Admissions yield is still the wildcard.
You can build the perfect top-of-funnel strategy: more applications, more admits, even early deposits, and still wake up in July wondering, “Where did they go?”
If you’re searching for how to increase college yield in 2025, you’re not alone. The rules of engagement have changed. Students are rethinking value. They’re ghosting institutions. And they’re choosing the school that makes them feel like they belong…often before they’ve set foot on campus.
Let’s talk about what’s behind the volatility, and what leading teams are doing about it.
Why is yield still so unpredictable in 2025?
Several forces are converging:
- Students are more cautious. Cost, ROI, and uncertainty around career outcomes are making students hesitate—long after they deposit.
- Competition is fierce. You’re not just up against other schools. You’re up against alternate paths like gap years, bootcamps, or community college pivots.
- Demographics are shifting. Fewer students in key markets. More first-gen and Pell-eligible students navigating complex decisions.
- The top of the funnel isn’t the problem. It’s what happens—or doesn’t happen—after the admit.
That’s why the real question is no longer just: how do we get them to apply? – It’s: how do we build enough trust, connection, and momentum to get them to show up?
What actually influences a student’s decision to enroll?
Belonging. Period.
According to our partners (and backed by recent behavioral data) the students most likely to enroll are the ones who:
- Feel like they’ve already made friends
- Can picture themselves on campus
- Believe they’ll be supported academically and socially
In other words: students don’t just commit because of your marketing. They commit because they feel connected to your community.
How to increase college yield with modern tactics
Institutions seeing a measurable yield lift in 2025 are doing 3 things differently:
1. They engage admits like insiders, not prospects.
With platforms like Raftr’s YieldRaiser, admitted students gain access to private, school-branded digital communities where they can meet future classmates, chat with student ambassadors, and explore clubs and support systems. That’s stickiness, before orientation even begins.
2. They monitor community behavior, not just deposits.
Using behavioral data (logins, chat activity, questions asked), yield teams can identify who’s warming up and who’s at risk of melting. That’s actionable.
3. They embrace the student voice.
In our work with institutions like The American University of Paris, allowing students to connect freely, without over-policing, drives authentic conversations that increase confidence and connection. No scripting required.
What are some ways to reduce summer melt?
If your admits go dark after May 1, consider these tactics:
- Launch a “Meet Your Major” raft. Help admits explore their academic interests alongside peers and faculty.
- Use push notifications wisely. Surface key deadlines or events inside the app environment—not just via email.
- Tap into student ambassadors. Have real students answer FAQs and share their campus experience—on video or in-app.
- Create opt-in identity-based groups. Let students explore affinity communities on their own terms.
What kind of results are we seeing?
Partners using YieldRaiser have reported:
- Increases in yield / Decreases in melt
- Improved handoff to orientation
- Fewer support tickets from admitted students
- Stronger parent engagement and trust