Record High Enrollments May Have Both Positive and Negative Effects

The last issue of eNEWSLINE explored AACSB member school data to examine whether an increase in the number of applications translates to an increase in enrollments. It was found that, depending on the level of education (undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral), an increase in applications does align with an increase in enrollments. Over the last two months, AACSB has continued to monitor this trend.

There have been numerous press releases and news articles from schools reporting record breaking enrollment numbers; primarily in the United States. For example, Cleveland State University (Ohio, USA) reached a 15-year high in its total student enrollment. The school experienced a 4% increase in the overall enrollment as compared to the same time last year. Additionally, the school’s new graduate enrollment increased by 41% for U.S. students and 54% for international students. Cleveland State believes the increases are due to “freshman (first-year undergraduate students), returning veterans, and graduate students.” At Northern Arizona University (Arizona, USA), the student population has increased 5% over last year’s record numbers. Northern Arizona also welcomed its largest freshman class in the school’s history. At Lander University (South Carolina, USA), there was a 7% increase in registered students, which included one of the school’s largest freshman classes. In Pennsylvania, Edinboro University saw an 8% increase in total student enrollment, also an all-time high for the school.

The figure below represents several institutions in the U.S. that have reported significant increases in their enrollments as compared to this time last year.

Figure 1.

Schools have attributed the increasing enrollment to a variety of factors. Several have stated that the increases are due to new administrative processes and programs. Other schools have reported the increases are due to a trend for obtaining higher education, as well as high unemployment (particularly in the United States). For instance, Bea Conzalex, dean of Syracuse University’s University College stated that their increases are due to “a recent spike in the number of people who have recently lost their businesses or have been laid off.”

Schools are managing the increasing demands differently. Some have reported that they are increasing the number of sections being offered and increasing class sizes. Several schools have started waiting lists for entry, particularly at the graduate level. Other schools are working together to accommodate the accelerating demands through the exchange of faculty and facilities.

So, what does this all mean? This can be viewed from both positive and negative perspectives. In the United States, postsecondary educational institutions have been threatened by bad economic conditions. Federal funding of public institutions has declined, substantial amounts of faculty members have been laid off, and program budgets have been drastically reduced. If schools are able to retain the majority of these newly enrolled students, they may see significant increases in revenue. This additional revenue may help to relieve some of the budgetary pressures for next year. With regards to students, the increasing numbers may create competition between applicants, therefore increasing the overall quality of incoming students.

On the negative side, schools that have been forced to lay off faculty may have to turn away the revenue due to an inability to handle more students. Schools may also encounter problems that are associated with the increasing administrative overhead costs of additional students. The volume of students may also lead to crowded classes. And, more anxiety may be experienced with regards to the doctoral faculty shortages.

Therefore, it is possible that no one may know exactly how the increasing enrollments will affect educational institutions in the long run. The outcomes are highly dependent on the size of the school, its faculty and administrative resources, and/or the strategy that it is implementing to rebound from the recession.