Fall 2014 outcomes: New student enrollment stays flat, but retention rises slightly

A forthcoming report from Noel-Levitz, Fall 2014 New Student Enrollment and Retention Outcomes at Four-Year Institutions,  has found that FTIC (first-time-in-college) enrollment essentially held steady in fall 2014 vs. fall 2013 at the median for four-year colleges and universities, with no significant changes. (The report will be released in mid-December.)

Change in fall 2014 enrollment vs. fall 2013 enrollment

New full-time, first-time-in-college, degree-seeking students

Although it is not shown here, the report also found that new full-time transfer student enrollment remained flat at the median, similar to the FTIC outcomes.

The forthcoming report also found fall-to-fall retention rates for full-time FTIC students rose slightly at the median, with a 2.5 percent median increase in the first-to-second-year retention rate for private institutions and a marginally significant 1.4 percent median increase in the first-to-second-year retention rate for public institutions.

In addition, graduation rates rose a marginally significant 1.9 percent at the median for public institutions while remaining flat for private institutions.

Watch for the complete report to be released soon.  To receive a copy of the report when it is released, readers may subscribe to receive trend reports and papers at www.noellevitz.com/Subscribe.