High school students face many obstacles when applying to and enrolling in education beyond high school that can limit access. And students seeking to transfer from one college to another face further difficulties in navigating a system that is often not designed with their specific needs in mind. High-quality data is essential to streamlining the admissions process for students—and it is critical that state policy and education leaders, education systems, and institutions proactively use data to offer students better information about pathways and opportunities.
This resource examines the role of stronger data systems in addressing challenges and barriers students must currently overcome to access postsecondary education, highlights efforts states and institutions are undertaking to streamline the admissions process, and identifies best practices that have emerged in the field.