9 Ways Colleges Can Reduce Summer Melt This Year

Summary

• Summer melt, where 10-40% of accepted students fail to enroll, is driven by complex administrative hurdles and a lack of personalized support.

• Combat melt with proactive, multichannel communication (text, email, phone calls) and by simplifying financial aid processes.

• Foster early peer-to-peer connections and assign dedicated counselors to build a sense of community before students arrive.

• Use an AI-powered tool like Havana to provide 24/7 support, answer questions instantly, and automate follow-ups to ensure no student feels ignored.

You've worked tirelessly to recruit a strong incoming class—sending acceptance letters, hosting admitted student events, and celebrating as deposits roll in. But when fall arrives, a concerning number of these committed students never show up on campus. They've "melted away" during the summer months.

If a student is deciding between college A and college B, and college A takes 4 days to answer a question about housing while college B responds in 3 hours, the choice becomes obvious. These seemingly small interactions can make the difference between a student who enrolls and one who melts away.

What is Summer Melt?

Summer melt refers to the phenomenon where college-intending students who have been accepted and paid deposits fail to matriculate in the fall. According to research from Education Northwest, between 10-20% of college-committed students nationwide experience summer melt, with rates soaring to 40% for low-income students, those from large urban districts, and community-college-bound students.

During summer, students lose access to their high school support networks like counselors and teachers. Simultaneously, they face complex financial and logistical challenges—navigating financial aid, housing assignments, orientation registration, and mountains of paperwork—often for the first time. First-generation students are particularly vulnerable without family members who can guide them through these unfamiliar processes.

Here are nine proven strategies colleges can implement to combat summer melt and ensure your accepted students arrive on campus this fall.

1. Implement Proactive, Multichannel Communication

Don't wait for students to get lost in the process. Instead, develop a comprehensive communication plan that reaches students where they are.

According to Financial Aid Services, a successful approach includes:

• Email reminders for key action items and upcoming deadlines

• Text messages for urgent notifications (research shows automated text campaigns significantly increase enrollment among vulnerable students for just $7 per participant)

• Direct mail welcome packets to build excitement

• Social media engagement through polls and Q&A sessions

• Personalized videos introducing staff members or explaining next steps

• Phone calls for high-risk students showing signs of disengagement

Research shows concentrated outreach to traditionally underrepresented groups during summer can increase enrollment by 13%.

The key is consistency and responsiveness. When one Reddit user noted, "It's like 3-4 days before someone gets an answer to a response," they highlighted exactly what drives students away. Aim to respond to all inquiries within 24 hours, even if just to acknowledge receipt and provide a timeline for a more detailed answer.

2. Simplify Financial Aid and Clarify Every Dollar

Financial uncertainty is a primary driver of summer melt. Make costs transparent and financial aid easy to understand.

With challenges like the redesigned FAFSA creating confusion, especially for first-generation families, it's crucial to go beyond standard award letters. Provide detailed, easy-to-read cost breakdowns that help students understand exactly what they'll owe.

Several institutions offer exemplary financial planning tools:

• Penn State Abington provides comprehensive planning guides

• Trevecca Nazarene University offers interactive payment planning tools

• SUNY Geneseo uses clear financial planning worksheets

Consider offering virtual one-on-one financial planning sessions (15-30 minutes) with financial aid staff to answer personal questions. This personalized approach can make a significant difference, especially when nearly half of students say a $5,000 difference in scholarship aid would change their top school choice.

Timing matters too. As one Reddit user noted, "As for giving the tuition bill in May. That really doesn't make sense because incoming students won't have their schedules." Ensure billing aligns with students' readiness to make financial decisions.

3. Assign Personalized Guidance and Support

Students need human connections during this transition period. As one Reddit user emphasized, "I really appreciate the focus on interpersonal relationships."

Create a "transition team" or assign a dedicated liaison for each incoming student. One user suggested: "If they can assign financial aid counselors based on last name, they could assign a residential liaison or liaison for other departments so the student knows who they could talk to if they have a question."

This personal connection can prevent students from feeling like just a number in the system. Consider these approaches:

• Dedicated counselors who serve as a single point of contact for questions about housing, financial aid, or registration

• Peer mentor programs matching incoming students with current students who can offer authentic advice and support (research shows this intervention can raise four-year college enrollment rates at a cost of about $80 per participant)

• Extended summer counseling providing 2-3 hours of additional guidance, which has been shown to increase overall enrollment by 3-4 percentage points (and 8 percentage points for low-income students) for just $100-$200 per student

4. Leverage Technology to Streamline Processes

Use technology not just to communicate, but to make the entire enrollment process seamless and user-friendly, dramatically reducing friction and frustration.

Tools like Havana use an AI-powered assistant to automate outreach, answer common questions 24/7 via text, email, and phone, and even schedule appointments with advisors. This immediately addresses the pain point of waiting "3-4 days before someone gets an answer to a response," ensuring no student feels ignored.

A best-in-class student portal should:

• Host all required forms and processes online

• Be mobile-optimized for accessibility anywhere

• Include progress tracking for required tasks

• Offer virtual campus tours and student leader Q&A sessions

• Integrate with your CRM to flag at-risk students

The right technology creates efficiency for both students and staff, ensuring no query goes unanswered and no student feels ignored.

5. Foster Peer-to-Peer Connections Early

Address student anxieties about "social fit" by helping them build a community before they even step on campus. Early engagement is critical to alleviating fears related to social preparedness.

Facilitate connections between incoming students and current students or alumni through:

• Moderated social media groups organized by major, residence hall, or interest

• Virtual meet-and-greets or fun, low-stakes online events

• Student directory features on your portal to help students find potential roommates or classmates with similar majors

• Q&A sessions with student leaders who can share authentic experiences

When students begin forming relationships before arrival, they develop a stronger sense of belonging and are less likely to melt away.

6. Provide a Simple Summer Task Checklist

The sheer number of forms and deadlines can overwhelm even the most organized students. A clear, consolidated checklist can reduce anxiety and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

Create a master checklist of all required summer tasks with clear deadlines, accessible on the student portal and sent via email. Include critical items like:

• Accepting financial aid packages

• Completing Loan Entrance Counseling

• Signing the Master Promissory Note (MPN)

• Submitting housing deposits and forms

• Registering for orientation

• Uploading final transcripts and health forms

For each task, provide simple step-by-step instructions, estimated completion times, and direct links to required forms. Send gentle reminders as deadlines approach, and offer support resources for students who may be struggling.

7. Engage Parents and Families as Partners

Parents and family members are crucial support systems for incoming students. Keep them informed and empowered to help their students navigate the transition.

Create a separate communication track specifically for parents and families that includes:

• Relevant information about deadlines, costs, and resources

• Family-specific webinars or Q&A sessions covering topics like financial aid, campus safety, and student support services

• A dedicated parent portal or resource section on your website

• Clear explanations of FERPA regulations and how parents can stay involved

This engagement is especially critical for first-generation families who may be unfamiliar with the college enrollment process. When parents understand what their students are experiencing, they can provide better support at home during crucial decision-making moments.

8. Enhance Orientation and Summer Bridge Programs

Orientation is a critical milestone in the transition process. Ensure it's well-communicated, accessible, and serves as an effective bridge to college life.

To make orientation effective, colleges should:

• Clearly communicate orientation schedules and registration requirements well in advance

• Offer multiple orientation dates and virtual options for those who can't attend in person

• Incorporate fun and interactive activities like digital scavenger hunts to encourage social connections

• Use orientation to address common concerns about academics, campus life, and financial responsibilities

For students who may need extra preparation, summer bridge programs can provide academic and social readiness before the semester begins. These programs have proven particularly effective for first-generation students and those from underrepresented backgrounds.

9. Monitor Student Engagement and Target Interventions

Use data to identify students who are showing signs of disengagement and provide them with targeted support before they melt away.

Track key engagement metrics in your student portal or CRM:

• Have they logged in recently?

• Have they opened recent emails?

• Are they behind on their checklist tasks?

• Have they registered for orientation?

• Have they submitted their housing preferences?

Flag students with low engagement and have a counselor or outreach specialist conduct personalized follow-up via phone call or text. This proactive outreach can make all the difference for a student who is silently struggling.

Building Relationships is the Key to Preventing Summer Melt

Preventing summer melt requires moving from a passive, transactional process to an active, relational one. It's about building confidence, clarifying confusion, and fostering a sense of belonging before day one.

As one Reddit user aptly noted, focusing on "interpersonal relationships and the intention to focus on giving reasons to stay" is crucial. Students need to feel connected to your institution through meaningful human interactions, not just automated emails.

Every student who melts away represents a broken promise and a lost opportunity—both for the student and the institution. By implementing these strategies, colleges can ensure the students they worked so hard to recruit successfully make the transition to campus.

The most effective approach combines proactive communication, personalized support, streamlined processes, and community building. When these elements work together, they create a seamless path from acceptance to enrollment that keeps students engaged, informed, and excited about their college journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is summer melt in college admissions?

Summer melt refers to the phenomenon where students who have been accepted to and have deposited at a college fail to enroll for the fall semester. This typically occurs during the summer months between high school graduation and the start of college. Research shows that 10-20% of college-committed students experience summer melt, with rates as high as 40% for students from low-income backgrounds.

Why is summer melt a significant problem for colleges?

Summer melt is a significant problem because it leads to missed enrollment targets, unpredictable tuition revenue, and wasted recruitment efforts. Each student who "melts" represents a lost opportunity for both the institution and the student. For colleges, it creates uncertainty in class composition and budget planning, while for students, it can derail their higher education journey entirely.

What are the main causes of summer melt?

The main causes of summer melt are complex administrative hurdles, financial aid confusion, and a lack of personalized support during the summer transition. Once students graduate from high school, they often lose access to their support network of counselors and are faced with daunting tasks like deciphering financial aid award letters, completing housing forms, and registering for orientation with little guidance.

Who is most at risk for summer melt?

Students most at risk for summer melt are typically those from low-income families, first-generation students, and those from large urban school districts. These students often have fewer resources and less access to family members with college experience who can guide them through complex enrollment processes.

How can proactive communication reduce summer melt?

Proactive, multichannel communication reduces summer melt by keeping students engaged, informed, and on track with required tasks, preventing them from feeling overwhelmed or ignored. Instead of waiting for students to ask for help, colleges should use a mix of email, text messages, and phone calls to send timely reminders about deadlines, clarify financial aid processes, and build a sense of community.

What role does technology play in preventing summer melt?

Technology helps prevent summer melt by streamlining administrative processes, providing 24/7 support, and offering personalized outreach at scale. Modern tools like AI-powered assistants can instantly answer common student questions, ensuring no one has to wait days for a response. A user-friendly student portal can also consolidate all required forms and deadlines in one place, making the enrollment journey seamless.

Is your institution ready to implement these strategies? The time to start is now—before your accepted students begin to melt away.