LRAP Facts and Figures
Need vs. Impact

Need

  • 34% of incoming freshman do not attend their first choice college because of the cost and fear of taking on debt. (National Research Center for College and University Admissions, Dwayne Smith, “Is College Really an Option for Me?” 6/9/2009.)   
  • 33% of high school graduates ruled out private school because of costs.  (FastWeb and Maguire Associates, March 2011, “Students’ College Preferences and Plans in the 2011 Admissions Cycle.”)
  • 70% of students who planned to attend private schools indicated their financial aid award offer would "weigh heavily" on their final enrollment decision. (FastWeb and Maguire Associates, March 2011, “Students’ College Preferences and Plans in the 2011 Admissions Cycle.”)
  • 68% of high school seniors reported that their application choices were negatively influenced by economic concerns. (FastWeb and Maguire Associates, March 2011, “Students’ College Preferences and Plans in the 2011 Admissions Cycle.”)

Impact

  • Today, 125+ academic institutions (undergraduate, graduate, and specialized) successfully utilize an LRAP to increase enrollment and retention, and promote public service careers. 
  • Client results indicate that 68% of eligible “on-the-fence” freshmen matriculated when offered a LRAP.
  • Client results indicate an average 10.1% increase in retention from Freshman to Sophomore year, due to LRAP.
  • In 2009, Huntington University piloted LRAP for the first time. That year, 40 out of 60 (66%) of their LRAP students informed them that they would not have been financially capable of enrolling without the LRAP award. They now offer LRAP to all their incoming students, as a safety-net for their institution and alumni. (Read the story.)

"We were excited to hear that 9 of 10 students said they would not have come had it not been for the LRAP program.  We are very pleased with the LRAP program and are going to offer it to many more students this coming year!"

-Dave Kleffman, Director of Admissions, Malone University.


“I know that 8 out of our 11 LRAP students would not be here this year if it was not for the LRAP.  For the second year in a row, LRAP has opened doors for students to attend Judson which originally felt closed.”

- Lauren Reimers Financial Aid Counselor

"Our LRAP pilot was a great success.  Thanks to LRAP we have 11 additional students in our freshmen class.  Each of these students' families was struggling with whether they could attend because of the amount of loans that they would need to take.  This program provided them the assurance that they needed to join us." 

- Matt Osborne, VP for Enrollment, Spring Arbor University