May 13, 2008
BOSTON—Nearly 150 New England public and independent colleges and universities were still considering additional freshman and/or transfer applications for fall 2008 as of the traditional May 1 college admissions deadline, according to the New England Board of Higher Education’s (NEBHE) Annual Student Vacancy survey released today.
“Students who have yet to make a college decision, were wait-listed or not admitted to the institution of their choice should be aware that many opportunities remain at colleges and universities throughout New England,” said NEBHE Interim President and CEO Michael K. Thomas.
“Our message is that higher education is the gateway to success for everyone, and part of our mission is to expand the number of New Englanders who attend either a two- or four-year college,” added Thomas.
NEBHE polled 220 colleges and universities throughout New England to determine which institutions were willing to consider, as of May 1, 2008, additional freshman and/or transfer applications for fall 2008 admission.
Among the key survey findings:
- Nearly 65 percent of the 195 New England colleges responding to the survey —126 campuses — still had fall 2008 openings for qualified freshman and transfer applicants as of the traditional May 1 deadline.
- 40 New England colleges surveyed were closed to both freshman and transfer applicants as of May 1.
- 17 colleges surveyed reported openings for transfer students only.
- 97 percent of the colleges reporting openings indicated that financial aid was still available to qualified applicants as of May 1.
As in previous years, many community college programs in high-demand allied health fields, including nursing, radiological technology and dental hygiene, were full to capacity and closed to new applicants.
The New England institutions willing to consider additional freshman and/or transfer applications as of May 1 include:
- 75 private four-year colleges and universities
- 26 public four-year colleges and universities
- 8 private two-year colleges
- 38 public community colleges, which generally offer admissions on a “rolling basis” as part of their missions
Apply now!
NEBHE officials urge prospective college students to apply to campuses with openings as soon as possible because available slots may be limited. In addition, certain programs at these “open” institutions may be closed. Students are advised not to reapply to any colleges where their applications have already been rejected. More than half of colleges with openings that also offer on-campus housing indicated that housing was still available for additional new students as of May 1.
Survey results are available online here and from NEBHE, 45 Temple Place, Boston, MA 02111. Phone: 617.357.9620, ext. 125.
About the New England Student Vacancy Survey
NEBHE has surveyed New England higher education institutions every year since 1960 as a public service to college-bound New England residents and as a measure of college application trends.
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