Talk to college administrators right now and they’ll tell you they’re experiencing a startling decrease in applications. Especially in their international departments, which many say is due to the tense political atmosphere. Now, whether this shifts means more students will pursue an online college degree is quickly becoming a very real possibility. That’s why we compiled a list of the colleges who are most affected by the dramatic decrease in applications – some of which are hard to digest.
Stanford University
As far as private research universities are concerned, Stanford ranks pretty darn high. I mean, it is known as one of the world’s most prestigious universities after all. With it’s extraordinary wealth, indisputable academic strength, and proximity to Silicon Valley, Stanford will always be a leader. Nonetheless an increase in startups has also caused Stanford an 0.77% decrease in applications.
Stanford University
MIT
Should you be alarmed that second on our list is yet another prestigious private research university? Perhaps. Especially considering this school’s alum include 85 Nobel laureates and 34 astronauts, and that’s just the start. Still applications have seen a drop by 1.2%. Maybe an online college degree isn’t so far off the table after all.
MIT
University of Chicago
UH OH, three prestigious universities in a row. Ever since 1856, U of C has brought prominent graduates to our lives, including 13 billionaire graduates, many members in the United States Congress, and heads of state for various countries. Although it’s recent 1.4% application drop brings serious worry.
University Of Chicago
Yale University
Let’s be real, Yale is irrefutably one of the greatest schools in the United States. Come on, as the third-oldest institution, it’s no surprise this Ivy League conglomerate always beats out the rest – plus it churns out prestigious alum after prestigious alum. However not even Rory Gilmore could have anticipated a drop of 1.45% in applicants.
Yale University
University of Michigan
Head over to Ann Arbor if you’re interested in one of the foremost research universities in the United States. Although an online college degree seems pretty good when comparing its applicant decrease of 2.09%.
University Of Michigan
Princeton University
As if the fourth-oldest education institution in the United States needs an introduction. Since 1746, Princeton has produced an alumni of legends – two U.S. Presidents, 12 U.S. Supreme Court Justices, 41 Nobel laureates, and way more. Nevertheless, Princeton is experiencing an 2.38% decrease in applicants.
Princeton University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Look an online college degree seems useless when you consider Virginia Tech offers 225 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Per contra, the 5.34% applicant decrease offers a startling reply.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
New York University Tandon School of Engineering
New York is often regarded as one of the most expensive cities in the world. Why do we mention this? Oh just because tuition alone stands at $40,000 for the Tandon engineering school. Combined with its 5.75% applicant decrease, the “second oldest private engineering and technology school in the United States,” is in trouble.
Polytechnic Institute Of New York University
Amherst College
Recently U.S. News & World Report ranked Amherst College “as the second best liberal arts college in the country.” Although it has an acceptance rate of around 15%, the 6.31% applicant decrease is alarming.
Amherst College
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
In the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, you’ll find the “#1 Most Desirable Small School” as per Newsweek. While Cooper was best known as an intensely selective school – its acceptance rate is below 10% – the 6.5% applicant decrease raises cause for alarm.
Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art
University of California, Berkeley
That’s right, UC Berkeley does rank as the third greatest school…worldwide. It’s THAT important. So even with an alum of 14 Pulitzer Prizes, 117 Olympic gold medals, 20 Academy Awards, and 91 Nobel laureates, to just name a few – it doesn’t diminish the worry of the 6.54% decrease in applicants.
University Of California, Berkeley
Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa is where you’ll find this private university and it’s 6.72% decrease in applications. Uhh, online college degree anyone?
Drake University
United States Naval Academy
So, the United States Naval Academy (USNA) is a four year co-ed federal service academy. Located in Annapolis, Maryland, this exceptional academy has seen a drop of 7.06%. Maybe that online college degree is worth it after all?
United States Naval Academy
Reed College
Reed College is known for its mandatory freshman humanities program – and its remarkably high graduate percentage who then earn doctorates and other postgraduate degrees. Sounds snobbish but it’s pretty extraordinary. But we need to touch on its 7.6% decrease in applications as it’s a bit perplexing.
Reed College
Harvard University
Harvard. That word alone causes people to change attitude and rightly so – it’s as prestigious as it gets. I mean, its alumni consists of eight U.S. presidents (including Barack Obama), 359 Rhodes Scholars, 130 Nobel laureates, and 62 living billionaires. And that’s just the beginning. After all that though, the 8% applicant decrease is a tad worrying.
Harvard University
Columbia University
Need we point out that Columbia is one of the world’s most prestigious universities? Didn’t think so. However when you consider that it has seen an 8.5% applicant decrease, you might think to pursue an online college degree instead.
Columbia University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is located in Provo, Utah and as far as private research universities go, they’re pretty important. Even so, the 9.03% applicant decrease is seriously surprising.
Brigham Young University Provo
Whitman College
Walla Walla, Washington is where you’ll find this private liberal arts college. Furthermore it’s also where you’ll learn of their 3% applicant decrease. Need we say that an online college degree is starting to sound more attractive by the minute?
Whitman College
Messiah College
Messiah College, you guessed it, is a private Christian college, however its 10% applicant decrease is alarming. Not sure that an online college degree could offer a solution here.
Messiah College
University of San Diego
Over 60 degrees offered at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level isn’t enough to stop the University of San Diego from it’s 11.37% applicant drop. Yikes is an understatement.
University Of San Diego
Grinnell College
Another Iowa school? *GULP* Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college with an 12.63% decrease in applications. Nope, not a type, that’s really the statistic. Wait, it gets worse if you can believe it.
Grinnell College
Rhodes College
Rhodes College, the private, liberal arts college is located in Memphis, Tennessee. Brace yourself though cause this college has experienced an applicant drop of…14.09%. Seriously, that online college degree is feasible.
Rhodes College
Wofford College
Wofford, in case you didn’t know, is known for its strong academic programs in pre-medical and pre-law studies. Be that as it may, its 15% applicant decrease is insane. Insane.
Wofford College
Millsaps College
Since 1890, the private liberal arts college in Jackson, Mississippi, has been strutting its stuff. In spite of this, we have to mention that the school is currently experiencing a drop in applications by a staggering 15.7% drop.
Millsaps College
United States Air Force Academy
Indeed the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is a military academy geared to prepare officer cadets for the United States Air Force. However it has seen a 21.51% decrease in application rates. That’s slightly frightening.
United States Air Force Academy
William Carey University
So William Carey University has ranked as number two in U.S News & World Report on the list of the best colleges in America. However, its currently seen a decline in applications by 7.94%.
William Carey University
Southern Connecticut State University
If we haven’t hammered home yet that an online college degree might be worth it yet, then there’s a problem. Anyways, Southern Connecticut State University opened its door in 1893 and currently has an 8.07% applicant drop.
Southern Connecticut State University
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Introducing the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a public urban research university, located in (you guessed it) Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Much as we want to continue joking, the 8.23% application decrease isn’t.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
About 16,000 students are enrolled in the many programs offered by this university – including education, arts & sciences, culinary arts, business, and engineering programs. Although we need to point out the 9.58% applicant decrease.
Johnson & Wales University – Providence
Madonna University
Madonna University is a Catholic liberal arts, who has an application decrease of 9.89% currently. If you’d like to live in Livonia, Michigan then maybe an online college degree isn’t for you.
Madonna University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Durant, Oklahoma is where you’ll find the public university, Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Moreover it’s also where you’ll find the 10% application decrease. Perhaps you can try getting an online college degree instead? Could be the answer here. Or maybe not.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Truman State University
Truman State University has been around since 1876 and has seen about 6,000 graduates of its public liberal arts programs. Nonetheless, its 10.34% applicant drop is shocking.
Truman State University
Missouri Southern State University
Missouri Southern State University is located in Joplin, Missouri and serves as a public, state university. With an 10.7% drop in its application rate so, not good seems like a poor choice of word. So does our mention of an online college degree.
Missouri Southern State University
Rutgers University – Newark
So we have reached one of three regional campuses of Rutgers University which U.S. News & World Report has called “the most diverse national university in the United States”. Although not even that fact could do something about its 11.2% application decline. Yikes.
Rutgers University – Newark
Northeastern State University
We’ll just start off and say that there’s nothing wrong with an online college degree – unless you really have your heart set on Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. In that case we should mention that it has a drop in applications by 11.13%.
Northeastern State University
Rutgers University – Camden
Unfortunately we have reached another of the three regional campuses of Rutgers University. To that end, Rutgers University-Camden’s application rate dropped by 11.5% so far.
Rutgers University – Camden
SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill
SUNY Cobleskill is a comprehensive college with specializations in business and computer technology; agriculture and technology; and liberal arts and sciences – just to name a few. Yet it is in the middle of an applicant decrease of 11.92%.
SUNY College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill
Florida A&M University
FAMU (Florida A&M University) was opened in 1887 and even that hasn’t stopped its 12.12% decrease in its application rate. Sounds like an online college degree might be the right direction after all.
Florida A&M University
Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte
We’ve now reached the Charlotte location of the Johnson & Wales school – which is rather unfortunate. Perhaps you’ll consider an online college degree when you find out this university has a 12.77% applicant drop.
Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Guess what? Edinboro University of Pennsylvania has a nearly 100% acceptance rate, a near perfect score, people. That’s crazy. Even so, the school is seeing an 13.8% application rate decrease.
Edinboro University Of Pennsylvania
King University
King University, a private university in Bristol, Tennessee, is currently experiencing an application decrease of 14.63%. So, online college degree, anyone? Someone? Yeah, we thought so. Just wait til you see the next college’s statistic though – your head may explode from sheer shock. And that’s no joke.
King University
Boston College
This Massachusetts school is a private Jesuit Catholic research university and even that hasn’t stopped its 27.96% applicant decrease. No, you read that statistic correct – it’s that bad (the drop, not the school obviously).
Boston College