The Vendor is required to provide an undergraduate financial aid optimization solution that supports strategic data informed management of state and institutional aid that align with the university goal of increasing undergraduate enrollment.
- Goals
• Improve enrollment outcomes
• Predict impact of tuition/fee increases and aid adjustments on enrollment for new and returning students
• Enhance net tuition revenue and financial sustainability
• Advance equity, access, and student success
• Support compliance with federal and state regulations
• Have the ability to deliver unparalleled support, innovative solutions, and measurable outcomes. By fostering a collaborative partnership, the University aims to ensure the success of its strategic enrollment initiative
- Strategic Leadership and Support
• Provide a dedicated team of financial optimization experts, including a strategic leader and specialists
• Develop a collaborative framework for aligning strategies with university mission and objectives leading to recommended optimal financial aid awarding strategies
• Provide current research and trends in the higher ed market particularly in state
• Offer insight into emerging trends in region to assist in planning for the future
• Schedule bimonthly meetings with university enrollment leadership, and others as needed, to review strategies and progress
- Data Analysis and Modeling
• Develop predictive models to inform expected enrollment for the academic year being modeled, analyzing yield, retention, persistence, and net tuition revenue
• Provide scenario modeling
• Conduct price sensitivity and elasticity analyses
• Produce multi-year enrollment and revenue projections
- Award Strategy and Execution Support
• Assist with annual awarding policy
• Document packaging policy and award grids as appropriate
• Provide guidance on the balance of merit-based and need-based aid in keeping with the university’s mission
- Reporting and Dashboards
• Provide regular reporting to track enrollment progress and projection as well as discount rate
• Offer ongoing monitoring throughout the recruitment and yield season
• Provide easy to read dashboard(s) with current data for on-demand access of information for enrollment and finance staff
- Data-Informed Decision Making
• Use sophisticated analytics to identify trends, measure campaign effectiveness, and refine recruitment strategies in real-time
• Deliver regular, actionable insights through detailed reports and dashboards that highlight progress against established KPIS
- Data Integration
• Ensure act-compliant handling of all data
• Maintain secure data transfer processes
• Maintain a consistent file format for data uploads and downloads. Any changes to the format must be communicated to university with ample time to make any updates
• Must have a proven program for data security.
- Contract Period/Term: 3 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: January 23, 2026
