Press Release
Media Contact:
Craig Urch
Eduventures, Inc.
857-221-9789
curch@eduventures.com
Eduventures Survey Finds that Catholic Institutions May Face Declining Enrollment
Unless They Improve Their Ability to Articulate Why Non-Catholic Students Should Attend Their Institution
(Boston, MA) June 18, 2009 – Eduventures, Inc., the leader in higher education research and consulting, recently released the results of a nationwide survey of prospective college students that illustrates the enrollment pressures currently facing Catholic institutions. Drawing upon survey responses from over 4,300 prospective students, the study demonstrates a stark split in the perceived strengths and weaknesses of a Catholic education between students with a high existing level of interest in attending a Catholic school and those with limited interest in Catholic schools. In particular, non-Catholic students with no prior Catholic school experience were least likely to be interested in a Catholic education while also being least aware of the real experiences and opportunities at a Catholic institution.
Among the key findings from the study were:
- Students with limited initial interest in Catholic institutions express concern over the perceived impact of religion on the education they would receive at a Catholic institution. Over a third of students who indicated no interest in attending a Catholic institution listed as their main reason "Not my religion/values" or "not religious/Don't believe religion should be part of education," while an additional 10% listed "Too strict, conservative/Catholicism will be forced on me."
- Misperceptions about the academic experience exist among students who are not educated on the benefits or attributes of a Catholic education. Students with less interest in Catholic education held a bias that many important attributes of a vibrant academic experience (such as "intellectual development" and "challenging coursework") were more likely to exist at non-Catholic institutions.
- Non-Catholic students in particular expressed concern over the extent to which Catholic religious beliefs are part of the educational experience at Catholic institutions. When provided a series of statements about the characteristics of Catholic institutions, the greatest differences in perceptions between Catholic and non-Catholic students was in the disagreement of non-Catholics with the statement "students and faculty who are not Catholic are free to express their religious or spiritual beliefs" and the heightened expectation of non-Catholics that "students at Catholic colleges and universities are required to attend religious services."
However, Catholic schools do have strengths on which they can capitalize:
- All students, regardless of existing interest level in a Catholic education, feel that spiritual and moral development, as well as opportunities to serve their community are more prevalent at Catholic-affiliated institutions.
"This study usefully demonstrates why Catholic institutions need to take control of their own story if they wish to attract larger numbers of non-Catholic students" said Peter Stokes, Eduventures Chief Research Officer. "Many of the misperceptions of Catholic institutions result from a lack of awareness among prospective students about the real experiences of a Catholic education. The reality is that the experiences these institutions create for their students can become enrollment drivers if properly highlighted."
About Eduventures, Inc. Eduventures has been committed to improving higher education since its founding in 1993. Today, we partner with more than 300 colleges and universities across the United States. Our research membership programs and consulting services help higher education leaders achieve organizational goals and solve pressing challenges with evidence-based insights and guidance. Visit www.eduventures.com for more information.
