sions Counseling (NACAC): Do they have any money?
48% of colleges reported an increase Almost 90 percent of colleges reported an
Community college
in freshmen enrollment increase in fi nancial aid applications—pub-
complexities
54% reported an increase in transfer lic colleges 99 percent; privates 85 percent.
It is widely assumed that the current
enrollment. Most colleges also reported increases
enrollment boom at community
Public colleges exceeded privates re- in the number of students awarded aid
colleges is largely attributable to stu-
porting freshmen enrollment increases and the amounts awarded for grants, loans
dents seeking lower prices. However,
(58% vs. 44%), as well as transfer enroll- and work-study. Seventy-four percent of
many observers are saying that price
ment (72% vs. 45%). colleges reported an increase in the num-
sensitivity may explain application
44% percent of colleges reported re- ber of students off ered institutional grant
booms at four-year publics, but not
duced overall yield rates aid. Sixty-two percent reported increases
at community colleges.
25% reported decreases in early deci- in average loan amounts.
“Anecdotally we’re hearing that
sion yield rates According to the National Association
student numbers at community col-
29% reported decreases in early ac- of Student Financial Aid Administrators
leges are up by as much as 30 percent,”
tion yield rates. (NASFAA) 55 percent of schools reported
says Kent Phillippe, senior research
Private colleges reported more de- they increased institutional aid for stu-
associate at the American Association
creases in early action yield than publics. dents. Enrollment losses at smaller private
of Community Colleges  (AACC).
Th e summer melt was not signifi cantly schools could be traced to insuffi cient tu-
“Th ere are many other factors, besides
diff erent from previous years. Twenty-eight ition discounting and/or inability to boost
price, contributing to enrollment in-
percent of colleges reported more summer fi nancial aid awards. A survey conducted
creases at community colleges.
melt, and the same percentage reported less. by NASFAA found that most schools not
Worker retraining and workforce
Despite the challenges, only 22 per- only saw increases in fi nancial aid applica-
development courses—which are not
cent of institutions came in under-en- tions, but also in the numbers of students
credit-based—explain a signifi cant por-
rolled, according to the Maguire survey. appealing their fi nancial aid awards.
tion of the enrollment surge.
“Students had more options, perhaps Smaller, cash-strapped schools may
Since most community colleges
more appealing options,” Dawley says. have found it diffi cult to compete with
maintain open enrollment policies,
“Th ey certainly have shown us that while more endowed institutions.
some have had to cap courses and
concern about the economy was very
move students to waiting lists.
high, it had little relationship to their en- How are admissions offi ces
rollment planning.” adapting to the new reality?
What’s the prognosis for
NACAC reports that the most com-
2010-11?
monly cited strat-
Some experts believe colleges and
egy reported by col-
universities have weathered the
leges was accepting
worst of the economic downturn.
a greater number
Th ere are no indications that stu-
of applicants (67
dents will be dropping out mid-
percent), followed
term in larger numbers this year.
closely by off ering
But to many observers schools
larger grant aid
that serve local and regional popu-
packages (53 per-
lations in distressed states with high
cent) and off er-
unemployment and foreclosure rates
ing grant aid to a
will have a much harder time.
greater number of
And Brian Niles, CEO of enroll-
students (52 per-
ment soft ware developer TargetX,
cent).
isn’t so sure the storm has passed.
Only 10 percent
“Th is is not the bad year.  By the time
of colleges increased
everyone realized (in Spring 2009)
deferred admission
that this economic situation was not
off ers, and only 7
a blip, they had already committed
percent initiated or
(for Fall 2009), he says.  “Next year
plan to initiate a wait
(2010-11) will be the test.”
list for the fi rst time.
Editor’s note: Much of the data
More public colleges
presented above appeared in NA-
(17%) reported using
CAC’s report: Eff ects of the Economy
a wait list for the fi rst
on the Admission Process, 2008-09
time, versus on 3% of
National Association for College Ad-
the private schools
mission Counseling, September 2009.
reporting.
TC
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