HomeEnrollment Management SolutionsStudent SuccessRNL Retention Management System™College Student Inventory

For incoming first-year students at four-year and two-year campuses

Use this early-alert survey to identify at-risk students, focus advisors on key concerns, and link students to resources

The College Student Inventory identifies at-risk students in the incoming class using the leading noncognitive indicators of college student success. You and your colleagues receive detailed information about each student’s academic motivations, areas of risk, and receptivity to specific student services. This survey can be administered before classes get under way or soon after classes begin, providing you with data to make interventions more meaningful and relevant, before a student begins disengaging. Learn how to use the CSI to:

  • Identify which students are at risk and receptive to assistance.
  • Intervene with students earlier, when the chance for success is greater.
  • Make retention strategies more effective and efficient by basing them on reliable student data.

Used by more than 1,400 institutions and completed by more than 2.6 million students nationwide, the College Student Inventory is the leading tool for early identification and early intervention with your newest students.
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See Samples of the CSI and Its Reports

Download the First-Year Student Motivation Report

2023 National First-Year Students and Their Motivation to Complete College ReportWhat are the needs, challenges, and priorities for first-year college students? Find out in the National First-Year Students and Their Motivation to Complete College Report. You will learn their attitudes on finishing college, top areas of assistance, desire for career assistance, and more.

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Wichita State University (Kansas)

“Before we were using the College Student Inventory, there was a lot of speculation about what individual students needed. Now we have a clear understanding and a roadmap to maximize student success. ”

Martha Shawver, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research, Wichita State University (Kansas)

Have a question about the College Student Inventory,
or about student retention strategies?

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Available for online completion

Choose from three forms of the College Student Inventory.

  • Form A (194 items)
    Offers the most comprehensive analysis with 19 motivational assessment scales.
  • Form B (100 items)
    The most widely used version of the CSI, Form B analyzes student attitudes across 17 different scales. Can be used in conjunction with the Mid-Year Student Assessment (MYSA).
  • Form C (74 items)
    Designed specifically for students who seek to balance work, family, and academics, such as adult learners. Can be used in conjunction with the Mid-Year Student Assessment (MYSA).

See Samples of the College Student Inventory

Implementation support

For information on administering the College Student Inventory, see our implementation guidelines and our information webpage.

Additional RMS Plus assessments


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RNL Satisfaction-Priorities Assessments™

Identify priorities for student retention and campus planning with these assessments for students, staff, and parents.

RNL Retention Management System Plus™

Increase retention and completion with these early-alert and motivational assessments.