New IHEP Framework Outlines Bold Strategy to Reimagine College Admissions

Washington, DC (May 20, 2026) — The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) today released a new Reimagining College Admissions framework to guide the next phase of research and policy to improve college access. Grounded in rigorous analysis and informed by insights from more than 35 higher education experts, the framework offers a roadmap for policymakers, institutional leaders, and researchers to broaden college opportunities for all students.

Undergraduate enrollment increased 3.5 percent in 2025, yet stark disparities persist for Black, Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native students, as well as students from low-income backgrounds, particularly at selective institutions. Complexity in the admissions process continues to deter students. Three out of four students report that the college application process is difficult to navigate. IHEP’s framework is a forward-looking blueprint to address these challenges, streamline pathways, and expand opportunity for students who have long been underserved by the current system.

In addition to outlining scalable solutions, the framework identifies gaps in existing research and highlights key areas where further study is needed. These insights are intended to catalyze continued research and innovation to inform more equitable, evidence-based admissions policies.

“At its core, the traditional college admissions system was designed to sort and exclude—not to expand opportunity,” said Mamie Voight, President & CEO of IHEP. “If we are serious about building a system that truly serves all students, we have to move beyond incremental fixes and rethink how college access works. Our framework not only challenges policymakers and institutions to take concrete steps, but also invites researchers to build on this work, deepen the evidence base, and advance new ideas that can drive admissions reform.”

IHEP’s framework is organized around three pillars that provide a clear structure for rethinking admissions practices and for advancing reforms at the institutional, state, and federal levels.

1. Reduce friction in the admissions process by streamlining application steps and lowering complexity and uncertainty. This includes direct admissions—in which students are proactively admitted based on academic eligibility without submitting a full application—as well as informed and guaranteed admissions models.
2. Reenvision selectivity by drawing on new IHEP analysis of federal data showing that selectivity is often overstated in public discourse. While a handful of high-profile colleges may dominate headlines about admissions, nearly 70 percent of public colleges fall into the “least selective” category, and 85 percent of selective institutions admit at least half of applicants. Approximately 1,700 public four-year or above institutions nationwide use selective admissions and stand to benefit from reimagining those policies. The analysis also points to continued use of legacy admissions and letters of recommendation, even at institutions that admit and enroll most of the nation’s students.
3. Leverage data to better understand admissions and enrollment trends by clarifying what federal admissions data can—and cannot—reveal, identifying where datasets provide meaningful insight and highlighting critical gaps in understanding decision-making inside admissions offices. IHEP also raises concerns about the quality and completeness of the Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement, underscoring the need for cautious, context-rich interpretation of findings.

The Reimagining College Admissions framework is accompanied by a series of in-depth blog posts and an interactive website hub to explore. Together, these resources provide a strong foundation for continued research, collaboration, and innovation to transform students’ postsecondary education opportunities.