Despite significant investments in digital transformation, many colleges and universities continue to grapple with operational inefficiencies in their admissions processes. A recent survey by EDMO, detailed in their 2026 report on automation in admissions, highlights a stark contrast between the automation of routine tasks and the persistence of manual processes for more complex evaluations. While 80% of surveyed higher education leaders reported automating customer relationship management (CRM) and data synchronization, only 12.5% have automated transcript evaluations, and a mere 17.5% have implemented automated identity and fraud checks.
This discrepancy underscores a critical challenge for admissions teams: while technology has streamlined simpler tasks, the most labor-intensive work remains largely untouched. As enrollment growth targets outpace the processing capacity to handle increased applications, admissions leaders are seeking ways to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance staff productivity without compromising the human judgment essential for making consequential decisions.
Operational Challenges Persist
Among the 40 higher education leaders surveyed, 70% identified staffing and workload as significant challenges in the admissions process. Data silos and system integration issues were also highlighted, with 50% of respondents citing these as barriers to efficiency. Notably, nearly two-thirds of participants indicated that transcript and credit evaluations are still predominantly manual tasks, which complicates the admissions workflow.
International transcripts pose an additional layer of complexity, with 72.5% of respondents acknowledging them as particularly challenging due to varying educational systems and grading scales. This situation emphasizes the need for institutions to focus not just on where technology can be deployed easily, but on where it can effectively alleviate bottlenecks in their operations.
Enrollment Ambitions vs. Operational Readiness
The survey results reveal a tension between institutional priorities and operational capabilities. While 67.5% of respondents ranked growing enrollment and reaching new markets as their top priority, 47.5% rated their admissions automation maturity at just three out of five. Budget constraints were cited by 65% as a significant barrier, followed closely by challenges related to change management and staff readiness.
This disconnect suggests that while institutions may successfully increase application numbers, they may struggle to scale their evaluation and decision-making processes accordingly. As such, it is crucial for colleges to assess their operational capacity before committing to ambitious enrollment targets.
Communication and Fraud Concerns
Effective student communication is another area where admissions teams face capacity issues. The survey found that 47.5% of respondents reported average inquiry response times ranging from two to 24 hours, with 72.5% lacking around-the-clock applicant support. This raises questions about how admissions professionals can balance responding to routine inquiries while managing complex evaluations.
Moreover, concerns about application and financial-aid fraud have intensified, with 65% of respondents reporting an increase in fraud cases over the past two years. Despite this, 52.5% still rely on manual identity verification processes, highlighting the need for a more robust approach to safeguarding admissions integrity.
Rethinking Automation Strategies
The findings from EDMO’s report suggest that colleges need to rethink their automation strategies. Rather than simply increasing the number of automated tasks, institutions should focus on understanding where automation can genuinely enhance operational efficiency. This includes identifying the most time-consuming activities, examining information flow between systems, and determining which tasks require human oversight.
Ultimately, the goal should be to create an admissions process that not only improves efficiency but also allows staff to concentrate on the most impactful aspects of their work. As institutions navigate these challenges, the emphasis should be on leveraging technology to support, rather than replace, human expertise in the admissions process.
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