Most recently colleges have seen a dramatic decrease in applications, almost exclusively in its international department, which some say is a direct result of the political atmosphere. Whether this will shift attention to a pursuit in an online college degree is clearly unknown but it certainly begs the question. So therefore let’s take a look at some of the colleges who are affected by a sudden decrease in applications.
Stanford University
When it comes to a private research university with undeniable academic strength, inconceivable wealth, and its proximity to Silicon Valley, Stanford is often called one of the world’s most prestigious universities. However with an increase in startups, Stanford has seen a 0.77% decrease in applications.
MIT
From one prestigious private research university to another. Besides when your alumni consists of 85 Nobel laureates and 34 astronauts, it’s no wonder why it ranks among the world’s top universities overall. However applications have fallen slightly at 1.2%. Maybe it has something to do with an online college degree or maybe not.
University of Chicago
And the prestigious universities just keep on comin’. Since 1856, U of C has been churning out prestigious graduates which include 13 billionaire graduates, countless members of the United States Congress, and even heads of state of countries. Now it’s experiencing a drop of 1.4% in applications.
Yale University
Ahem, we could write novels upon novels of Yale’s prestigious alumni but we just don’t have that kind of time. As far as Ivy League schools go, it’s no question that Yale University ranks high on that list. However even the third-oldest institution in the United States has seen a drop of 1.45% in applicants. Not even Rory Gilmore or an online college degree could deter from that fact.
University of Michigan
Founded in 1817, Michigan is still one of the foremost research universities in the United States. Although when you compare its 2.09% applicant decrease versus other years, it’s a significant drop.
Princeton University
No doubt you’ve heard of Princeton? Established in 1746, the fourth-oldest education institution in the United States, and has a ridiculous bunch of alumni (2 U.S. Presidents, 12 U.S. Supreme Court Justices, 41 Nobel laureates, and the list goes on). In spite of all this, its application base is at a decrease of 2.38%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Tech provides 225 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, so there’s no need for an online college degree here. Be that as it may, there is an 5.34% applicant decrease while the acceptance rate is quite high.
New York University Tandon School of Engineering
Now it’s no secret that New York is home to one of the most vibrant and incredible cities in the entire world, but it’s also one of the most expensive. Tuition alone for the New York University Tandon School of Engineering is some $40,000 deep. So it’s also not surprising that the university is at a 5.75% applicant decrease. Even if it’s the “second oldest private engineering and technology school in the United States”.
Amherst College
Quite recently, Amherst College was “ranked as the second best liberal arts college in the country,” by U.S. News & World Report. Even with an acceptance rate of just under 15%, the applications rate has lowered by a whopping 6.31%.
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
We’re headed to the East Village neighborhood of dear ol’ Manhattan, New York City now to briefly discuss Cooper Union. Known for many years as one of the most selective schools in the nation, Cooper’s acceptance rate is usually below 10% and now it seems that its applicants rate have dropped too, by 6.5% in fact. Heck, even Newsweek dubbed it as the “#1 Most Desirable Small School”.
University of California, Berkeley
UC Berkeley ranks as the third greatest school in the entire world – so yah know, it’s pretty important. Even with its 91 Nobel laureates, 20 Academy Awards, 14 Pulitzer Prizes, and 117 Olympic gold medals, Berkeley is at a 6.54% applicant drop.
Drake University
As an Iowa girl, it’s a bit disappointing to see Drake University wind up on this list. Alas, here we are, as this private university has now seen an applicant drop by 6.72%. Hmm, an online college degree, anyone?
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, Maryland is home to this four year co-ed federal service academy. However even in all its glory, USNA is experiencing a drop by 7.06%.
Reed College
Just in case you didn’t know, Reed College is known for it’s mandatory freshman humanities program, oh yeah and it has an unusually high proportion of graduates who go on to earn doctorates and other postgraduate degrees. So when it has a 7.6% decrease in applications, it sure does make one wonder what’s gone wrong. Well maybe an online college degree is worth it after all.
Harvard University
Uhh, just hearing the word “Harvard” makes me ease into a more posh state of mind. Oh, is it just me? Come on guys, eight U.S. presidents graduated from there (including Barack Obama), plus some 130 Nobel laureates, 62 living billionaires, and 359 Rhodes Scholars. So…’nuff said. However, it has seen an 8% applicant decrease so that’s worrying.
University of Connecticut
Ranked as the best public national university, UConn is located in Storrs, Connecticut. Then again with an 8.3% applicant decrease, seems like there could be an increase in an online college degree admission.
Columbia University
Columbia University, as you know, is often considered as one of the world’s most prestigious universities. Which is why its 8.5% applicant decrease is a bit surprising.
Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah is where you’ll find Brigham Young, a private research university. In spite of all its prestigious accolades, the university has seen a 9.03% applicant decrease.
Whitman College
Before I snicker an obscene amount, Whitman is a private liberal arts college that is located in, wait for it…Walla Walla, Washington. Phew, now that that’s over, let me just cut to the case and say that it has an 9.3% applicant decrease.
Messiah College
So there’s probably a hilarious joke or pun that can be inserted into this list when it comes to Messiah College, but let’s not go there. As a private Christian college, its seen a drop of 10% in its applicant rates. Well, online college perhaps?
University of San Diego
Let’s jet over to the West Coast to discuss why the University of San Diego has experienced an 11.37% drop in applications. I mean, USD does offer over 60 degrees at a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level.
Grinnell College
Oh look, a second college from Iowa winds up on the list. Grinnell is a private liberal arts college that has seen a 12.63% applicant drop. Yikes is an understatement in this case.
Rhodes College
Memphis, Tennessee is where you’ll find this private, liberal arts college. However its more likely that people are in an online college atmosphere as Rhodes has experienced a staggering 14.09% drop in applications.
Wofford College
No doubt about it, Wofford is known for its strong academic programs centered in pre-medical and pre-law studies. With that being said, it has seen a significant drop in applications, 15% to be exact.
Millsaps College
Millsaps College has been around since 1890 and has over 900 students. Although when it has a 15.7% fall in applicants, it’s a pretty serious matter. As such, online college doesn’t seem so far fetched in this case.
United States Air Force Academy
You guessed it, USAFA is a military academy for officer cadets of the United States Air Force. Although it has recently sustained a 21.51% drop in its application rates. Whoa.
Simmons College – Boston
Boston, Massachusetts has two parts to it; one, as a private women focused undergraduate college and two, as a private co-educational graduate school. Moreover not even that exclusivity could have prepared the college for its 4.53% applicant decrease.
Allegheny College
With an acceptance rate of around 71%, this liberal arts college has felt a serious blow. As its application rate has dwindled by a 5.90% rate. Like we’ve said folks, an online college degree is not that far fetched this year.
Boston College
Oh man, another Massachusetts school makes the list. Although, not as devastating as Boston College. Brace yourself. Boston College has sustained a 27.96% decrease in applicants.
Wheaton College
Illinois is where you’ll find this Christian arts college. However when it undergoes a 5.77% decrease in applications, one worries about the future of the school. So, online college is looking more likely, eh?
Jackson State University
Jackson State University, “a historically Black college and university” has felt a 6.34% decline in applications. Although with almost 10,000 students, it seems like it’ll pick up the rate in no time.
Ferris State University
Yup, Big Rapids, Michigan is where you’ll find Ferris State University. Even with an impressive faculty–student ratio of 1:16, the college has still experienced a 6.63% drop in applications.
Indiana Institute of Technology
As far as private non-profit, Ph.D. orientated schools go, Indiana Institute of Technology has only been around since 1930 and is experiencing a 7.16% fall in applications.
William Carey University
So William Carey University has ranked as number two in U.S News & World Report on the list of the best colleges in America. However, its currently seen a decline in applications by 7.94%.
Southern Connecticut State University
Established in 1893, Southern Connecticut State University is seeing a startling 8.07% decline in applicants. As a result, makes one think that an online college degree might be worth it.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Up next is the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a public urban research university that is experiencing a 8.23% decline in applications. So you see folks, online college could be the answer here.
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
Some 16,000 students are enrolled in the school’s business, arts & sciences, culinary arts, education, and engineering programs. Although the school is still seeing a 9.58% applicant decrease.
Denison University
In case you didn’t know, this private liberal arts college has been dubbed by the New York Times as one of the country’s ‘Most Economically Diverse Top Colleges’. Which makes its 9.68% drop in applications totally surprising.
Madonna University
If you’ve ever considered an online college degree, after reading this list, you might be sorely tempted. We reach Madonna University, a Catholic liberal arts, whose applications rate has dropped by 9.89% overall.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University, a public university located in Durant, Oklahoma has recently seen a 10% decrease in applications. Furthermore, need we mention an online college degree again?
Truman State University
Since 1876, Truman State University has reached some 6,000 students in its public liberal arts programs. However it has undergone a surprising 10.34% decline in its application rate.
Missouri Southern State University
Joplin, Missouri is home to this public, state university, who currently has seen a 10.7% drop in their application rate. Again, need we state the obvious that online college is clearly an option.
Rutgers University – Newark
One of three regional campuses of Rutgers University makes the list. U.S. News & World Report even named Rutgers–Newark as “the most diverse national university in the United States”. Moreover not even that could stop its 11.2% application decline.
Northeastern State University
Tahlequah, Oklahoma is where you’ll find Northeastern State University and its 11.13% drop in applications. Unfortunately, an online college degree just seems to be a better alternative at this point.
Rutgers University – Camden
Oh great, we’ve got another one of three regional campuses of Rutgers University on this list. As such, Rutgers University-Camden’s application rate has seen over an 11.5% drop.
SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill
Just to clear up, SUNY Cobleskill is a comprehensive college which has degrees in agriculture and technology; business and computer technology; and liberal arts and sciences. Plus so much more. Although when it has an 11.92% decline in applicants, its a cause for worry.
Florida A&M University
FAMU was established way back in 1887 and unfortunately, its seen a stunning 12.12% fall in its application rate. Did we mention online college just seem so much more likely?
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
So the Charlotte location of Johnson & Wales makes the list. Unfortunately, this university has experienced a 12.77% applicant drop. Yikes.
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Even with almost a 100% acceptance rate, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania has recently experienced a 13.8% drop in applicants.
King University
King University has a very serious ring to it as far as names are concerned. However even that doesn’t stop its 14.63% decline in applications rates.