What is going on with college admissions?

Admissions 'Earthquake' Tremors The shadow looming large over both 2023 and 2024 is the Supreme Court's ruling against race-conscious admissions. The full implications of the decision—from its impact on bridge programs and scholarships to the future of diversity in higher education—remain murky.

Why are college admissions dropping?

Tuition inflation might be another factor behind the college enrollment decline. In a 2022 BestColleges survey, more than 6 in 10 Americans said that the financial burden of earning a degree made college inaccessible. Since the pandemic, the college enrollment decline has accelerated.

Why is college admissions so hard now?

Together, these factors–the increases in selectivity, the focus on rankings, the intensified stress on test scores, the lack of clarity around each school's enrollment priorities–has made the college admissions landscape feel treacherous, littered with obstacles to potentially thwart applicants' aspirations.

Why are college admission rates going down?

Top students (those with strong academic performance and high standardized test scores) are applying to more schools than typical high school graduates. That means top schools don't have to accept such a high proportion of students to fill their incoming classes.

Are college applications up or down in 2023?

Total application volume to returning Common App member schools through November 1 rose 65% from 2019–20 (2,028,507) to 2023–24 (3,353,516). Applicants were also applying to slightly more schools in 2023–24 than in 2019–20 (a 17% increase, from 3.42 to 4.01 applications per applicant).

choose your path carefully - from a burned out princeton student

Why was 2023 so hard to get into college?

One of the most significant trends in college admissions for 2023 is the continued shift toward test-optional admissions. This trend began in 2020 due to challenges of accessing test centers and concerns about health and safety.

Why are acceptance rates so low 2023?

This means that the plummeting of acceptance rates are more likely due to the increase in number of applicants with more diverse qualifications than a sharp increase in selectivity. Additionally, seismic social and political shifts have played a role in the changing college admissions landscape.

Why are so many people getting rejected from college?

Poor fit and lack of demonstrated interest are among the common reasons college applications are rejected. Given the volume of college applications each year, admissions officers have tough decisions to make when it comes to filling limited seats.

Are less people going to college 2023?

HERNDON, VA – (JANUARY 24, 2024) – Undergraduate enrollment grew 1.2 percent (+176,000) in the fall of 2023, the first increase since the pandemic, according to the National Student Clearinghouse's latest research.

Are colleges accepting less students?

In 2023, with less than half of highly selective colleges reporting their acceptance rates, already 15 colleges have reported accepting less than 10% of their applicants.

What is the hardest college to apply to?

#1 Harvard University

We're sure you won't be surprised to learn that Harvard is currently the hardest college to get into, with an acceptance rate of just 3.19%. Last year, 61,220 students applied to Harvard, but only 1,950 were accepted.

What is a bad college acceptance rate?

What is a low acceptance rate for college? An acceptance rate of 10% or lower is typically considered low.

What college received the most applications 2023?

UCLA is the most applied-to university in the country. For Fall 2023, UCLA received a total of 170,047 applications—145,910 from prospective freshmen and 24,137 from students hoping to transfer in their junior year. This dashboard displays current admissions data and historic trends.

Why are students not going to college anymore?

A college degree just might not be worth it anymore. While higher education has long been viewed as key to achieving the American Dream, surging tuition costs, a hot labor market, and campus politics may be why college enrollment in the US has fallen in the last decade.

Which colleges are in financial trouble?

This year, Bloomfield College in New Jersey, Medaille College and Cazenovia College in New York, Presentation College in South Dakota, Cardinal Stritch University in Wisconsin and Iowa Wesleyan University announced they would wind down operations after the spring semester.

Is college admissions just luck?

In summary, it takes a lot more than good luck to get into your perfect school. College admissions experts estimate that students can spend 100 hours or more perfecting their college application.

Why is Gen Z not going to college?

Many Gen Zers don't see the value in a higher education anymore. A BI/YouGov survey found just 39% of them think advancing their education is important. Experts said student debt, and availability of jobs that don't require degrees, will force colleges to adjust.

How common is it to not go to college?

There has been a significant and steady drop nationwide in the proportion of high school graduates enrolling in college in the fall after they finish school — from a high of 70% in 2016 to 63% in 2020, the most recent year for which the figure is available, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Are college dropouts increasing?

Data from the study shows that nationally 32.9% of undergraduates drop out of college before completing their degree program. California residents are “46.5% more likely” to drop out of college compared to the average U.S. resident, according to the study.

What to do if all colleges reject you?

Consider applying to colleges with rolling admissions, taking a gap year, or attending community college. If you are still dwelling on your rejection, try to stop. Letting go of the colleges to which you were not admitted may help you evaluate your acceptances or other options on their own merits.

How do you get accepted into college after being denied?

If the rejection was based on academic readiness, students often have two choices: take a gap year or reapply as a transfer student after earning credits at another four-year institution or a community college.

Do most people regret going to college?

Despite wide differences in levels of regret when it comes to majors, the vast majority of respondents were glad they went to school. Only 9% of those who attended a public institution wish they had not gone to college, the Federal Reserve survey found.

Are colleges harder to get into now?

Because class sizes have been static, acceptance rates are plummeting. Harvard's acceptance rate, for example, fell to 3.19% in 2022 — the lowest in the school's history — and was steady last year at 3.45%. It's not just Ivy League universities seeing competition rise.

What is the hardest college to get into acceptance rate?

What college has the lowest admission rate?

The lowest admission rates, for the class of 2026, is Harvard University with 3%. Using its data from the class of 2027, the students who are starting this autumn, just 1,942 students were accepted from nearly 60,000 applicants.