Postsecondary Admissions Redesign:
A Toolkit for Policymakers and Practitioners
College admissions in the United States is an extensive and complex process that often creates barriers to students accessing a postsecondary education. With support from Lumina Foundation, Research for Action conducted 1) a study on the national landscape of admissions redesign and 2) an evaluation of the three implementation grants awarded through The Great Admissions Redesign, an initiative to support the reshaping and simplifying of the admissions process to transform how potential students apply, enroll, and access a postsecondary education.
This toolkit provides resources for policymakers and postsecondary practitioners working to adopt or strengthen admissions redesign at the state/system level.
View resources that provide a national picture of admissions redesign policies
Postsecondary Admissions Redesign at the State and System Levels: A Landscape Typology
Discover the different types of admissions redesigns being adopted across the country and the characteristics of each. Learn More
Mapping Admissions Redesign across the County
Explore individual admissions redesigns in more depth by accessing summaries of state and system policies and practices from across the country. Learn More
View lessons learned from the project, a summary of the literature, and decision points to consider in admissions redesign
Postsecondary Admissions Redesign: Lessons for the Field
Learn the admissions redesign lessons identified during this project based on interviews with experts in the field, policymakers, and practitioners. Learn More
Admissions Redesign: A Review of Evidence and Promising Practices
Investigate the existing research and literature on outcomes from and promising practices in admissions redesign. Learn More
Admissions Redesign Decision Points
Consider critical decision points and guiding questions in the adoption and implementation of admissions redesign. Learn More
View resources on the three GAR implementation grants awarded by Lumina Foundation in 2024
GAR Logic Models for each of the Grants
Explore the initial theory and strategies behind each of the admissions redesigns supported by Lumina Foundation funding. Learn More
GAR Implementation and Early Outcomes Profiles for each of the Grants
Discover the implementation strategies, early outcomes, and lessons learned from each of the grant recipients. Learn More
Summary Report on Implementation and Early Outcomes across GAR Grants
Learn from a cross-grantee analysis on implementation and early student outcomes. Learn More