2025 E-Expectations Trend Report: Examining the Online Experiences, Expectations, and Behaviors of College-Bound High School Students
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| Title: | 2025 E-Expectations Trend Report: Examining the Online Experiences, Expectations, and Behaviors of College-Bound High School Students |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) |
| Source: | Ruffalo Noel Levitz. 2025. |
| Availability: | Ruffalo Noel Levitz. 1025 Kirkwood Parkway SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404. Tel: 800-876-1117; e-mail: ContactUs@RuffaloNL.com; Web site: https://www.ruffalonl.com/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 51 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | Halda Modern Campus |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | High Schools Secondary Education Higher Education Postsecondary Education Grade 9 Junior High Schools Middle Schools Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 |
| Descriptors: | College Bound Students, Expectation, College Choice, Web Sites, Social Media, Artificial Intelligence, Sharing Behavior, Preferences, Electronic Mail, Synchronous Communication, Video Technology, Privacy, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12, Information Seeking |
| Abstract: | College planning has transformed into a complex digital dance, where Instagram stories matter as much as campus tours and AI chatbots answer midnight questions about application deadlines. Colleges and universities need to be aligned with the expectations of today's college-bound high school students in order to engage them where they are in their journey and keep them moving toward enrollment. This "2025 E-Expectations" report dives deep into how students navigate their college search today. Through extensive data analysis and student feedback, this report uncovers patterns that challenge conventional wisdom about student engagement. The authors found that while 31% of students still fill out traditional web forms, a nearly equal number now follow schools on social media. Perhaps most tellingly, 68% of students have already interacted with AI assistants on college websites--though not all student groups embrace these tools equally. What makes this research particularly valuable is its student-centered approach. Rather than focusing on institutional metrics or enrollment targets, this report examines students' behaviors and preferences at every stage of their college search. From 9th graders just beginning to explore their options to 12th graders making final decisions, the authors tracked how their engagement methods evolve and what they're looking for when they reach out. The findings paint a picture of a generation that's both digitally native and surprisingly thoughtful about how they share information. While they're comfortable with AI chatbots and social media, they're also strategic about their engagement--59% will share their email address with a college, but only 32% will provide their home address. These aren't just statistics--they're insights into how students protect their privacy while seeking authentic connections with their future schools. This report isn't just about documenting change and understanding it. Whether one is an admissions counselor trying to connect with first-generation students or a marketing director planning next year's outreach strategy, one can find actionable insights backed by accurate student data. Ultimately, serving students better starts with understanding how they want to be served. |
| Abstractor: | ERIC |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | ED675519 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 CustomLinks: – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED675519 Name: ERIC Full Text Category: fullText Text: Full Text from ERIC |
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| Header | DbId: eric DbLabel: ERIC An: ED675519 AccessLevel: 3 PubType: Report PubTypeId: report PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: 2025 E-Expectations Trend Report: Examining the Online Experiences, Expectations, and Behaviors of College-Bound High School Students – Name: Language Label: Language Group: Lang Data: English – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ruffalo+Noel+Levitz+%28RNL%29%22">Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL)</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Ruffalo+Noel+Levitz%22"><i>Ruffalo Noel Levitz</i></searchLink>. 2025. – Name: Avail Label: Availability Group: Avail Data: Ruffalo Noel Levitz. 1025 Kirkwood Parkway SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404. Tel: 800-876-1117; e-mail: ContactUs@RuffaloNL.com; Web site: https://www.ruffalonl.com/ – Name: PeerReviewed Label: Peer Reviewed Group: SrcInfo Data: N – Name: Pages Label: Page Count Group: Src Data: 51 – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Date Group: Date Data: 2025 – Name: SourceSuprt Label: Sponsoring Agency Group: SrcSuprt Data: Halda<br />Modern Campus – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Reports - Research – Name: Audience Label: Education Level Group: Audnce Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+9%22">Grade 9</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+10%22">Grade 10</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+11%22">Grade 11</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+12%22">Grade 12</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Descriptors Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Bound+Students%22">College Bound Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Expectation%22">Expectation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Choice%22">College Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Web+Sites%22">Web Sites</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Media%22">Social Media</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Artificial+Intelligence%22">Artificial Intelligence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sharing+Behavior%22">Sharing Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preferences%22">Preferences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electronic+Mail%22">Electronic Mail</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Synchronous+Communication%22">Synchronous Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Video+Technology%22">Video Technology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Privacy%22">Privacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+9%22">Grade 9</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+10%22">Grade 10</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+11%22">Grade 11</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+12%22">Grade 12</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Seeking%22">Information Seeking</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: College planning has transformed into a complex digital dance, where Instagram stories matter as much as campus tours and AI chatbots answer midnight questions about application deadlines. Colleges and universities need to be aligned with the expectations of today's college-bound high school students in order to engage them where they are in their journey and keep them moving toward enrollment. This "2025 E-Expectations" report dives deep into how students navigate their college search today. Through extensive data analysis and student feedback, this report uncovers patterns that challenge conventional wisdom about student engagement. The authors found that while 31% of students still fill out traditional web forms, a nearly equal number now follow schools on social media. Perhaps most tellingly, 68% of students have already interacted with AI assistants on college websites--though not all student groups embrace these tools equally. What makes this research particularly valuable is its student-centered approach. Rather than focusing on institutional metrics or enrollment targets, this report examines students' behaviors and preferences at every stage of their college search. From 9th graders just beginning to explore their options to 12th graders making final decisions, the authors tracked how their engagement methods evolve and what they're looking for when they reach out. The findings paint a picture of a generation that's both digitally native and surprisingly thoughtful about how they share information. While they're comfortable with AI chatbots and social media, they're also strategic about their engagement--59% will share their email address with a college, but only 32% will provide their home address. These aren't just statistics--they're insights into how students protect their privacy while seeking authentic connections with their future schools. This report isn't just about documenting change and understanding it. Whether one is an admissions counselor trying to connect with first-generation students or a marketing director planning next year's outreach strategy, one can find actionable insights backed by accurate student data. Ultimately, serving students better starts with understanding how they want to be served. – Name: AbstractInfo Label: Abstractor Group: Ab Data: ERIC – Name: DateEntry Label: Entry Date Group: Date Data: 2025 – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: ED675519 |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED675519 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 51 Subjects: – SubjectFull: College Bound Students Type: general – SubjectFull: Expectation Type: general – SubjectFull: College Choice Type: general – SubjectFull: Web Sites Type: general – SubjectFull: Social Media Type: general – SubjectFull: Artificial Intelligence Type: general – SubjectFull: Sharing Behavior Type: general – SubjectFull: Preferences Type: general – SubjectFull: Electronic Mail Type: general – SubjectFull: Synchronous Communication Type: general – SubjectFull: Video Technology Type: general – SubjectFull: Privacy Type: general – SubjectFull: Grade 9 Type: general – SubjectFull: Grade 10 Type: general – SubjectFull: Grade 11 Type: general – SubjectFull: Grade 12 Type: general – SubjectFull: Information Seeking Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: 2025 E-Expectations Trend Report: Examining the Online Experiences, Expectations, and Behaviors of College-Bound High School Students Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Type: published Y: 2025 Titles: – TitleFull: Ruffalo Noel Levitz Type: main |
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