College Admissions News & Trends

An ACT analysis of the high school class of 2026, reported by K-12 Dive on October 14, found that about one in three of the 1.46 million graduates who took the ACT took it at least twice. Retakers’ composite scores rose an average of 1.1 points from their first attempt … Read more

On October 12, Penn State shared final recommendations from a review of all 403 of its bachelor’s and associate degree programs. It recommended closing 47, citing low student demand, employment opportunity, program realignment and other factors. Nine of the 47 have no enrolled students, and 24 would continue to be … Read more

Kaplan’s annual survey of admissions officers, released October 7, polled officers from 212 colleges drawn from U.S. News lists, by email between July and September. At test-optional colleges, 64 percent said a competitive SAT or ACT score improves an applicant’s chances, and 16 percent said their school is considering bringing … Read more

The number of U.S. high school graduates peaked at about 3.9 million in 2025 and is projected to fall 13% by 2041, according to WICHE’s Knocking at the College Door. The decline is concentrated in large states: Illinois is projected to lose 32% of its graduates between 2023 and 2041, … Read more

In June, Syracuse chancellor Michael Haynie told faculty the university would miss its fall 2026 undergraduate enrollment target and run its first budget deficit in years. He pointed to a shrinking pool of 18-year-olds and falling international applications. Reporting since then, including in The Wall Street Journal, adds another piece: … Read more

In July, six senators reintroduced the MERIT Act: Republicans Todd Young, Tim Scott and John Kennedy, and Democrats Tim Kaine, Raphael Warnock and Andy Kim of New Jersey. It would make ending admissions preferences for relatives of alumni and donors a condition of accreditation. The push follows an April National … Read more

Forbes reported in September that the University of Tennessee received nearly 70,000 first-year applications and enrolled more than 7,200 students this fall. The University of South Carolina received more than 69,000 applications, up 16% in one year and 64% over five. The University of Arkansas enrolled its largest-ever first-year class, … Read more

Notre Dame announced in September that it will require SAT or ACT scores beginning with the 2027–28 cycle, for students entering in fall 2028. Seniors applying this fall can still apply test-optional. The university said a review of several admissions cycles found scores strongly correlated with how students performed once … Read more

In August, Penn Admissions published guidance on integrity and AI for the 2026–27 cycle. It doesn’t ban AI. Applicants may talk ideas through with others, get proofreading, or use a tool, including AI, to organize their thoughts or check grammar. But if AI generates the responses, someone else drafts the … Read more

Common App’s end-of-season report, released August 20, 2026, counts 1.53 million first-year applicants for 2025–26, up 2%, submitting 10.8 million applications, up 6%. The average student applied to 7.06 colleges, up from 6.79. The pool of students barely grew, but each one applied to more schools. That drives published admit … Read more

In its second year, TN Direct Admissions gives eligible Tennessee seniors automatic admission offers and estimated financial aid from 63 participating colleges and universities, with no traditional application. For the class of 2027 the program covers all eligible public, private and homeschool seniors statewide, roughly 70,000 students, according to the … Read more

In August 2025, current and former students sued 32 selective colleges, including Northwestern, Duke, Penn, Columbia and Cornell. They allege the colleges used binding early decision to reduce competition for students, raise prices and cut aid. On August 7, 2026, a federal judge in Massachusetts denied the colleges’ motion to … Read more

The Wall Street Journal reported in August that Caltech built a four-person team, two years ago, that reviews every admitted student’s file. The team checks certificates, confirms transcripts with the schools that issued them, verifies that recommenders work where they say they do, and asks some students video questions about … Read more

The University of California admitted 102,031 California first-year students for fall 2026, a record, from more than 205,000 applicants. The in-state admit rate rose to 78%. Offers to out-of-state students rose 5.7% and to international students 7.5%, according to the San Francisco Chronicle as reported by EdSource. At UCLA, Californians … Read more

In an August Forbes column, counselor Brennan Barnard describes a trend he calls application maxxing: students stacking research, internships and activities, then applying to 20 or more schools on the theory that more is better. He asked admissions leaders to respond. Penn’s admissions director said the students who stand out … Read more

A new Hechinger Report projection finds that over 25% of private nonprofit colleges in the United States face significant financial risk of closure in the coming years. Sixteen private nonprofits closed their doors in 2025 alone, including Northland College in Wisconsin, Sterling College in Vermont, and Trinity Christian College in … Read more

Indiana’s Higher Education Commission has flagged roughly 1,000 degree programs at public colleges for potential elimination, citing low enrollment and low post-graduation wages. Syracuse University recently announced the elimination of 93 academic programs. Similar reviews are underway in multiple states, with humanities majors, niche programs, and low-enrollment specializations the most … Read more

An August 2025 presidential memorandum directed the Education Department to collect more detailed admissions data. The result is a new federal survey that requires selective colleges to report seven years of data on applicants, admitted students and enrollees, broken down by race, sex, GPA, test scores and family income. It … Read more

A recent analysis of admissions trends highlights five critical developments, including escalating student anxiety, reinstitution of testing requirements, and more aggressive early application strategies. Why It Matters: The pressure of applying continues to grow. Students and families must manage not just “where to apply,” but also “how to apply” with … Read more

A new Spark Admissions study reveals that many flagship public universities are becoming more selective, with application volumes skyrocketing and acceptance rates plunging. For example, out-of-state acceptance rates at certain public institutions are now approaching those of elite private colleges. Why It Matters: The idea of public universities as “safety” … Read more

Columbia University’s application numbers for the class of 2029 fell modestly (from ~60,248 to ~59,616). The dip comes on the heels of pro-Palestinian protests, administrative backlash, and political scrutiny, factors that appear to be influencing some admitted students’ decisions to reconsider enrollment. Why It Matters: External political and social climates … Read more