Academic Program Environmental Scan
Academic Program Planning from Data-Informed Insights
RNL’s Academic Program Environmental Scan provides a comprehensive analysis of the market factors influencing academic program demand at your institution. By integrating institutional data with student demand and labor market trends, we deliver actionable insights that help align your academic offerings with student interests and workforce needs. This approach empowers colleges and universities to leverage market insight to inform academic planning processes and leverage market intel to inform academic program strategy.
Our environmental scan identifies critical elements such as indirect measures of student interest, direct indicators of labor market needs, and expertise in emerging market trends. By examining your current programs in the context of your mission and this market context, your RNL consultant can help you to uncover opportunities for program enhancement, investment, and innovation. Whether you aim to optimize existing programs or explore new program concepts, this research provides the market insight within your unique institutional context to support informed program planning.
Unlock strategic growth: Key questions answered by your market analysis.
Find answers to crucial questions about your academic programs and market opportunities.
How popular are our programs with students, both in our current area and in new places we could expand to?
Which of our programs are employers in the area actively hiring for?
What are our competitors offering that we aren’t, and would those programs work well for us?
This research helps you pinpoint the key employers in your area and the specific skills they’re looking for. This means you can use real-world data to build academic programs that align perfectly with the local job market. Our analysis will show you which programs have the most potential for growth and where your investments will have the biggest impact.
Harness market insights for your academic programs
The Academic Program Environmental Scan thoroughly examines market indicators within the context of your mission.
Investing in an Academic Program Environmental Scan is an investment in your institution’s future. By aligning your academic offerings with market needs and student interests, you support institutional sustainability and can help uncover growth opportunity.
Our research equips your faculty and staff with the tools and insights needed to support market-aware academic program strategy.
Get side-by-side guidance from an experienced consultant
Throughout the process, your Ruffalo Noel Levitz consultant works with you to guide the research, interpret the findings and recommend strategies that will help you maximize the academic appeal of your campus. Every step of the way, you’ll understand the importance of the data and how you can act on it.
Set Up a Consultation Call
Guide your decisions with solid research and data. Ask for a free consultation with our market research experts.
“RNL partnered with a private, faith-based university on the West Coast to explore the market demand for its existing academic programs and consider the opportunity to add new academic programs. RNL’s Market and Research Services team reviewed the university’s admissions funnel, market share of recently awarded degrees, and labor market to provide insight into their market share and student and labor market demand.
This study revealed that the university was offering many programs in demand in the market, but also many small, similar programs with low enrollment and less demand. The university was able to strategically re-align its program offerings around core areas of strength that align with student and market demand. ”
Strategy Roadmap Solutions
RNL Market Research
Guide your enrollment decisions with solid research and data on academic demand, price sensitivity and cost, and other key areas.
RNL Strategic Enrollment Planning
Ensure long-term enrollment success and fiscal health by aligning your institution’s fiscal, academic, co-curricular, and enrollment resources with its changing environment.
RNL Comprehensive Consulting for Student Recruitment, Retention, and Financial Aid
Make your enrollment efforts more effective and efficient—from awareness to financial aid awarding to graduation.