Case Study: University of Oregon achieves increased enrollment of high-quality students with SAS Enterprise Miner

University of Oregon uses SAS® predictive analytics to deploy merit aid more effectively

The University of Oregon, which awards more than $35 million in institutional aid each year, questioned whether its simple GPA-based merit scholarship rules were the most effective way to attract top incoming students and improve yield. Leadership asked enrollment research to identify which merit packages actually increased the likelihood that accepted students would matriculate, since GPA alone (and variable grading across high schools) didn’t fully explain enrollment decisions.

Using SAS Enterprise Miner, researchers built logistic regression and neural network models that incorporated SAT scores and other factors, and exported results to an Excel-based financial-aid simulator to test award scenarios. They found in-state students were most responsive to aid, raised the top in-state merit award from $2,000 to $5,000 for students with a 3.8 GPA and ≥1200 SAT (with smaller nonresident increases), and achieved a more cost-effective aid strategy that better attracts high-quality enrollees and improves yield prediction.

University of Oregon

Jonathan Jacobs

Director of Enrollment Management Research