College Admissions News & Trends

Former President Donald Trump is pushing for colleges and universities to release detailed admissions data, including demographics, test scores, and GPA. The proposed directive aims to enforce compliance with the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that prohibited the consideration of race in admissions.

Why It Matters: This could dramatically increase transparency in admissions practices and expose whether institutions are using indirect racial proxies — such as “lived experience” or diversity essays — to influence decisions.
Read More >

A federal lawsuit filed in Massachusetts accuses 32 elite universities of colluding to use Early Decision (ED) to limit students’ ability to compare financial aid offers — allegedly keeping tuition and costs artificially high.

Why It Matters: If successful, the case could reshape or eliminate binding early admissions policies, making the process more equitable, especially for students who need to compare financial aid packages.
Read More >

The University of California system admitted a historic 100,947 California freshmen for fall 2025 — a 7.4% increase over 2024.

However, its most selective campuses (e.g., Berkeley, UCLA) offered fewer in-state admits, underscoring an increasing divide within the UC system.

Why It Matters: This shift shows how public systems are expanding access, but selective institutions remain Bottlenecks — reinforcing the importance of strategic, realistic college lists.
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 can directly impact application trends, and students are increasingly weighing institutional values and campus climate when applying.
Read More >

Tennessee’s Higher Education Commission has rolled out a new initiative guaranteeing automatic admissions for high school seniors to 53 state colleges, paired with personalized financial aid support.

Why It Matters: This signals a growing shift toward removing barriers to college access for low- and middle-income students — and could inspire other states to adopt similar models.

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” schools is fading; students need to rethink what constitutes reach, target, and safety in their lists.
Read More >

Common App data shows a 5–7% jump in first-year applicants for the 2024–25 cycle.

• Growth was especially strong among underrepresented minorities, low-income students, and first-generation college applicants.

Why It Matters: Rising volume increases competition across the board. With more students applying — especially to multiple schools — having a strong, differentiated narrative is more important than ever.

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 strategy, resilience, and a realistic timeline.

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 exposed.

Why It Matters: Major selection has become a more consequential decision than it was even five years ago. The major a student picks now affects not just admissions odds (CS and engineering at top schools admit at half the institutional rate) but also whether the program will still exist by the time they graduate. Families should verify that intended majors are stable at every school on the list, particularly for humanities, area studies, and specialized programs at mid-tier and regional institutions.

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 Illinois. Credit ratings agencies have cited federal policy shifts, rising costs, and increased competition for a shrinking pool of students.

Why It Matters: The risk is not evenly distributed. Highly selective schools with large endowments are insulated. Smaller regional and tuition-dependent private colleges — often the schools families turn to as financial safety options or as alternatives to flagship public universities — are the most exposed. Families building college lists this summer should weigh institutional financial health alongside fit and cost. A school that closes during a student’s sophomore year is a much larger problem than a slightly less selective school that doesn’t.

Read More >