More students than ever are sending in early applications to top colleges, according to reports. And those students aren’t the prep school seniors hoping to avoid the springtime rush – it’s a diverse group that includes minorities and foreign students looking to study in the U.S.

Some early examples:

• Duke University – 400 early applications (versus 100 back in 2005)
• Haverford College, PA – early applications from abroad doubled from last year
• University of Chicago – double-digit percentage increase from black and Hispanic students.

In addition, the number of international students applying early has jumped by 25% over the last four years. The number from China has leapt from 10,000 to 57,000.

This influx of diverse early applicants has made for some stiff competition, and private school families are seeing more deferrals – and even rejections – than they might have expected.

Also increasing the competition: some schools – including Princeton, University of Virginia and Harvard – are returning to the early admissions process after years without. During those years, many top colleges increased their number of early acceptances, thinking some of those accepted would turn down the offer if they got in later to one of those three schools.

With the return of Princeton, UV and Harvard, schools like Yale and Georgetown have cut early acceptances by 10%.

At Princeton alone, the early acceptance numbers are shifting. Of the 726 students accepted last month:

• 56% attend public high schools (up from 50% five years ago), and
• 37% are minorities (up from 31%).

How does your school handle early admissions? Tell us in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

As many as one in three freshmen don’t make it back for a sophomore year, according to data from the U.S News and World Report. There are plenty of reasons students might drop out – money, family or academic problems among them – but it’s never good for a college’s reputation, or its morale.

These are the 10 schools with the lowest retention rates:

1. South Carolina State University – 64%
2. University of Arkansas – Little Rock – 64%
3. Cleveland State University – 63%
4. Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi – 61%
5. Lynn University – 60%
6. Our Lady of the Lake University – 60%
7. Texas A&M University – Kingsville – 60%
8. Texas Southern University – 59%
9. Idaho State University – 58%
10. University of Texas – San Antonio – 58%

How can colleges boost their retention rates? Share your ideas in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

A new study by Varsity Outreach reveals that 79% of schools use Facebook in their admissions process – up 13% from last year’s polling. The results are based on responses from 150 surveyed schools.

The social network has become the most important social media option for admissions offices. Specifically, 89% call it “very/somewhat important” to their recruiting, compared to the runners-up, YouTube (70%), blogging (50%) or Twitter (43%).

However, there are still a few hold-outs resisting serious Facebook use. The top reasons:

• Not enough resources to support an admissions-specific presence, and
• The institution already had an adequate university-wide presence.

While 74% of respondents said they use a combination of Facebook applications. The most popular apps:

• Pages (81%)
• Groups (71%), and
• Personal Profiles (45%).

How are schools getting the word out about their Facebook pages? Overwhelmingly, the answer is Email Blasts, which rated a “very/somewhat effective” score of 97%.

Check out the full white paper here, then discuss it in our comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

Enrollment rates have been steadily climbing for decades, but the percentage of students actually graduating remains stagnant, according to a report by the nonprofit Complete College America.

The report illustrates how many students completed their degrees. The results are broken down into categories including whether enrollment is full- or part-time, or at a two- or four-year school.

The numbers aren’t encouraging. For example, in Texas, out of every 100 students who enrolled in a public college:

• 79 started at a community college
• 2 of them earned a two-year degree on time
• Only 7 graduated after four years
• Of the 21 who enrolled at a four-year college, 5 graduated on time, and
• After 8 years, only 13 completed a degree.

The report shines a light on part-time students who Complete College America says are under-represented in federal statistics, even though 4 out of every 10 public college students attend part-time. Out of those, no more than a quarter ever graduate.

One possible reason: time. Factors may include the increasing practice of amassing more credits than are required for a degree, and the large numbers of students required to take noncredit remedial courses.

The study’s primary recommendation is for states to adopt financing incentives in an effort to get schools to focus more on completion rates.

There are some bright spots, however. At Tennessee’s 27 Technology Centers, the completion rate is 75%. The report cites the required Foundations class where students learn skills needed for a program, rather than noncredit remedial classes, and the 3 p.m. end time for all classes, allowing students to hold down an evening job or care for their children after school.

Also praised: CUNY’s Accelerated Study in Associate Programs, which use block scheduling and other support to help students complete degrees more quickly.

How does your school help part-time students? Share your strategies below, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

New-student enrollment of international students rose about 1.3% in the 2010 academic year – compared to a nearly 16% jump the year before, according to Kiplinger. In fact, more than half of the top 25 countries sending students to U.S. institutions had fewer in the U.S. than in 2009.

Why? The economy has something to do with it. Fewer families can afford a U.S. education, and many colleges are reigning in their scholarship spending. And grim post-graduation job prospects aren’t helping either.

But there’s also growing competition from other international schools. Universities in Britain, Australia and Canada are all boosting their effort to enroll students in Southeast Asia, while South Korea is setting up more domestic programs.

How can U.S. schools bring back their international appeal? Share your thoughts in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

As a result of high dropout and loan default rates and accusations of questionable recruiting practices, the Obama administration unveiled new rules that would cut off government financial aid for programs where too few students repay their loans or fail to find decent-paying jobs.

Add to this a series of lawsuits from former students, whistleblowers and investors, and it has been clear to for-profit colleges that they’d need to be more accountable in their recruiting and financial aid practices if they hope to retain their financial aid.

The University of Phoenix (owned by Apollo Group, Inc.):

• Created its own social network to connect students with alumni who could help them find jobs
• Developed a free three-week orientation program for students with fewer than 24 college credits; a passing grade is required to continue taking UP courses, and
• Canceled financial incentives for enrollment counselors based on admissions quotas.

As a result of these changes, student enrollment has declined by nearly half, and the company saw a $159 million net loss compared to last year. However, the school believes the new approach will ultimately result in fewer dropouts, higher graduation rates and lower loan default rates.

Meanwhile, Kaplan University (owned by the Washington Post Co.):

• Stopped paying incentives to recruiters, and
• Created a program allowing new students to take classes for up to five weeks for free before deciding whether to continue.

This school has seen a 47% decline in new enrollments and an attrition rate of 25% (of those, 60% were dismissed for lack of academic progress).

In his defense of the industry, CEO of the Washington Post Co. Donald Graham said at the annual meeting in May, “If we are to be guided only by those factors – student graduation rates and how much debt they incur – we would probably close down all, or almost all, of the institutions of higher education – whomever they may be run by – that serve poor students.”

Should for-profit institutions continue to be so closely scrutinized? Share your opinions in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

In its multibillion-dollar fraud suit against the Education Management Corporation (operating as Art Institute, Argosy University, South University and Brown Mackie College), the Department of Justice is charging that the company was ineligible for the $11 billion in financial aid it has received since July 2003.

This is the first case against a for-profit college in which the government has intervened to back whistleblowers’ claims that the company violated federal law by paying recruiters based on enrollment quotas (a practice that had been banned by the government in 2002).

The complaint says the company instructed recruiters to use high-pressure sales techniques and inflated claims about career placement to boost enrollment, even if applicants were unable to write coherently, appeared under the influence of drugs or wanted to enroll in an online program but had no computer.

According to the suit, Education Management falsely certified that it was complying with the law, which made it eligible to receive student financial aid. The company reportedly got $2.2 billion in financial aid in fiscal 2010, making up 89.4% of its net revenues.

The basis for the lawsuit is the False Claims Act, under which whistleblowers can file suits charging that the government has been defrauded. It allows for triple damages – which could be as much as $33 billion – of which the whistleblowers would receive a share.

In 2009, the Apollo Group (owners of the University of Phoenix) settled a similar whistleblower case for $78 million. Todd Nelson, chief executive of Education Management, had previously headed the University of Phoenix.

What do you think? Share your views in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

At the annual conference of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, a panel of high school seniors and college freshmen told counselors they didn’t want a tweet or text from a college, preferring a good old-fashioned phone call.

They cited the phone as being “a lot more personal,” provided counselors call outside of school hours, when they’d be more likely to answer.

The students were also turned off by the idea of colleges connecting with them on social networks like Facebook, suggesting it was an invasion of their personal time. “Seeing a college on Facebook, it’s like, you’re in my face, and I’d appreciate it if you weren’t,” explained one panelist.

One compromise: using an interactive Facebook group rather than a one-sided fan page.

As another way to utilize new tech while respecting students’ privacy, schools should be more reactive in their social media strategies, letting students start conversations and guide discussion. This suggestion came from Jeannine Lalonde, senior assistant dean of admissions at the University of Virginia.

Finally, the young panel revealed a more old-school mentality when it came to applications: They would absolutely not submit their applications via mobile devices. After all – they have computers.

How is your school integrating new tech into the admissions process? Tell us in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

Half of all college-educated women say the value for the money spent is “excellent” or “good” – but only 37% of male graduates agree, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center.

This split among gender lines may reflect a generally more positive view of college in women than in men. Women who have graduated from college were also more likely than men to say their education helped them to grow both personally and intellectually.

The public seems to agree: 77% of Americans surveyed said a college education was necessary for a woman to get ahead in life, while only 68% said that about men.

These polling numbers line up with the general increase of women who have completed college since the early 90’s. In 2010, 36% of women ages 25-29 had obtained a bachelors degree, compared to 28% of men in this age group.

Check out the rest of the survey’s findings here.

Do women outnumber men on your campus? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

Salisbury University in Maryland has officially decided to go standardized test-optional after experimenting with their admissions methods for five years. Now high school students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher no longer have to submit standardized test scores such as the SAT or ACT.

In their 2007 class, students who entered under the test-optional program graduated at a slightly higher rate than those who submitted test scores. This group also yielded a slightly higher cumulative GPA, and course completion rates than those students who submitted test scores.

The school joins the ranks of several hundred other colleges that have gone test-optional, part of a gradual shift in admissions criteria to value grades over test scores.

Has your school gone test-optional? Share your thoughts in our comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

A new website from the Department of Education lets college-bound families compare tuitions, the pace at which they’re rising and the total net cost of attending each school (after room and board, etc.). These lists are required by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008.

According to the lists, the average 2009-2010 tuition at a four-year nonprofit college was $21,324. On the high end of the spectrum:

• Bates College, Maine – the highest tuition at $51,300
• Wells College, New York – the highest tuition increase in two years with 67%, and
• Art Center College of Design in California, with the highest net cost after financial aid at $29,672.

But while critics point to some uneven data (for example, the net cost numbers include only full-time, first-time students who received financial aid), the site still offers more comprehensive information than has previously been readily available.

How does your school compete with others on the list? Share your findings, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

Since Westfield State College became Westfield State University last October, the school has seen a 3% increase in enrollment, with 41% of area freshmen applicants attending. The name change was part of a six-school shift from a college system to a university system.

The change in title isn’t just a prestige issue, though.

The major reason: expanded post-graduate options. Massachusetts state colleges can’t offer doctorate degrees unless they do so in conjunction with the University of Massachusetts. But other state universities don’t have this restriction.

Westfield is now working on plans to get the University of Massachusetts at Amherst to offer doctorate-level courses on campus.

Other signs that the switch from “college” to “university” is getting positive attention:

• Enrollment in the Division of Graduate & Continuing Education has increased by 43%
• Freshmen students of color are up to 17%, from 11% the previous year
• 92% of the new freshmen are state residents, and
• September’s freshman class will number 1,188 – with 90 enrolled in honors programs.

As a result of the enrollment boom, Westfield now has to tackle a new problem: housing. The school had to turn down 500 students for lack of a place to put them. But the problem should be corrected by 2013.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

Two of the four main parts of the ACT – science and reading – are of “little to no” help for colleges choosing applicants, says a new study by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

The study, “Improving College Performance and Retention the Easy Way: Unpacking the ACT Exam,” tracked ACT scores for students who went from high school to a four-year Ohio public college in 1999.

The conclusion: The inaccuracy of the composite test score can result in students heading to schools that could be too demanding – or too easy – for their actual academic skill levels.

That’s not to say the entire test is useless – in fact, the English and math portions are actually “highly predictive” of college success. But many schools rely on the composite score, obscuring students’ actual abilities.

The researchers compared students who earned the same composite scores, but with different sub-scores in the individual sections of the test. The result: Similar composite scores don’t result in similar changes of collegiate success.

This isn’t news to ACT officials, though: In 2010, it reported that while 66% of students met the English benchmark and 43% met the math benchmark. Yet just under one in four students who took the college entrance exam met all four college readiness benchmarks.

How does your school weigh entrance exams like the ACT and SAT? Share your input in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

The final year of high school is coming under increasing scrutiny. Sometimes students who have already completed their core courses and have been accepted into college get lazy in their final year. These students often fall into the “senioritis” slump.

But many universities take senioritis seriously. For instance, the University of Colorado rescinds about 30 to 50 acceptance offers each year from students they’ve found slacking off during their senior years. Ouch!

Educators in Colorado and Indiana suggest several – sometimes conflicting – solutions.

• Option 1: Juniors who take AP course and earn enough college credits should be allowed to bypass senior year. The state can save money that can go to scholarships. (The Indiana state legislature did this, and places the extra money in a scholarship fund that can net students $6,000 to $8,000!)
• Option 2: High schools must improve senior curriculum to prepare students for their college careers, by teaching time management, organizational skills and other vital collegiate skills.
• Option 3: High schools can work with community colleges so seniors can enroll concurrently, using the extra time in senior year to graduate high school with an associate’s degree.

Which option would you choose? Post your responses in our comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

The U.S. Justice Department has joined an employee whistleblower suit alleging that Education Management Corp. (which owns Argosy University, among others) illegally paid recruiters based on the number of students they enrolled.

This practice is forbidden among schools that receive federal financial aid, out of concern it will encourage companies to enroll unqualified students. For-profit colleges can receive as much as 90% of their revenues from financial aid.

The company defends itself, saying the compensation plan was based on legal advice that complied with exceptions to federal law. The Education Department plans to make all incentive compensation for recruiters illegal this July.

This is one of at least 27 whistleblower cases that have been filed against for-profit colleges under the U.S. False Claims Act. If the Justice Department joins such a case, the whistleblower may receive 15-25% of any money recovered.

In 2009, Apollo Group, Inc. (operator of the University of Phoenix) paid $78.5 million to settle a similar suit.

What do you think of the case? Share your thoughts in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

69% of this year’s college applicants say information on a college’s commitment to environmental issues would contribute to their decision to attend a school, says a Princeton Review survey of 8,200 students. That’s a 5% rise from 2008.

To meet applicant’s criteria, schools are touting environmental-minded academic programs, green buildings and volunteer opportunities for students.

The Guide to 311 Green Colleges, produced by the Princeton Review and the U.S. Green Building Council, lists some top schools for eco-minded students to consider. Selection factors include how much local food is served, how much waste is diverted from landfills and the availability of alternative transportation options.

Some of the highlights:

• Elon University, North Carolina allows students to monitor real-time energy and water consumption in the school’s greenest building
• Adelphi University, New York uses geothermal heating and cooling systems in its newly constructed residence halls, and
• Lafayette College, Pennsylvania features dining services that use 100% compostable packaging and diner ware and organic cleaning products.

How does your school promote its eco-friendly features? Let us know in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

The University of Saskatchewan has settled on a new application process for its college of education: an online interview. It’s a move designed to replace the school’s old interviewing system, which used a lot of resources but wasn’t very effective.

Within the new system, 65% of the potential student’s overall score will be based on high school GPA, while 35% will be the end result of a series of questions covering subjects with themes including:

• Affirming dignity and respect for students
• Social and ecological justice
• Lifelong learning
• Creating a positive community in the class and school, and
• Building instructional competence.

The questions are sent via e-mail to the applicants, who will then have 24 hours to log in and answer. Once received, a team of four faculty volunteers will score the completed exams.

But even if a student flubs the questionnaire, a high GPA will ensure he or she is flagged for a mini-interview to be conducted face-to-face with the faculty.

What do you think of this new process? Share your thoughts in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

The latest incentive for colleges to boost enrollment numbers: a looming influx of jobs with no qualified candidates to fill them.

That’s the findings of Canada’s Human Resources & Skills Development, which predicts about 4.1 million jobs will be opened up by 2017 as a result of baby boomer retirements, and most will require post-secondary degrees. Canadian schools must increase by 1.3% per year to produce enough skilled workers to meet the demand.

An additional 1.4 million jobs will be created as a result of economic growth. But there are concerns that the recent recession may force governments to skimp on post-secondary investments.

How can American schools handle the upcoming baby boomer retirement wave? Sound off in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

With almost 35,000 students, Harvard University received the largest number of applications for admission. But while the school admitted a record low 6.2% of applicants, there was good news for black and Latino students.

The class of 2015 is made up of 11.8% black and 12.1% Latino students – up slightly from 11.3% and 10.6%, respectively, during the previous year – making it potentially a record-setting number of minority admissions for the school.

Harvard credits its Undergraduate Minority Recruitment program for the boost. Current minority students coordinate recruitment efforts, reaching out to prospective applicants, answering questions and addressing concerns about the school.

Also helping: the financial aid budget, which increased to $160 million this year. More than 60% of admitted students will be able to make use of the need-based scholarships (averaging over $40,000 per student) and providing Harvard with its most racially and ethnically diverse class yet.

How has your school worked to increase minority enrollment? Share your plans below, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

The U.S. Veterans Affairs Department and the Texas Veterans Commission have pulled Westwood College’s Fort Worth, TX campus from its approved colleges lists. The reason: predatory and deceptive recruiting and enrollment practices.

The Texas Veterans Commission withdrew Westwood‘s GI Bill after the Government Accountability Office reported that Westwood made questionable statements about graduation rates, failed to provide clear information about program costs, and exaggerated graduates’ potential earnings.

As a result, 60 students have transferred to other schools, while 30 have chosen to stay.

The for-profit school, owned by Denver-based Alta Colleges, has taken several hits over the years, including probation and $41,000 in fines from the Texas Workforce Commission in January.

To avoid having its licenses revoked, the school must demonstrate that it has corrected the reasons for its probation.

How does your school handle veteran enrollment? Share your insights in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

Incoming freshmen at Arizona Christian University will be provided with new iPad2s this fall. It’s part of the school’s incentive program to connect students with new technology. It’s also an attempt to grow enrollment by attracting students who might not have otherwise considered ACU.

The school is spending $100,000 on the iPads for about 200 students – its largest incoming class to date. But the initial expenditure is expected to cut overall education costs – including room, board and textbook fees – by about $22,000 a year.

As for on-campus integration, ACU is developing relevant apps, such as one that will allow students to monitor chapel speakers and access notes.

How does your school integrate new tech on campus? Share your experiences in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

In an effort to boost affordability and accessibility, Tennessee’s Sewanee University of the South will be reducing tuition and fees by 10% – about $4,600 – for the upcoming school year.

The university cites recent surveys reporting that families struggling under the current economy place education and job prospects at the top of their concerns list. By reversing the trend of increasing tuition to stay afloat, Sewanee expects to boost enrollment to 425 freshmen in the fall.

While this will likely alter how financial aid is administered to current students, the school insists no student will pay more next year than they pay now – and most will actually pay less.

Do you think this tuition-dropping trend will spread among colleges? Let us know in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

DePaul University will implement a test-optional admission policy for prospective freshmen starting in fall 2012. It’s the largest private nonprofit university in the U.S. to attempt a test-optional program.

The new policy is based on research from the school indicating rigorous college prep programs in high school are the best indicators of college success. Standardized tests add little if anything to that – and may even skew admission toward students who are just good test-takers.

Here’s how the new admissions process will work: applicants would submit their high school transcripts, along with their choice of either their ACT or SAT test scores – or as an alternative, they could answer a number of open-ended essay questions that are designed to gauge students’ experience and other characteristics.

The test-optional route will most benefit students who can’t afford to test multiple times or take expensive test prep courses, and simplify the process for students who may have achieved in high school but not necessarily in a high-stakes testing environment.

DePaul’s pilot program will run through 2016, at which point it will be evaluated to determine if it should become a permanent policy.

What do you think of the no-test plan? Share your thoughts in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

Ursinus College in Pennsylvania recently saw its freshman application numbers drop by 1,700, compared to last year’s selection pool. But that drop was actually a deliberate goal of the school after a five-year period where its admissions almost tripled.

In 2005, Ursinus wanted to increase its freshman class by about 100 to boost numbers in new disciplines like biochem and the performing arts. They went with a direct-marketing firm that suggested waiving its $50 application fee and essay requirement.

The results: From 2005 to 2007, applications more than doubled. The numbers just kept growing from there – but that turned out to be a major misstep.

While on paper, the school looked like a hot commodity, the stats were misleading. The yield of applicants who actually accepted an admissions offer dropped from 30% in 2005 to 13.5% by 2010. Almost 87% of accepted students were turning down invitations.

To turn things around, the school parted ways with its direct marketer and revised its application process by:

• Restoring essay questions, including a response to a Mark Twain quote, and
• Requiring a graded high school term paper, to help Ursinus verify the applicant’s writing was genuine.

By making it harder for students to apply, Ursinus hopes those who submit more seriously consider attending if accepted. And while this tactic may affect its ranking in U.S. News and World Report, it may be worth it in the time saved by applicants and admissions officers alike.

A wise move, or will this hurt more than help? Share your thoughts in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

While data shows those who apply early to college are more likely to get acceptance letters, there are six kinds of students who should hold off before sending in their applications.

1. The underqualified – Significantly underqualified students were rejected no matter when they applied. The advantage for those with slightly below average grades was slight.
2. The overqualified – They’re getting in no matter when they apply, so early applications may actually limit their options.
3. The financial aid-dependent – Students who get accepted to several colleges tend to get more aid than those who only get into one. Students can leverage offers from competing schools to get the best financial aid package.
4. The late bloomers – Students who stumbled early should use the extra time (since many admissions deadlines run through spring of senior year) to recover academically.
5. The undecided – Students without career goals and related educational requirements should take more time to make a decision, and
6. The late searchers – For applicants who only started their college hunt in senior year, the early deadline won’t be enough time for them to find a perfect match.

Which other students should else should think about holding off on early application? Offer your thoughts in the comments section below, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

Overall college retention rates remain about the same – 67% of first-year, full-time students returned to the same school for their second year, according to a study by the Academic College Testing Program (ACT). But while the numbers are on par with recent years, two-year colleges are improving their rates – while four-year schools are falling behind.

In fact, two-year schools are up to 56% retention, the highest in 27 years of research. Meanwhile, four-year private school retention has dropped from 75% in 2005 to 72%, falling behind four-year public schools (74%) for the first time.

The reason for the shift, unsurprisingly, has to do with the economy. Two-year schools typically offer more job-specific programs, and are less expensive than four-year private schools.

The ACT’s recommendation: Colleges use learning assistance measures like remedial courses and tutoring to help students stay in school.

What else can schools do to boost retention rates? Offer your ideas in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

Students applying to a parent’s alma mater are seven times more likely to get in than nonlegacy applicants, says a new study by a Harvard doctoral student.

Compare that to students with parents who did graduate work, and those with only extended family who attended the school. They were only twice as likely to be admitted.

The study’s chief finding: If a nonlegacy applicant faced a 15% chance of admission, a primary legacy (the child of an alumnus) with the same credentials would have a 60% chance.

While some researchers are pointing to the practice as being fundamentally unfair since it gives preference to those who already have advantages, some of the study’s findings show that academic performance may still play a major role: Legacy students, on average, had slightly higher SAT scores than their nonlegacy counterparts.

Legacy admissions practices have most recently been criticized for failing to increase alumni giving.

What’s your take on legacies? Share your thoughts in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

More than 40,000 students in the U.S. are coming from China. While historically, American schools have been popular as a graduate option, it’s the country’s undergraduates that now represent the fastest-growing group of international students.

Enrollment of Chinese students is proving to be a boon for public universities. In addition to their academic preparation and global perspective, most international students aren’t eligible for financial aid – so they can pay full tuition to cash-strapped schools.

A major increase in China’s middle- and upper-class population is a factor. The booming Chinese economy means students can afford to study abroad. Since that boom is tied to international trade, many families want to give their children the advantages of English fluency and alumni connections.

To recruit more Chinese students, colleges like Santa Clara University recommend providing promotional materials (in Chinese, of course) promoting your school’s multidisciplinary study approaches, close faculty relationships  and commitment to innovation, all attractive elements of a campus for Chinese students.

What else can schools do to recruit outside the U.S.? Share your efforts in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

Compared to U.S. colleges and universities, schools in the United Kingdom are becoming a more attractive – and affordable – option for cost-conscious students. More than 3,000 undergraduate students realized this in 2009, applying to schools in the U.K. (1,330 of them were accepted). That’s a 27% increase since 2006.

While American schools average close to $40,000 a year, U.K. schools run from $10,000 to $20,000 for U.S. students (for those who can claim “home” status it’s less than $3,000).

Even the hallowed halls of the University of Oxford would only cost a U.S. undergrad a little over $20,000.

Of course, there are downsides – traveling costs, time zone confusion and cultural disparities – but that may be a small price to pay against the estimated $80,000 in savings. But advisors warn students that U.K. studies make it less likely they’ll have a network in place for job hunting after college, unless they plan on working abroad, too.

How can U.S. schools compete? Share your thoughts in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

Enrollment of Muslim students in Catholic colleges has seen a steady increase in recent years, according to the Higher Education Research Institute. Last year, Catholic schools even had a higher percentage of Muslim students than the average four-year institution in the United States.

Muslim students – most often from Saudi Arabia – say they enroll at Catholic colleges for the usual reasons: strong academic programs, engaging professors and attractive campuses. But the schools’ spiritual culture has proved to be a major draw as well.

Catholic school rules line up with multiple Muslim cultural values, including daily prayer, periodic fasting and separate dorms for men and women.

By making religious worship a priority, there is some overlap between Catholic schools and Muslim faith – Muslim students can feel they fit in better in an overtly religious setting, even if it’s not their religion.

How do you accommodate religious needs at your school? Share your experiences in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

Recruitment of international students is on the rise, as schools look to bring in the higher tuition revenue that comes with them, says a recent report from the Council of Graduate Schools.

Schools hoping to lure students from abroad should try these techniques, courtesy of Bob Johnson Consulting:

Provide a website just for them – Since students usually come to a website looking for specific information, give them a page that easily explains how and when international students can apply.

Say it in several languages – For students whose English isn’t strong, spend some time (and money) on translating your web content into additional languages.

Offer up examples – There’s no better selling point for a potential recruit than the testimony of a currently enrolled international student. You can provide contact info on the students so potential enrollees can hear about their experiences directly.

Give region-specific information – Prospective students may want to see information specific to their part of the world, such as financial aid opportunities and visa requirements.

Use social media – A specialized Facebook page can be used to connect current and visiting international students with the campus experience, including events listings and videos.

What else can schools do to recruit internationally? Share your ideas below, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

Be specific – Essays that are more personal and delve into the small details have more impact than trying to capture everything in one essay.

Make a point – Students should ask themselves, “Why am I choosing this subject to write about?” The essay’s topic is less important than the point a student makes about it.

Respond to the prompt – Some students may want to use the same essay for multiple applications, but they need to resist that temptation. Colleges want to see that applicants have answered their prompt.

Don’t rehash information – There’s no need to repeat accomplishments, like grades or extracurriculars, that can be found elsewhere on the application. Students should strive for a personal statement admissions might not learn otherwise.

Seek out feedback – Teachers, parents or friends can all tell if an application essay is effective, or if it needs another pass.

What other suggestions would you give to upcoming applicants? Share your ideas in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

As more adults and military veterans look to switch careers in a tough economy, the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) has begun a new campaign to award college credit for life and work experience.

The “Learning Counts” project provides a program to help adults prepare online portfolios of their job experience. These portfolios will then be evaluated for academic credit by independent faculty. So far, 100 schools in 30 states are participating.

Work experience credits do come with some complications. Credits are difficult to transfer if students change schools, and substituting them for introductory requirements can cause problems for students if they can’t keep up in writing or other basic academic skills.

But a CAEL study of 48 schools finds that students who get credit for experience are more likely to complete degrees. Additionally, adult learners increasingly seek schools that offer credit for experience. In a time where schools are working to increase graduation rates and speed up the time it takes for students to complete degrees, the practice may increase in popularity.

What do you think of credit for experience? Share your thoughts in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

Based on current data, college enrollment of men will continue to decline, with projections that by 2019 women will account for 59% of total undergraduate enrollment.

To reverse this trend, colleges should use the following strategies, according to Augustana College’s W. Kent Barnds:

Audit academic offerings – Look at the history of current programs to find out where you’re losing men; look at national career data to see which careers are more sought after by men, and tailor programs in those areas.

Provide hands-on experiences – Men learn by doing. Engage interning high school juniors and seniors in hands-on learning experiences early in the recruitment process.

Show off your successes – Men seek out inspirational models or mentors; during the recruitment process, feature successful male graduates at open houses, and find opportunities for one-on-one engagement with prospective students.

Focus marketing on outcomes, not processes – Standard selling points like small classes and faculty interaction don’t draw 17-year-old boys as much as concrete outcomes like how schools connect students with their chosen careers.

What other advice would you add? Sound off in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

Recruitment of international students is on the rise, as schools look to bring in the higher tuition revenue that comes with them, says a recent report from the Council of Graduate Schools.

Schools hoping to lure students from abroad should try these techniques, courtesy of Bob Johnson Consulting:

Provide a website just for them – Since students usually come to a website looking for specific information, give them a page that easily explains how and when international students can apply.

Say it in several languages – For students whose English isn’t strong, spend some time (and money) on translating your web content into additional languages.

Offer up examples – There’s no better selling point for a potential recruit than the testimony of a currently enrolled international student. You can provide contact info on the students so potential enrollees can hear about their experiences directly.

Give region-specific information – Prospective students may want to see information specific to their part of the world, such as financial aid opportunities and visa requirements.

Use social media – A specialized Facebook page can be used to connect current and visiting international students with the campus experience, including events listings and videos.

What else can schools do to recruit internationally? Share your ideas below, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.