October 20, 2009 (Arlington, VA) – The number of applicants and applications for college admission per student has increased since 2001, resulting in a slight decline in overall acceptance rates at U.S. colleges and universities, according to the 2009 State of College Admission report from the National Association for Admission Counseling (NACAC). Data from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and included for the first time in the State of College Admission report revealed that the average acceptance rate at four-year colleges has declined from 71.3 percent in 2001 to 66.8 percent in 2007. The authors of the NACAC report highlight that the increase in selectivity has taken place in the context of a four percent decrease in yield rates, which means colleges are seeing a smaller proportion of accepted students ultimately enrolling in their institutions.
The rise in applications submitted by individual students has made it difficult for colleges to predict how many accepted students will ultimately enroll. In the 2009 State of College Admission, NACAC created a more detailed analysis of recent trends in applications, accepted students, enrolled students, acceptance rates, and yield rates for a set of four-year institutions that provided complete data to the DOE between 2002 and 2006. The analysis shows that the number of applications increased by almost 24 percent, and the number of acceptance letters mailed out increased by 20 percent.
The State of College Admission report is an annual analysis of surveys of colleges and universities nationwide. The data helps counselors, admission professionals, students, and parents examine the transition process to postsecondary education. The 2009 edition contains analysis of key trends in the admission process, including information on high school graduation, college enrollment, the cost of applying, factors in the admission decision, social media trends in the admission process, and more.
This year’s report also contains an analysis of a survey conducted in the spring and fall of 2009 to measure the effects of the economy on the college admission process. Nearly 60 percent of counselors surveyed reported that they had seen an increase in the number of students planning to enroll in public versus private colleges. The surveys also forecasts increasingly difficult times for students, counselors and admission professionals if the economy does not improve, with 15 percent of counselors (25 percent at public schools) reporting an increase in the number of students planning to delay postsecondary education for financial concerns.
Below is a brief overview of the 2009 State of College Admission report:
- Number of High School Graduates Peaks: 3.33 million high school students graduated in 2008-09, hitting a peak after a decade of growth. The number is expected to decline with the 2010 graduating class, and is expected to rebound to 3.31 million by 2017-18.
- College Enrollment Reaches All-Time High: As of 2006, approximately 17.8 million students were enrolled in degree-granting postsecondary institutions. Total college enrollment is expected to continue increasing until at least 2017.
- Racial/Ethnic Minorities and Low-Income Students Remain Underrepresented: In 2007, black and Hispanic persons constituted approximately 32 percent of the traditional college-aged population, but they represented only about 25 percent of students enrolled in postsecondary education.
- Applications Continue to Increase: The ease of online applications, peak in number of graduates and growth in applications per student have fueled the increase in applications to four-year colleges. For the fourth year in a row, approximately three-quarters of four-year colleges and universities reported an increase in the number of applications from the previous year.
- Colleges Accept 67 Percent of Applicants: The average selectivity rate—percentage of applicants who are offered admission—at four-year colleges and universities in the United States was 67 percent for Fall 2007. The average institutional yield rate—percentage of admitted students who enroll—was 45 percent
- Online Applications Increase: For the Fall 2008 admission cycle, four-year colleges and universities received an average of 72 percent of their applications online, up from 68 percent in Fall 2007 and 58 percent in Fall 2006.
- Growth in Both Early Decision and Early Action Applications Stalls: In both 2008 and 2007, just under half (49 percent) of institutions reported increases from the previous year in ED applications compared to 63 percent in 2006 and 58 percent in 2005.
- Admission Offices Identify Grades, High School Curriculum and Test Scores as Top Factors: The top factors in the admission decision were (in order): grades in college preparatory courses, strength of curriculum, standardized admission test scores, and overall high school grade point average. Among the next most important factors were the essay, teacher and counselor recommendations, class rank, and student’s demonstrated interest, which were all ranked similarly.
- Students Altered College Enrollment Plans for Fall 2009 Due to Economy: More than 70 percent of counselors indicated an increase in the number of students foregoing their “dream schools” in favor of more affordable options.
- Secondary Schools Planning Activities to Help College-Bound Students During Economic Uncertainty: Almost half (46 percent) of secondary school counselors reported that their schools were planning programmatic changes to help students deal with the changed economic situation. Among those planning changes, 72 percent will offer more financial aid sessions.
Related Links
Download 2009 Report.
Cost: Free for NACAC Members; $25 Non-Members
About NACAC
NACAC is an Arlington, VA-based education association of more than 11,000 secondary school counselors, independent counselors, college admission and financial aid officers, enrollment managers, and organizations that work with students as they make the transition from high school to postsecondary education. The association, founded in 1937, is committed to maintaining high standards that foster ethical and social responsibility among those involved in the transition process, as outlined in the NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practice.