November 4, 2021 — PITTSBURGH — Niche, the leading platform connecting students and families with colleges and schools, today published survey findings from 10,969 first-generation students searching for and applying to colleges. The First-Generation Student Recruitment Insights for 2021-22 were compiled as an effort to highlight the challenges that first-generation students share (despite their own diverse experiences and backgrounds) so colleges can better support them throughout the admissions process.
First-generation students differed dramatically from their peers in several areas. First, they were almost twice as likely as their peers to consider enrolling at a 2-year college. More than one in three first-generation students responded that application deadlines were earlier than they felt comfortable making decisions of where to apply, and almost half of first-generation students said that application fees were a burden, significantly more than their peers.
“Most first-generation students don’t have firsthand knowledge of college admissions, a process that can overwhelm even students who have had multiple generations of family attend college,” said Will Patch, Senior Enrollment Insights Leader. “It’s important for schools to pay attention to first-generation students’ unique needs so they can reach and support them in the most effective way. We hope that this survey will provide valuable insights in that regard.”
Other key takeaways include:
The survey results can be viewed in full here: https://www.niche.com/about/enrollment-insights/first-generation-student-recruitment-insights-for-2021-22/
About Niche: Niche is where students and parents choose their school. Whether a school is already on their list or the perfect fit they haven’t yet discovered, Niche connects families to the ones that are uniquely right for them. Our enrollment marketing solutions enable our 1,800 partners to build genuine connections that nurture interest into visits, applications and enrollment. By supporting over 50 million students and parents, Niche is changing how schools and colleges connect with families and build their future classes.
Press contact:
Natalie Tsay
Senior PR Specialist
Natalie.Tsay@niche.com