– Here’s How to Enroll Them at Your Career School –
According to the most current 2022 term-enrollment estimates from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC), overall student enrollment at colleges and universities continues to drop. Total postsecondary enrollment fell to 16.2 million students in the spring, representing a student body decline of 685,000, or 4.1%, over the previous year.[1]
The NSCRC’s spring 2022 semester data also show that community college enrollment declined by 351,000 (7.1%) students year-over-year, with adult learners leading the way, dropping a whopping 10.8%.[2]
Worse, for traditional postsecondary educators, early estimates for the current fall semester are showing further declines; confirming a decade long trend in the trimming of the college and university student body.[3]
However, for CTE advocates, career colleges, tech academies, bootcamps, vocational and trade schools, there is good news. Great news, in fact.
As CTE Policy Watch notes of the NSCRC data, “Enrollment in CTE programs at two-year institutions significantly increased this spring. Agriculture programs experienced the largest enrollment growth, with a 47.8% increase.
“Enrollment in skilled trades programs also grew, including transportation and materials moving (28.9%); precision production (16.7%); and mechanic and repair technologies (11.5%). Construction programs grew 19.3%, returning to pre-pandemic enrollment levels.”
In addition to growth in these CTE fields, programs offering personal and culinary services rose 12.7%, with computer and IT sciences enrollments rising 8.5%.[4]
The data show that students, both high-school grads and adult learners, are foregoing college for a career education instead.
But why?
Brady Woodel, a 23-year-old working in HVAC, and a non-college graduate, may have put it best when he said, “When I came out (of high school) and got my license, I would have earned as much money as I would have accumulated in debt if I had gone to a four-year school.”
“Work in the trades, go to school and have your school paid for by your sponsor and receive an education you don’t have to pay for,” he said.[5]
Of course, Mr. Woodel is not alone in both his thinking and actions. The costs associated with four-year college degrees (and the jobs prospects afterwards) have become a major issue for both high school grads and adult learners. As a result, today, perhaps more than any other time in recent history, students are opting for a career-based education…
And it’s clearly evidenced in the NSCRC data.
But while the demand for these schools is there, and enrollments at many career schools are indeed on the rise, some career and technical educators are having a difficult time meeting their enrollment goals.
Why? Well, many of the career schools that are experiencing unsuccessful enrollment efforts have at least one thing in common.
Prospective students don’t know about them, and the traditional “advertising” efforts these schools are employing are falling short.
However, there is a solution.
Conversion Media Group specializes in connecting high-intent adult learners directly with career educators. Through our use of US-based educational lead-focused contact centers (which we own and operate) and our online education portal at School Match Pro, as well as our highly targeted digital marketing efforts, CMG has a distinct ability to generate call verified leads and live transfers directly to your admissions and enrollment departments…
At the very moment these students are ready to talk to you.
CMG is in constant telephone, SMS text and email communication with thousands of these high-intent learners every day. Not surprisingly, many of these adult learners and high school grads are prepared to enroll as soon as possible or within the next 30-90 days.
However, they want to hear directly from your institution before doing so.
Schools that employ successful enrollment initiatives give them that opportunity. And yours should too.
With the NSCRC data on the fall 2022 semester due out soon, we’re likely to see this long-term trend towards career education continue. So, now is the time to strike, while the iron is hot. Enroll them!
With CMG’s US-based owned and operated contact centers, our call verified leads and live “hot” transfers, our cutting-edge digital marketing and our School Match Pro website, the opportunity to boost your enrollment is now!
If you’re interested in learning more about how Conversion Media Group can drive qualified education leads, live transfers, applications, and enrollments to your institution – call one of our education specialists today at: (+1) 800 419 3201.
Or you can contact us HERE, and an adult education enrollment expert will get back with you to share our incredible enrollment insights, ASAP!
[1] Current Term Enrollment Estimates – National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (nscresearchcenter.org)
[2] Current Term Enrollment Estimates – National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (nscresearchcenter.org)
[4] CTE Programs: A Bright Spot in Spring Postsecondary Enrollment – CTE Policy Watch: A blog for CTE advocates (acteonline.org)
[5] Report: More students choosing trade school education over 4-year college | WCTI (wcti12.com)