There are some large state schools on the list as well. I also wonder how much of it is a male problem. Females now substantially outnumber males in higher education. Males seem to be having more difficulty successfully navigating high school and moving on to college. And staying there. I see it a lot in my community. If half of a school’s market is struggling to be qualified, it will be hard to reach enrollment goals.
University of Vermont is a great state college, with a nice vibe in a fun college town. Lake access as well as proximity to skiing and hiking makes it a great fit for nature lovers.
There are always some really nice and solid LACs on the list, such as Whitman, Hendrix, Goucher, Sewanee, and others. A few years ago, College of Wooster and Eckerd were on the list, now they are off.
Usually it is schools with small endowments that cannot offer significant FA.
I know a great kid who was rejected at all of his schools who applied to and attended Eckerd off the list. He did very well at Eckerd, and is doing well professionally and in life in general. Happy endings. 
Note that per their listing, UVM is not taking any more first year students, but has openings for transfer students…
Let’s face it, a lot of the less illustrious LACs in particular are in trouble, financially. It remains to be seen who will survive the shakeout in higher education.
No problem @Berrycupcake . One, she never visited, so that made it easier to say no. She was accepted to colleges she was more interested in. Whitman was not a safety, but it was a low match. I think if she hadn’t been accepted to schools that were higher up her list, she would have considered Whitman a lot more seriously. Her current roomie was devastated at being waitlisted by Whitman and never got offered a place. This was literally last year. My daughter was intrigued by the college and Walla Walla and thought more people should know about it.
@Consolation you are probably right. That certainly adds to the problem.
Uh oh! I just saw the institution I work for on the list…
(meanwhile I also just sawthat [Colby is apparently sending out letters](Colby 2017 Waitlist - #18 by EdPark - Colby College - College Confidential Forums) to students who have accepted their offer of admission informing them that the deadline for requesting to take a gap year or other deferral has been extended! Perhaps their yield was better than expected and they overshot their target – the opposite problem to the schools on this list…)
I was surprised to see so many Maryland schools on the list, both large publics and small private and public LAC. St. John’s which is a great niche school is almost always on the list but Loyola, Hood, St., Mary’s College (public), UMBC, Washington College and most surprising UMCP.
Butler has a very good reputation in Indiana and the Midwest. They do a lot of things very well, but they are also very expensive and their aid isn’t as generous as others.
I see the University of Maryland on the list, but it doesn’t say College Park.
@Consolation, agree as most private schools rely on their endowments to fund 20-25% of the operating budget so am not certain how the schools with less than $100mm endowments continue to thrive. That said, I can’t figure out why a school like Whitman would be under-enrolled as it’s a very solid school with a large endowment, and given its located in a region that has fewer LAC’s one would think it would be seeing an ever lower acceptance rate like many NE LAC’s.
@Consolation If you follow the link provided in the list for University of Maryland it takes you to the UMDCP website.
I think part of the equation is definitely the number of schools kids are applying to. It makes it very difficult to estimate yield especially when going after higher quality students. There are plenty of schools on that list that rejected students that did not meet their criteria, and I am betting they wouldn’t accept them today either. It is a fine line balancing average SAT scores, acceptance rate, and yield. I think these particular schools are looking for that quality student that got shut out from their selective choices and don’t want to take a gap year. I am always surprised by some of the schools on that list.
Given the list noted comes from the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, I am not certain whether it’s accurate - I’m out.
@Mom4boys, that is really surprising, given the number of strong students who are rejected from UMCP!
@citymama9 , I agree with you. I think that is the root of the problem. I do not at all think the list means the colleges on it will simply accept students willy nilly, especially Whitman.
Re post 33, I don’t understand that comment. The colleges provide the information to NACAC. What’s in doubt about it?
I think it is clear that colleges are going to have to find better ways of calculating their yield in their acceptance decisions. Perhaps more apps doesn’t always equal higher yield?
@Chembiodad , this is published annually and is typically accurate. Not sure on whysterical you would discount it because the group that takes responsibility for maintaining it is the group most likely to need it.
Of course, the nuances require further investigation - does a school have beds but no FA? Are they looking for students of one gender? Are openings only for certain programs? Note that virtually all have turned people away this year, so still accepting applications doesn’t mean inviting to attend. But for the student who was not well advised and may have aimed too high and ended up shut out, this list could be a godsend!
@doschicos The list doesn’t show which Penn State campuses they are accepting applications for. I doubt University Park is short on enrollment. At $19K for in-state tuition, I can see students unwilling to attend some of the Commonwealth campuses (and I doubt many OOS students are willing to pay $30K to study at these campuses).
Agree. For some colleges, it means they’re willing to go past deadlines to get particular types. Maybe a darling has programs underenrolled or off balance.
We don’t know how many openings or whether some colleges will be quite choosy.
@intparent and @jym626 do you have any thoughts on this? You have both been around for a while.