More applications don’t always mean more students. Use insights from the 2026 National Admitted Student Survey to increase your institution’s enrollment yield.
Making the case for postsecondary enrollment remains complicated. In fact, making the right case to the right student, through the right channel, requires knowing more than ever before. Use new insights from the 2026 National Admitted Student Survey to strengthen your institution’s recruitment and enrollment plans.
In spring 2026, Hanover Research surveyed nearly 1,000 students admitted to U.S. institutions to learn about their 2026–27 plans, preferences, and decision factors.
Download the 2026 National Admitted Student Survey report for key insights on the changing needs of college-bound students, including:
- Top factors that lead to enrollment interest and applications
- Reasons for accepting, declining, or deferring admission offers this year
- How AI is changing the search and application process
- First-year concerns and expectations
“In 2026, institutions attuned to the perceptions, expectations, and worries of prospective and admitted students are more likely to detect early trends, strategically reduce operational risks, and offer a more compelling value proposition that will win over more students.”
The State of U.S. College Admissions in 2026
Admitted students’ enrollment likelihood remains steady in 2026 and their belief in the value of a degree is up. But the conditions driving those numbers shift the recruitment cycle in new ways.
Financial pressures — whether insecurity around costs or aid — will cause more students to decline or defer. Aid package and cost competitiveness drive enrollment outcomes more than most other factors.
At the same time, nearly 25% of admitted students consider an institution’s financial stability when deciding where to apply, signaling yet another reason for colleges and universities to accelerate their institutional resilience planning.
How Can Colleges Increase Enrollment in 2026?
Surveying student populations is a vital way to maintain a strong institutional outlook and increase enrollment yield. Colleges and universities that regularly measure admitted students’ preferences can make clearer decisions about recruitment, marketing, admissions, and student engagement.
- Admitted student surveys provide colleges and universities with a candid view of students’ application and enrollment experiences, their decision drivers, and their perceptions of institutional strengths and weaknesses.
- Higher education leaders can use these survey results to spot patterns, refine strategies, assess messaging effectiveness, and reach students at the moments that matter most.
- Tracking student perceptions and preferences over time allows institutions to continually improve their recruitment, marketing, admissions, and student engagement practices, helping more students find successful pathways to enrollment.
For example, Hanover’s 2026 National Admitted Student Survey analysis reveals how students are using AI tools during the college search and application process. For institutions managing their digital presence and outreach strategy, this is data worth understanding now.
