Case Study: Virginia Tech increases underrepresented enrollment with Ruffalo Noel Levitz

Virginia Tech Makes Major Gains in Enrolling Underrepresented Students

Virginia Tech, a top-ranked land-grant institution with 37,000 students, sought to better serve underrepresented students and improve the diversity of its student body. In 2015, the university noted that Black students made up 5 percent of enrollment, while the Commonwealth of Virginia’s population was 20 percent Black.

Virginia Tech partnered with Ruffalo Noel Levitz financial aid service consultants to better understand how financial aid awards affected underrepresented students and to monitor and adjust awarding strategies. With support from Ruffalo Noel Levitz, the university increased underrepresented enrollment by 7 points, from 33% to 40%, nearly doubled the share of students who identify as Black or as Black and two more races, from 5% to 9%, and received an RNL Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Excellence Award in 2022.

Virginia Tech