Key points:
- Students value higher-ed websites, but find navigating them frustrating
- If institutions modernize and streamline their websites, those updates could play a part in improving the enrollment crisis
- See related article: “Gen P” students remain unsure about college
More than nine out of 10 high school students say they use a higher education institution’s website to guide their college research process, but many find the navigation of these websites frustrating, according to the 2023 E-expectations Trends Report: Attracting, Engaging, and Enrolling High School Students, a study developed by Modern Campus and based on research conducted in partnership with Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL).
The report provides insight into what high school students expect from colleges and sheds light on how colleges and universities can attract, engage and enroll prospective students.
The bi-annual study explores the online expectations, experiences, behaviors, and priorities of high school students across the United States in the process of searching for college. With the college search process now beginning early in high school for many students, this 2023 report presents many findings by high school year, showing how student behavior changes as they approach graduation.
Despite higher-ed websites being the top used resource for finding information, navigating them and finding the right information is still something high school students find frustrating. They expect and want these websites to be easily navigable and show personalized content. And as a result, despite their wide use, students indicate concerns around how helpful the websites truly are. About one in five 10th-grade and first-generation students said they do not find higher-ed websites helpful.
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