Student Success and Retention

How embedded counseling is transforming well-being at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech’s residential counseling model shows how proximity, partnership and prevention can make large campuses feel more connected.

Career outcomes improve for college students, but gaps remain

While most college graduates gain financially from higher education, many still face barriers to affordable programs that lead to meaningful work—and many good jobs remain unfilled, says report.

Valuing skills over credentials: How to be a multi-pathway institution

Being a multi-pathway institution is more than building bridges: it is ensuring those bridges connect to meaningful opportunities.

How off-campus housing support builds student success at this university

Colorado State University’s Off-Campus Life department helps students find stability and community, connecting housing security to retention and overall well-being.

Gen Z is more optimistic, if not fully engaged

Student engagement soars in 2025: 50% say school lets them do their best, up from 40% in 2023, survey finds.

Arts are not extra: How to reimagine the humanities

Recommitting to the humanities is not nostalgic: it is strategic. Students need both practical skills and deeper intellectual grounding to navigate an uncertain world.

How will micro-credentials make your campus smarter?

Micro-credentials show potential to bring new students to your campus and spark their interest in emerging career fields.

How to let mental health drive K12 and college building design

Explore the connection between mental health and campus design. Learn how spaces can enhance wellness and belonging for students.

No student goes hungry with this college’s free meal program

Chancellor Bradley Davis says that the program set to launch this fall at the West Valley-Mission Community College District is about "equity, access and reimagining what community college can be."

Course sharing boosts retention and revenue for colleges, says new report

As colleges and universities grapple with declining enrollment and increasing financial pressure, a new report points to a collaborative solution: course sharing.

HBCU students are better off mentally than their peers

A new United Negro College Fund report highlights the mental health strengths of HBCUs—and the urgent need to close remaining service gaps.

Freshman class of 2024 is the most diverse yet, says new report

A new report explores the backgrounds, concerns and expectations of the 2024 freshman class, helping college leaders enhance student success.

60 colleges now face punishment over campus antisemitism claims

Some 60 colleges and universities now face "enforcement actions" over claims of campus antisemitism, the U.S. Department of Education warned just a few days after yanking $400 million in grants from Columbia University over alleged civil rights infractions.

Study: Direct college placement boosts student success, lowers cost

Students who bypassed developmental courses were more likely to pass and earn more credits, according to the Center for Analysis of Postsecondary Readiness.

Shorter academic terms: Here is guidance for better outcomes

Shortened academic terms—such as eight-week courses and winter break sessions—show varying rates of success at a group of colleges and universities examined in a new analysis. 

Best colleges for future leaders remains an exclusive club

Unlike some other lists, the best colleges and universities for future leaders rankings is still dominated by the elites.

Best for international students: Which colleges ranked the highest?

There are five key conditions that create more supportive environments for students trying to acclimate themselves to life on a U.S. campus, according to rankings posted by a college search firm.

Why a college degree is still a great return on investment

The cost of higher education, like the cost of everything in the current environment, will continue to be a concern. But a quick look over the data confirms there is still great value in higher education.

How to align higher ed with industry to foster social mobility

Universities that stay ahead of emerging trends, foster diverse collaboration and provide outreach to underrepresented groups will make a significant impact on their communities.

Why early decision can be a college access equalizer

As concerns about minority enrollment at elite universities like Harvard and MIT grow following the Supreme Court's ban on affirmative action in college admissions, applying early decision to college can be a vehicle to sustain or potentially even increase minority enrollment.

A look at several programs accelerating opportunities for students

In education, staying still is equivalent to moving backwards. Our world is changing far too quickly, and the traditional educational models just aren’t always sufficient.

Here are 5 keys for student success beyond high school

Recent history shows us that a concerted nationwide effort can improve students’ outcomes, such as the gains made in high school graduation rates over the past 20 years.

From Acceptance to Arrival: Practical Strategies to Address Summer Melt in Higher Education

Date & Time: Wednesday, October 23rd at 2 pm ET

In this 20-minute UB Ed Talk, leaders from California College of the Arts (CCA) delve into the trends they've observed with summer melt and their practical initiatives that any campus can emulate to mitigate this challenge, including forming a task force that connects academic and administrative leaders in addition to analyzing key indicators along the student enrollment journey.

How to turn bold student success ideas into bold actions

Despite institutions spending thousands annually per student on support services, students remain greatly underprepared and socially isolated, an edtech CEO asserts.

What college students worry about. Or do you already know?

Informed higher ed leaders aim to keep their fingers on the pulse of what's on college students' minds. In case additional insights are needed, a new survey is tracking students' feelings about cost, careers and safety.

Wanting to improve school culture? Look to these 3 resources

A sense of belonging is key to keeping students engaged and enrolled. Here's what research recommends for leaders ahead of 2024-25.

Best Value Colleges: Did your school make the 2024 rankings?

In these days of rising skepticism around higher education, what makes a "Best Value College?" Academics, cost, financial aid, career services, graduation rates, student debt and alumni support, among other factors measured by the Princeton Review.

Motivation Science and Outreach Strategies to Close Enrollment Gaps

Date & Time: Thursday, July 11th at 2 pm ET

In this 20-minute UB Ed Talk, a former professor of educational psychology at the University of Southern California will offer practical science-backed strategies for using digital channels to engage with, enroll, and retain more students for dual enrollment, workforce upskilling, and degree programs.   

How colleges can help restore what students lost during COVID

By following specific and proven strategies, the nation’s colleges and universities can reassure nervous students, families and policymakers and build pathways to completion of credentials of value that can lift up individuals and communities.

College degrees: See which ones have the highest ROI

Most campus leaders know some college degrees are more lucrative than others. What they may not know is how the ROI changes at different levels of college completion.

What higher ed leaders need to know about gender gaps in college and career confidence

Here's a number that should startle superintendents: 72% of female high school graduates lack confidence about their career path, a new survey has found.

These 30 colleges are the best of the best LGBTQ-friendly campuses

Most LGBTQ-friendly colleges support gender-affirming healthcare, LGBTQ+ peer mentorship programs and ally organizations.

Survey: Students and parents stress cost and career prep when picking a college

More respondents chose a "college with the best program for my (my child’s) career interests" (38%) than they did a "college with the best academic reputation" (11%) as the two top factors in the selection process, according to The Princeton Review's 2023 College Hopes & Worries Survey Report.

With tuition costs so high, a new minimum wage won’t help students

Students in all but three states would have to work more than 40 hours a week to pay for school and living expenses if minimum wage remains constant.

How your school can maintain a healthy environment for open dialogue

Free exchange of ideas on campus exposes its community to new ways of thinking and creates a more informed citizen, but too much of it can do the opposite. Here are ways to remedy those conflicts.