Want to learn about findings from NACAC’s annual State of College Admission report?

David Hawkins, the association’s executive director of educational content and policy, shared insights from the report and talked about trends in the college admission profession this week on Admissions Live.

 The hour-long episode is now available online.

Noteworthy findings from this year’s report include:

• Grades Matter Most: Students’ grades and the academic rigor of their course loads weigh more heavily in decisions to admit than standardized test scores, high school class rank, or demonstrated interest in attending.
• Colleges Accept Nearly Two-Thirds of First-Time Freshmen Applicants: The average selectivity rate at four-year colleges for Fall 2014 was 65.8 percent, edging up from 64.7 in Fall 2013 after reaching a low of 63.9 percent in Fall 2012.
• Decline in Average Yield Rate for First-Time Freshmen Stabilizes: The average yield rate (percentage of admitted students who enroll) increased for the first time in Fall 2014, hitting 36.2 percent after a long and steady decline from 48.7 percent in 2002 to 35.7 percent in Fall 2013.
• Application Growth Continues: Between the Fall 2014 and Fall 2015 admission cycles, the number of applications from first-time freshmen increased 6 percent; applications from prospective transfer students increased by 4 percent; and international student applications increased by 23 percent, on average.

Admitted writer/editor Mary Stegmeir welcomes additional comments and story ideas at mstegmeir@nacacnet.org.