There are several non-profit organizations, as well as State and the United States Departments of Education, that track and provide data on higher education. This data was gathered from a variety of sources to provide an opportunity for individual institutions to determine how they compare to national trends.  

• Between 2000 and 2016, total undergraduate enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions increased by 28 percent to 16.9 million students.  By 2027, enrollment is projected to increase to 17.4 million students. ~ National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES)
  
  
• 375 to 1 is the average ratio of advisees to advisor. ~ National Association of Academic Advising (NACADA)
  
  
• 41% of new students receive advising from friends, family and other students, 11% use information from the college’s website or other materials, while 47% are advised by college employees. ~ 2016 Survey of Entering Student Engagement (SENSE)
  
  
• 67% of students said an advisor helped them set academic goals and create a plan for achieving them. ~ 2016 Survey of Entering Student Engagement (SENSE)
  
  
• 92% of returning students said academic advising was very important or somewhat important to their academic success while 7% said advising was not at all important. ~Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE)
  
  
• 5% of 2-year associates degree-seeking students and 18.1% of 4-year non-flagship baccalaureate degree-seeking students graduate on time. ~Complete College America 
   
• 1 in 3 students switches majors during their college career. ~ Inside Higher Ed
  
  
• 50% of community college students are not aware academic advising is available. ~ Community College Research Center
  
  
• $44,000 is the average annual salary for college advisors. Secondary and career counselors earn an average salary of $54,560. The median annual salary for college faculty is $76,000. ~ Bureau of Labor Statistics
  
  
• >50% of undergraduate students are independent (24 years and older, responsible for their own finances with possible dependents); and it is projected that non-traditional enrollment will increase twice as fast as traditional age enrollment by 2022. ~Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

What is your student to advisor ratio?

What unique things are you currently doing to accommodate these numbers and serve your students?

Given the changing landscape, how is your institution preparing to meet student advising needs?

What do you think?  Share this blog to keep the conversation going!

Author: Geri Anderson
March 4, 2019