Mastering the Admissions Game: Understanding the Enrollment Priorities and Recruitment Strategies of Master's Institutions

Abstract

Although master's institutions enroll a substantial student population in the United States, a large percentage of which are minorities, relatively little has been written with regard to how master's institutions approach enrollment management. This mixed methods study examines the enrollment priorities and recruitment strategies of master's institutions to reveal how master's institutions are prioritizing their commitments to institutional quality, access, and financial stability, the types of recruitment strategies these institutions are utilizing to uphold their commitments, and the impact of these recruitment strategies, particularly upon issues of access. The study also makes use of a theoretical framework informed by academic capitalism theory, game theory, and institutional theory to explain why master's institutions may be prioritizing certain enrollment goals and adopting particular recruitment strategies. Findings from this study suggest master's institutions may be embracing market-oriented enrollment behaviors that prioritize revenue maximization, consequently reinforcing the advantages of the privileged and serving as vehicles for social reproduction.