Kaplan

The University of Pennsylvania is giving applicants clearer direction on how they can—and can’t—use generative AI. Penn’s new guidelines don’t prohibit AI outright, allowing its use for tasks like organizing thoughts or checking grammar, but emphasize that essays and responses must reflect applicants’ own ideas, voices and experiences. AI-generated responses could compromise an applicant’s certification that their work is their own. Penn’s move comes as colleges nationwide continue to grapple with this issue. In Kaplan’s 2025 survey of more than 200 college admissions officers, 68% said their schools had no official policy on using GenAI to write admissions essays, while 30% banned it and just 2% permitted it. Admissions officers told us they were particularly concerned about authenticity and applicants losing their individual voices. We’re tracking the issue again in this year’s survey to see how policies and attitudes are evolving. Stay tuned for what we find! https://lnkd.in/gyueK9nE #highereducation #highered #collegesanduniversities #ai

💰 The price of college is rising—and families are feeling it. Families spent an average of $34,019 on college during the 2025–26 academic year, a 10% increase from the year before, according to a new Sallie Mae report. Nearly half of those costs were covered directly through student and parent income and savings. And cost isn’t just affecting how families pay for college—it’s shaping where students apply and enroll. A striking 79% of families eliminated colleges from consideration at multiple stages because of price. Yet families continue to see the value of a degree: 82% believe it will lead to higher income, while 80% say they’re willing to stretch their resources to pay for it. 👨🎓 The findings underscore the increasingly complex balancing act between college affordability, access and long-term value. As costs rise, helping students make informed choices about where—and how—to invest in their education becomes even more important. For colleges and universities, the challenge is equally clear: demonstrating value while finding ways to reduce financial barriers that may keep talented students from enrolling or even applying. https://lnkd.in/gywFba5A #highereducation #highered #collegesanduniversities

Meet Claire Mba-Madubuike, a senior at Alabama State University, who benefited from free Kaplan LSAT and GRE courses made possible through her school's All Access License partnership with us. 📈 Claire recommends Kaplan to anyone serious about doing well on the exams, pointing to the value of its practice tests and study materials, as well as the convenience of having everything in one place. She says Kaplan gave her the structure and confidence she needed to prepare effectively. By investing in Kaplan’s All Access License, colleges and universities can provide all of their students with access to our industry-leading test prep for admissions exams, licensure, credentialing programs, and workforce readiness programs with zero out-of-pocket costs for students. Since Kaplan’s All Access License was launched in 2022, tens of thousands of students have collectively saved almost $85 million in out-of-pocket costs. 💵 Expanding access. Creating opportunity. Helping students turn their ambitions into what’s next. By removing financial barriers to high-quality prep and career resources, we’re helping more students pursue their academic and professional goals with confidence. We’re proud to work with forward-thinking colleges and universities like Alabama State University to bring these opportunities to more students—and we look forward to expanding that impact even further. Learn more below. 👨🎓 https://lnkd.in/e_jcSupd #collegesanduniversities #highereducation #highered #studentsuccess #futureofwork

The standardized testing landscape is shifting again—and colleges are taking very different paths. 🛣️ All eight Ivy League institutions have now moved away from pandemic-era test-optional policies or announced plans to do so, joining other highly selective institutions that have reinstated SAT or ACT requirements. But nationwide, test-optional policies remain widespread, with more than 2,000 bachelor’s-degree-granting institutions still test optional. At the center of the debate is a fundamental question: What information best helps colleges identify students who are prepared to succeed? Research cited in the piece points in different directions. Studies at highly selective institutions have found test scores can provide valuable insight into academic preparation—including for high-achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Other institutions have found high school performance more predictive. And Kaplan’s own research finds that the vast majority of test-optional schools still consider and value strong SAT and ACT scores, with admissions officers saying they boost an applicant’s chances of getting in. The takeaway? There may be no one-size-fits-all answer. But as more prominent universities revisit testing, the conversation about the SAT and ACT is far from over. 👩🎓 https://lnkd.in/gCuGT5GQ #highereducation #highered #collegesanduniversities

The LSAT is only one number. But it's arguably the most important number on a law school application. That’s the reality facing today’s law school applicants. According to U.S. News & World Report data, the median LSAT score for students entering law school in 2025 was nearly 160 across 196 law schools. But those medians vary widely. At the most selective institutions, the benchmark is much higher: 17 law schools reported median LSAT scores above 170, including Duke, Georgetown, UCLA, Michigan and Minnesota. Washington University in St. Louis School of Law reported the highest median score at 175. 🔼 Of course, admissions decisions are not made on test scores alone. Law schools take a holistic approach, considering academic records, professional experience, recommendations and the full application. But the LSAT remains a critical factor in shaping an applicant’s competitiveness, arguably the deciding one. Underscoring that argument, Kaplan’s annual law school admissions officers survey, which we have conducted for the past 20 years, consistently finds that a low LSAT score is the single "biggest application dealbreaker." For prospective law students, the message is clear: the LSAT is not the only measure of potential, but it is a key indicator that can influence admissions outcomes and help determine which opportunities are within reach. 🚀 https://lnkd.in/grKMiQg2 #lawschooladmissions #legaleducation #highereducation #futurelawyers #studentsuccess

AI is entering financial aid from both sides of the desk. Staff are using it to draft communications, brainstorm and interpret complex information, while some students are submitting AI-assisted appeals that appear polished but may lack the personal context officers need to make high-stakes judgments. A new survey from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) finds that 54% of financial aid professionals used AI during the previous six months, yet 62% remain cautious about its use in financial aid—reflecting concerns about privacy, regulatory compliance, accuracy and student trust. 🤝 The findings suggest that financial aid professionals are not simply resisting AI; many are waiting for the structure needed to use it responsibly. Staff report learning on their own and working without clear guidance about approved tools, appropriate uses or human oversight. That uncertainty echoes Kaplan’s 2025 survey of college admissions officers, which examined the lack of clear institutional rules around applicants’ use of GenAI in admissions essays. Our Take: In high-stakes student services, responsible AI adoption requires more than access to new tools. Institutions need clear guardrails, approved technologies, role-specific training and consistent human review. Investing in that professional learning can help financial aid teams use AI more effectively while preserving the accuracy, judgment and personal support students depend on. 👩🎓 https://lnkd.in/gehfbU6q #highereducation #highered #collegesanduniversities #financialaid #ai

Is higher education enrollment stabilizing—or are institutions experiencing a “stability illusion”? 🤔 According to Niche’s latest State of Higher Education Pulse Survey report, it's a more complicated picture. In February, 61% of enrollment leaders said they were ahead of pace to fill their class. Five months later, that same 61% expected to meet or beat their target—but beneath that consistency was significant movement: 36% of leaders felt better about their odds, while 35% felt worse. 🎓 The survey also found that outcomes varied widely by institution size, selectivity, and strategy. Smaller institutions faced greater challenges, while factors like admit rates, discounting approaches, and marketing investment played a critical role in enrollment results. 👨🎓 At Kaplan, we're proud to partner with colleges and universities navigating this evolving landscape by helping them strengthen student outcomes, expand access, and demonstrate the value of higher education through innovative learning solutions. 📚 https://lnkd.in/gizT8iUp #highereducation #highered #collegesanduniversities #futureofeducation

AI skills are no longer a bonus for business students entering the workforce. They are quickly becoming an expectation. A new student-led study from American University - Kogod School of Business found that the share of students who said employers asked about their AI skills during the hiring process increased from 11.6% in 2024 to 42.6% in 2026 — a 285% jump in just two years. 📈 The report, AI at Kogod: A Three-Year Student Research Report, analyzed three years of survey data from 483 undergraduate and graduate students, examining how AI adoption, employer expectations, and student needs are evolving. The findings show that AI use is becoming deeply embedded in how students learn and prepare for careers. More than 80% of students reported using AI tools for academic work in the past six months, while the share using AI 11 or more times per week for school, internship, or employment-related tasks increased nearly fivefold since 2024. But the research also highlights a critical shift: students are moving beyond simply learning how to use AI tools. They are seeking more advanced skills, including coding, technical development, and strategic applications of AI. 👩💻 https://lnkd.in/gqbQMW9P #futureofwork #artificialintelligence #ai #highereducation #workforcedevelopment

Kaplan’s All Access License enables colleges and universities to provide every student with comprehensive preparation for graduate admissions exams such as the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT, as well as professional licensing exams and career-focused skills development courses. Institutions pay one flat fee to make these resources available campus-wide, eliminating out-of-pocket costs for students. For example, since launching our partnership with Denison University and its Knowlton Center For Career Exploration last year, students have collectively saved hundreds of thousands of dollars while gaining access to resources that can help shape their academic and professional futures. It’s an investment that is delivering meaningful, measurable results for both students and the university. 📈 Meet Desiree Smith, a Denison alumnus, Class of 2026, who recently completed a Kaplan course for the MCAT, a challenging multiple-choice, computer-based, standardized exam that is required for admission to medical schools in the United States and Canada. A high score has a direct, positive impact on your med school application. In fact, when it comes to getting in, Kaplan’s most recent survey of medical school admissions officers found that a low MCAT score is the single "biggest application dealbreaker." 🥼 🎓 College and university leaders—let’s talk about how Kaplan's All Access License can open doors for your students too! 🎓 https://lnkd.in/e_jcSupd #highereducation #highered #medicaleducation #collegesanduniversities #studentsuccess

New data from the University of California reveals a shifting admissions landscape for fall 2026, with UCLA and UC Berkeley moving in different directions when it comes to in-state freshman admissions. 📚 Across its nine undergraduate campuses, UC admitted 185,632 students for fall 2026, including 153,272 first-year applicants and 32,360 transfer students from California and beyond. And while the UC system admitted a record number of California students overall, UCLA increased the number of California resident students offered admission, while UC Berkeley saw a decline amid continued demand and a highly competitive admissions environment. 👩🎓 “The record number of California students we’re welcoming this year reflects UC’s enduring commitment to expanding opportunity while preparing the next generation of leaders, innovators, educators and public servants,” JB Milliken, UC’s president, said in a statement. As students and families navigate the complexities of college admissions, understanding these trends is critical. The data underscores the ongoing challenge of expanding access, meeting high demand, and ensuring talented students have pathways to success. 👨🎓 https://lnkd.in/gG9bPdym #highereducation #highered #education #collegesanduniversities