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The Types of Predictive Modeling and Enrollment Analytics in Higher Education

What is predictive modeling? Higher Ed Enrollment Management

 

Updated 10/23/2023

Would you like to work smarter, not harder, when it comes to enrollment management? Predictive modeling, a regression analysis, can help you do just that.

In this post, we'll give you an overview of predictive modeling and some strategic applications in contemporary marketing, recruitment, and retention.

What is Predictive Modeling?

Predictive modeling is a statistical technique used to determine the likelihood of a student performing some desired enrollment behavior.

We first study the behavior of previous students to identify variables that influenced their enrollment behavior. After we have identified the relevant predictor (independent) variables, we construct a statistical model to predict future behavior.

Then, we apply this regression equation to current prospective or enrolled students to determine the likelihood that they will exhibit the desired outcome (dependent variable); that is to apply, enroll, persist, or graduate.

Based on the student likelihood to reach the outcome variable, institutions can modify their recruitment or retention activity in order to maximize institutional human or financial resources.

 

predictive modeling in enrollment management, higher ed enrollment management


The Most Common Types of Predictive Models

  • Search Model - search name to enroll
  • Inquiry Model - inquiry to enroll (aka lead scoring model when used in performance-based marketing)
  • Applicant Model - application to enroll
  • Yield Model - admit to enroll
  • Econometric Model - financial aid modeling, usually for admit to enroll
  • Retention Model - enroll to first-year retention

3 Steps to Build a Predictive Model 

    1. Build – Take 80% of the available historical records and create a predictive model where the outcome is known.
    2. Validate – Take the remaining 20% of the available historical records and verify that the predictive model is doing a good job of predicting the known outcome.
    3. Score – Once validated, use the predictive model with the current data set to actually predict the outcome.

Turning Raw Scores Into Enrollment Management Strategy

The output of a predictive model is a number representing the probability of a specific student achieving the desired outcome variable. It is a number between 0 and 1. For example, the probability that Suzy Student will persist one year is 0.78.

Unfortunately, those raw numbers aren't very useful unless we know how they rank compared to other students. Consequently, we convert the raw score into a predictive model rank by ranking all of the records from highest to lowest, and by categorizing them into 10 deciles, or "buckets." Students in bucket 1 or more likely to exhibit the target enrollment behavior than students in bucket 10.

When placed on a gains chart, the data looks something like this:

Gains Chart for Predictive Model, predictive model for enrollment management, higher ed enrollment management

These are data from a Graduate Program Inquiry Model from when our founder was the Vice President of Enrollment Management at Tiffin University several years ago. Notice that students in Model Rank 1 (Bucket 1) are predicted to apply at a rate of 63.1% and enroll at a rate of 40.1%. Meanwhile, students in Bucket 5 are expected to apply at a rate of 7.7% and enroll at a rate of 1.3%.

With knowledge like this, institutions are able to modify recruitment and retention activity in order to utilize human and financial resources in a more strategic way. Here are a few sample strategies:

  • Negotiate insertion orders with performance-based marketing vendors to only purchase leads of students in the top six buckets by using a lead scoring model.
  • Save money on print, postage, and mailing services by only mailing printed material to students in the top four buckets by using an inquiry model. Send a pdf of a brochure to students in buckets 5-8, and don't send anything to students in buckets 9 and 10.
  • Prioritize follow-up tele-counseling activity and increase the likelihood of productive calls by only reaching out to applicants in the top five buckets with an application model.
  • Implement retention interventions in the first several weeks of enrollment with students who are at risk of attrition with a retention model. Interact with students in buckets 4-7, where human intervention could make the biggest difference.

Don't Wait to Address Your Enrollment Management Challenges

The more quickly you start using predictive modeling for enrollment management, the faster you can affect change for enrollment numbers. The longer you wait, the more it costs your institution

How will you use predictive modeling at your institution and when will you get started?

Reach out and let us know. We'd love to connect for a short call and hear more about what you need to meet your enrollment management goals.