Case Study

Increasing enrollment in training and education after high school is a key pillar of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s HOPE Agenda (Hoosier Opportunities and Possibilities through Education). The Commission sounded the alarm in 2022 when the state’s college-going rate had reached its lowest point in recent history, steadily declining from 65% to 53%, with Indiana ranking 31st in the nation in the college-going rate for high school students.

The Commission needed research into the factors impacting higher education enrollment in Indiana and received a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. for the work.

Using a mix of qualitative (in-depth values-based interviews, group collaborative sessions and focus groups) and quantitative research methods (online survey, modeling) with a robust statewide audience, the goal was to meet Hoosiers where they are, understand the barriers to college enrollment and success, and inform potential solutions.

The research incorporated input from a range of stakeholders: middle and high school students, young adults, college students who left school, adult learners, parents and family members, high school teachers/administrators/counselors, Indiana employers, youth-serving community- and faith-based organizations, and representatives from Indiana’s higher education institutions.