Research in Higher Education
Through our Thought Leadership Galleries and Annual Educational Trends Reports we strive to engage these topics in an original way, blending proprietary research, op-ed content, expert panels, and resource collections.
![Research in Higher Education Hero Image](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fres.cloudinary.com%2Fhighereducation%2Fimage%2Fupload%2Fc_fill%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_lossy%2Cq_auto%2Cg_center%2Fv1%2FBestColleges.com%2Fresearch-hub-v2.jpg%3F_a%3DBAMCcSOY0&w=3840&q=75)
Featured Research
![Students’ Top Factors in College Choice and Admissions: 2023](https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/images/c_fill,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,g_center,h_512/v1699032888/BestColleges.com/Student-Choice-Survey-hero-v2/Student-Choice-Survey-hero-v2.png?_i=AA)
Students’ Top Factors in College Choice and Admissions: 2023
Our 2023 College Choice and Admissions Survey reveals how students choose colleges and the variables they think colleges should factor into admissions decisions.
![Lyss Welding](https://cms.bestcolleges.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Lyss_Welding-headshot_2172572ea3.png)
by Lyss Welding
Updated February 5, 2025
More Than 1 in 3 Students Are Involved With Campus Protests This Fall
October 21, 2024
![More Than 1 in 3 Students Are Involved With Campus Protests This Fall](https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/images/c_fill,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,g_center,h_512/v1729116786/BestColleges.com/u-michigan-ann-arbor-gaza-protest/u-michigan-ann-arbor-gaza-protest.jpg?_i=AA)
1 in 4 Students Faced Challenges Staying Enrolled Due to FAFSA Delays, Survey Finds
October 25, 2024
![1 in 4 Students Faced Challenges Staying Enrolled Due to FAFSA Delays, Survey Finds](https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/images/c_fill,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,g_center,h_512/v1729537036/BestColleges.com/us-department-of-education-exterior-sign_100111d4a46/us-department-of-education-exterior-sign_100111d4a46.jpg?_i=AA)
1 in 3 College Students Report Witnessing More Discrimination Against Marginalized Groups This Year
November 6, 2024
![1 in 3 College Students Report Witnessing More Discrimination Against Marginalized Groups This Year](https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/images/c_fill,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,g_center,h_512/v1730842522/BestColleges.com/university-of-south-carolina-student-racism-protest/university-of-south-carolina-student-racism-protest.jpg?_i=AA)
College Student Voters Favor Harris to Trump, 52% vs. 39%
October 7, 2024
![College Student Voters Favor Harris to Trump, 52% vs. 39%](https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/images/c_fill,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,g_center,h_512/v1727992391/BestColleges.com/kamala-harris-presidential-campaign-event_99027d29f6_9902755a24/kamala-harris-presidential-campaign-event_99027d29f6_9902755a24.jpg?_i=AA)
Over 3 in 5 College Student Voters Say a Presidential Candidate’s Vibe Matters
October 9, 2024
![Over 3 in 5 College Student Voters Say a Presidential Candidate’s Vibe Matters](https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/images/c_fill,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,g_center,h_512/v1728498261/BestColleges.com/kamala-harris-carnegie-mellon-campaign-event_crop_99239d1d85/kamala-harris-carnegie-mellon-campaign-event_crop_99239d1d85.jpg?_i=AA)
Less Than Half of Students Feel Comfortable Expressing Political Opinions on Campus
June 7, 2024
![Less Than Half of Students Feel Comfortable Expressing Political Opinions on Campus](https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/images/c_fill,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,g_center,h_512/v1717701947/BestColleges.com/student-discussion-college-seminar/student-discussion-college-seminar.jpg?_i=AA)
Average Student Loan Debt in 2025
February 11, 2025
![Average Student Loan Debt in 2025](https://cms.bestcolleges.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/college-student-using-credit-card-to-pay-student-loan-bill.jpg)
Tracking College Closures and Mergers
January 7, 2025
![Tracking College Closures and Mergers](https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/images/c_fill,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,g_center,h_512/v1677276812/BestColleges.com/empty-college-lecture-hall-seats/empty-college-lecture-hall-seats.jpg?_i=AA)
Affirmative Action Statistics in College Admissions
July 3, 2023
![Affirmative Action Statistics in College Admissions](https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/images/c_fill,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,g_center,h_512/v1668459433/BestColleges.com/UNC-Chapel-Hill-campus-at-sunrise/UNC-Chapel-Hill-campus-at-sunrise.jpg?_i=AA)
College Enrollment Statistics in the U.S.
February 7, 2024
![College Enrollment Statistics in the U.S.](https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/images/c_fill,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,g_center,h_512/v1691536206/BestColleges.com/female-college-student-walking-to-class/female-college-student-walking-to-class.jpg?_i=AA)
College Student Mental Health Statistics
March 22, 2024
![College Student Mental Health Statistics](https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/images/c_fill,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,g_center,h_512/v1711135521/BestColleges.com/depressed-black-female-college-student-mental-health-1/depressed-black-female-college-student-mental-health-1.jpg?_i=AA)
Cost of College Over Time
January 30, 2024
![Cost of College Over Time](https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/images/c_fill,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,g_center,h_512/v1706056454/BestColleges.com/college-student-packing-his-backpack-1/college-student-packing-his-backpack-1.jpg?_i=AA)
All Research
![1 in 3 College Students Report Witnessing More Discrimination Against Marginalized Groups This Year](https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/images/c_fill,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,g_center,h_512/v1730842522/BestColleges.com/university-of-south-carolina-student-racism-protest/university-of-south-carolina-student-racism-protest.jpg?_i=AA)
1 in 3 College Students Report Witnessing More Discrimination Against Marginalized Groups This Year
![Jane Nam](https://cms.bestcolleges.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Jane-Nam-Headshot-Square.jpg)
by Jane Nam
Updated November 6, 2024
…
Our Editorial Policy and Standards
Accuracy and editorial integrity are just a few of the values we at BestColleges pledge to uphold for the students who rely on us. We are committed to providing students with the educational resources they need to achieve their goals.
![Editorial policy and standards image](https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/images/w_720,c_fill,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/c_fill,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,g_center,h_512/v1665764657/BestColleges.com/contributors-editorial-policy/contributors-editorial-policy.jpg)