It's now EASIER to get into college

As enrollment in colleges and universities continues to decline — down by more than 2 million students, or 10 percent, in the 10 years ending 2022 — they’re not only casting wider nets. Something else is happening to the college application process, for the first time in decades:
It’s becoming easier to get in.

Colleges and universities, on average, are admitting a larger proportion of their applicants than they did 20 years ago, according to new research by the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.
The median acceptance rate at bachelor’s degree-granting universities and colleges was 7.6 percentage points higher in 2022 than it was in 2012, AEI found. Those are the most recently available admission figures reported to the federal government and do not include institutions with open admission, which accept 100 percent of applicants.

This comes after a period of declining acceptance rates and increasing competition to get into college since around the turn of the millennium, which aggravated fears among students and their families that they’d be rejected by the institutions of their choice.

[rbmac]

Colleges may be accepting more people, but it is definitely NOT "easier". I'm still paying off three semesters at OU from ten years ago. Hell, my friend went there for one semester and just finished paying that off EARLIER THIS YEAR.

[lichtheimer]

Well first: Congratulations to Alisa for now being a full employee and not just an intern.

Secondly: I dropped out of college because I had massive anxiety and anxiety attacks that were severely concerning for my well being. So it's not going to college that worries me, it's the crippling debt I don't need.

[Beckibird]

I wish it was easy but even with scholarships and Pell grants it’s still too expensive

[thegoogs]

this is simply a poor interpretation of stats. it may be “easier” if you use acceptance rates, but a holistic interpretation of the data would point to it being much harder for gen z to get into colleges these days than previous generations. when it comes to average gpas, standardized test scores, etc it’s far more competitive than it ever has been, especially if you are from a minoritized group. additionally, scholarships are much more competitive and tuition is higher. better research next time, please!

[Fen_Fox]

Easier to get into college maybe, but I want to see the retention rates and see if they’re increasing, because I wouldn’t be surprised if that was also the case.

[beec]

as long as you're able to take out unlimited loans to cover tuition a college will never turn you away

[kingace]

Too many college grads, not enough jobs for their degrees = student loans for no reason. People are better off going to trade school; cheaper and a more secure career path.

[Valomeo]

some positive news, finally! we REALLY needed them

[thecodemachine]

So more colleges are taking student's money.

[vullord]

I think the overall concern with university for current and upcoming generations is the value dropping. With everyone pushed to going to college and likely getting accepted somewhere whether they even want a degree or not (it just becomes the default next step), all of a sudden a degree matters a lot less when hiring. Then there's still the cost and potential debt to deal with. During my entire time at college I was warned that a master's is becoming the new bachelor's and making attending grad school the new "next step" to stand out among employers and find a good career. For most Americans with average skills and average household income looking to improve their station in life, that's rather terrifying.

[GOCAPSDMV]

Maybe in a galaxy far far away but here?!?!? There is no way it is EASIER 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[Duckssssssss]

At first I thought you meant that she was fired lmao

[favhwdg]

Debt+AI+No more respect for many majors such as communications

[BoltRM]

The Post & Amazon will never live down what they did to America 🇺🇸

[braindecay]

Most people shouldn't go to college at all, especially in the US - all it leaves them with is insane amount of debts and worse pay and opportunity than every random trade job.

Some STEM stuff is an exception, but if you're in for the money: don't go for 95%-100% of the degrees you're thinking about

[DebTheDevastator]

They are accepting more people now because they want that sweet sweet cash before the economy completely tanks and all the good professors escape to other countries to teach.

[soundwave.superior]

It's almost like they want to make it easier to trick teenagers into committing to giving them tens of thousands of dollars. Academia is in shambles in the U.S. and if you can avoid going to a four year university, please do. Community colleges and trade schools are excellent and often lead to more lucrative jobs down the line.

[CaptainMorghan]

Well yeah they want to accept as many as possible to make money overcharging tuition

[GCATLiving]

More students means more money. It also means overcrowded campuses and an ever-increasing teacher/student ratio and it just shows they're all in it for profit.

[RoyalKingOliver]

It’s called online and community college.

Save money, and get those credits