How Higher Education Enrollment Strategies Are Reshaping Opportunities for Stranded Students After University Closures
In a shocker, the University of the Arts in Philadelphia announced last week it was closing, leaving its students up in the air. But the sudden closure has been quickly matched by an equally surprising number of interest from other colleges looking to scoop up suddenly displaced students. With offers of tuition discounts or even free housing, schools are making five-star pitches to lure in new students, demonstrating a rare opportunity for both the students and the schools themselves.
The Race to Woo Students
When UArts closed, other schools swooped in to scoop up the stranded students. Ursinus College, a private liberal arts college in Pennsylvania, has dangled a particularly enticing offer: 50 percent off its $60,000 tuition. Likewise, Drexel University, just two miles from the UArts campus, offered the same discount. The offers underscore the cutthroat environment of higher education, in which student bodies represent budgets.
One example is Point Park University in Pittsburgh, which will give up to 75 students free housing for a semester. That incentive alone does much more than ease the pocket, reflecting its commitment to supporting people in need.
La Salle University, even when fighting its own enrolment battles, opened its doors as much as possible to UArts students. The College of New Jersey extended its application deadline and waived application fees to make the transfer process easy and seamless.
A Strategic Move for Institutions
For many of these colleges, being in a position to welcome UArts students was more than just an act of charity; it was strategic. The economics of higher education mean that the sudden increase in students will be a windfall for many—eespecially smaller—ccolleges whose enrolments are slipping.
This has been an especially unsettling year for colleges, with problems with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid leaving many administrators guessing about how many freshmen will show up on campus this fall. In recruiting UArts students, these colleges are shoring up not only seats but also their bottom line.
A Future for Stranded Students
These are life-saving opportunities for UArts students. The ability to pursue education without major financial dislocation proves to be a big relief itself. A range of options allows students to tailor the most fitting academic and personal approach.
This situation therefore puts across the message that higher education, in general, needs flexibility and adaptability. With increasing pressure being put on finances at colleges, it is this very capacity for response to changes in the market that might be different between thriving and struggling.
