Colleges and universities expect to add students in 2015, though no institutions anticipate significant growth or decline in any enrollment sectors, according to a UB survey of higher ed administrators
Fifty-six percent of respondents say overall enrollment will grow modestly in 2015, while only 11 percent are bracing for modest decreases. No respondents anticipate significant decreases.
Nearly half of respondents expect modest growth in the number of students age 18 to 22 who come from college-oriented families. A little more than half say their institutions will add a modest number of first-time students. And one-third of respondents expect to see modest increases in students who are older, part-time or who fall into other non-traditional categories.
Geographically speaking, more than half the respondents said institutions will add a modest number of students from out-of-state. And exactly half expect to see modest growth in international students.
Most respondents expect to see upticks in other areas. Nearly 80 percent reported that academic intervention and remediation initiatives would increase modestly or significantly. A full 64 percent of respondents said graduation rates would increase modestly, while 50 percent expect moderate growth in retention, academic intervention and career counseling.
When it comes to success initiatives, the majority of institutions are approaching efforts with a teamwork approach. Two-thirds of respondents expect campus departments to work together to bolster student success.
The UB enrollment survey was part of a broader set of trend surveys deployed to readers in late 2014. A total of 470 higher education leaders participated.
