Enrollment Algorithms Face Criticism

(from Inside Higher Ed) In higher education, hundreds of colleges use algorithms in the admissions process. Their primary purpose is to predict how much money a student will need from the college to enroll. The algorithms are effective for many colleges, but critics are now questioning if they serve well the students who need aid to succeed in higher education. Critics say the formulas maximize net tuition revenue for the college while privileging more economically advantaged students and that they encourage students to enroll without the full support they need to finish. Vendors and defenders of the algorithms say the best predictor of success is student preparation, not particular amounts of financial aid. 

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