2009 Vacancy Survey

Click here to download NEBHE's 2009 Vacancy Survey Report

Space Still Remains for Fall Admission at Many New England Campuses

BOSTON - Nearly 150 New England public and independent colleges and universities were still considering additional freshman and/or transfer applications for fall 2009 as of the traditional May 1 college admissions deadline, according to the New England Board of Higher Education’s (NEBHE) Annual Student Vacancy survey released today.

“Students who have yet to make a college decision, were wait-listed or not admitted to the institution of their choice should be aware that many opportunities remain at colleges and universities throughout New England and that financial aid remains available at most of those institutions," said NEBHE President and CEO Michael K. Thomas.

“Despite the economic uncertainty many students and families face, higher education continues to be the pathway to economic opportunity and the best way to invest in oneself,” added Thomas.

NEBHE polled 219 colleges and universities throughout New England to determine which institutions were willing to consider, as of May 1, 2009, additional freshman and/or transfer applications for fall 2009 admission.

Among the key survey findings:

• More than 70 percent of the 202 New England colleges responding to the survey—147 campuses—still had fall 2009 openings for qualified freshman and transfer applicants as of the traditional May 1 deadline.
• 42 New England colleges were closed to freshman and transfer applicants as of May 1.
• 17 colleges surveyed reported openings for transfer students only.
• 12 colleges reported openings for transfer students only.
• 95 percent of the colleges reporting openings indicated that financial aid was still available to qualified applicants as of May 1.

As in previous years, many community college programs in high-demand allied health fields, including nursing, radiological technology and dental hygiene, were full to capacity and closed to new applicants.

The New England institutions willing to consider additional freshman and/or transfer applications as of May 1 include:

• 70 private four-year colleges and universities
• 26 public four-year colleges and universities
• 7 private two-year colleges
• 44 public community colleges, which generally offer admissions on a "rolling basis," as part of their missions

Apply now!

NEBHE officials urge prospective college students to apply to campuses with openings as soon as possible because available slots may be limited. In addition, certain programs at these "open" institutions may be closed. Students are advised not to reapply to any colleges where their applications have already been rejected. More than half of colleges with openings that also offer on-campus housing indicated that housing was still available for additional new students as of May 1.

Survey results can be downloaded in PDF format here and are also available from NEBHE, 45 Temple Place, Boston, MA 02111. Phone: 617.357.9620, ext. 125.

(To view PDF files, you may require Adobe Reader.)

Click here to download NEBHE's 2009 Vacancy Survey Report

About the New England Student Vacancy Survey

NEBHE has surveyed New England higher education institutions every year since 1960 as a public service to college-bound New England residents and as a measure of college application trends.