Kaplan Survey: College Admissions Officers See Competitive Application Cycle Ahead, but Worry About Enrollment Cliff
Key Highlights
- ➤90% expect 2026–2027 admissions competition at least as strong as 2025–2026
- ➤81% of admissions officers worry about enrollment cliff’s higher-education impact
- ➤68% fear demographic shifts could force colleges to close or merge
- ➤16% at test-optional colleges say SAT/ACT requirements may return
- ➤Common App applications rose 6% to over 10.7 million in 2025–2026
Expert Statements
Jason Bedford, Senior vice president, Kaplan
“Families may hear ‘enrollment cliff’ and assume that fewer college-age students will mean an easier path to admission, but the reality is more complicated.”
Jason Bedford, Senior vice president, Kaplan
“Admissions officers still expect a competitive environment, while expressing significant concern about what demographic changes could mean for higher education.”
Jason Bedford, Senior vice president, Kaplan
“The enrollment cliff may create opportunities at some schools, but it could also affect financial aid, academic offerings, and the number of institutions available to students.”
Jason Bedford, Senior vice president, Kaplan
“Applicants shouldn’t assume the landscape will suddenly become easier; they should build a thoughtful college list, understand each school’s admissions and financial aid policies, and focus on submitting the strongest application possible.”
Kaplan Survey: College Admissions Officers See Competitive Application Cycle Ahead, but Worry About Enrollment Cliff
College admissions officers expect competition to remain strong even as they brace for the potentially far-reaching consequences of the looming enrollment cliff, according to a new survey from global education company Kaplan.* Ninety percent predict that the 2026–2027 admissions cycle will be at least as competitive as the 2025–2026 cycle, including 11 percent who expect it to be much more competitive, 33 percent somewhat more competitive, and 46 percent about the same.
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