Case Study

Increasing college enrollment 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 college enrollment in Indiana and received a sizeable grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to complete 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 focus on under-represented groups, 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, college graduates, college students who had to drop out, parents and family members, high school teachers, school counselors, employers, faith-based organizations, and representatives from Indiana’s higher education institutions.