Strategic Pricing and Forecasting
To help institutions determine if their tuition and fees are set appropriately to optimize market position and net tuition revenue, we:
- Review past planning documents, statistical analyses, and external/internal reports, and conduct interviews with several senior members of the community;
- Identify an agreed-upon set of benchmark institutions and analyze current pricing and yield relative to cross-applications, admits, and enrollment;
- Apply predictive modeling to determine the effect of various price changes on a variety of criteria, such as class size, gender balance, geographic reach, diversity, and net total revenue.
Based on our analysis and modeling, we will deliver:
- Findings on the current performance of the institution relative to the competitive set;
- Scenarios illustrating the effect of different pricing/discount rate options on class size, gender balance, geographic reach, diversity, and net total revenue;
- Recommendations for near- and longer-term pricing changes.
We can also work with you on an implementation program that includes activities, schedules, and measured outcomes.
Key outcomes addressed:
- Optimal pricing and discount levels
- Increased revenue
- Improved net tuition per student
Educational Debt and Financing Assessment
Student and parental debt is increasing as educational costs increase and grant awards remain the same. Students and parents continue to borrow extensively from institutional and private loan programs. Thus, the perception of institutional affordability includes the level of debt they must assume to meet the student’s educational goals. The level of debt impacts enrollment, diversity, retention, and alumni giving during the estimated 30-year loan repayment period.
Increasingly, presidents, chief enrollment officers, chief academic officers, alumni directors, directors of financial aid, vice presidents of student affairs, and offices of minority enrollment and services are working to develop plans to address the impact of debt levels, support fund raising and promote affordability by addressing educational financing and financial aid. In support of these efforts, we:
- Conduct alumni research on total (multiple programs, multiple institutions) borrowing and debt levels as related to alumni salaries, the impact;
- Research satisfaction levels of current and former students along with the impact of student debt levels on enrollment, attrition and repayment;
- Investigate opportunities to support institutional fund raising for financial aid;
- Evaluate different strategic pricing and discounting alternatives;
- Calculate costs and payments over four years.
Based on our research and analysis, we deliver:
Findings regarding the near- and longer-term impact of borrower debt on the institution;
Recommendations for alternative pricing and discounting options;
Recommended practices in counseling students and parents on debt repayment trends.
We can also work with you on an implementation program that includes activities, schedules, and measured outcomes.
Key outcomes addressed:
- Increased student retention
- Improved perception of affordability
- Increased opportunity for alumni giving