Evidence from the Admissions Research Consortium (ARC)

This summary distills four years of research from the Admissions Research Consortium (ARC), offering enrollment leaders relevant, actionable insights on post-pandemic trends in applications, testing behavior, and student success. It highlights key implications for admissions strategies, academic support, and policy decisions in an evolving landscape.

This research provides evidence from Admissions Research Consortium institutions on applications, admissions, and enrollment trends through fall 2024 as well as evidence on first-year college student outcomes through the 2023-24 academic year.

The pandemic upended the college-going process for students and, as a result, institutions were forced to make admissions decisions with different, and often less, information than they’ve historically relied upon. Many institutions implemented test-optional policies for the first time. Summary findings from the Admissions Research Consortium detail patterns related to who applied, who enrolled, how these students performed in their first year of college, and how these results inform admissions policies over the long term. Learn about how students are making score disclosure decisions, how consortium institutions are supporting their students, and why over half of institutions are now requesting or requiring test scores be submitted at the time of enrollment.

This research brief provides updated evidence from ARC on fall 2022 applications, admissions, and enrollment trends as well as new evidence on students’ test score disclosure decisions.

This research brief presents initial evidence from ARC on first-year college grades, credit accumulation, and retention in the second year for fall 2021 first-year enrollees compared to prior cohorts of first-year students at ARC institutions.

This research brief presents initial evidence from ARC on changes in application, admissions, and enrollment trends in the fall 2021 college application cycle compared to prior years, and evidence on applicants’ decisions about whether or not to submit their test scores.

Enrollment leaders and researchers were surveyed as part of College Board’s Admissions Research Consortium. Leaders report that they remain committed to clearly communicating current policies to prospective students, giving applicants every opportunity to demonstrate their strengths when applying for admission, and helping students succeed once enrolled. This brief explores these responses in order to help bring further clarity to enrollment strategies and planning as the field looks forward toward the future of admissions policy and practice.