus on two goals year-round: making enrollment numbers and net tuition revenue. But as the number of high-school graduates declines, it’s tougher for colleges to attract enough students and still cover expenses. Here are some findings from a recent Chronicle survey on those issues:
In the most recent admissions cycle, two-thirds of private colleges and more than half of public colleges missed at least one of their goals.
About half of public colleges and a third of private colleges met both goals.
Private colleges hit their lowest mark for both goals in the past four years.
To entice more students to enroll, about four of 10 colleges, slightly more private than public, reported that they were increasing financial aid this year.
