Spark451’s Latest College-Bound Student and Parent Survey Results

Thousands of graduating high school seniors and their parents from across the U.S. responded to our Summer 2025 surveys on the college selection process! Download both full reports to access all of the findings, brought to you by Spark451's Education Research Division.

Sneak Peek:
A Few Key Takeaways From the Surveys

65%

of students were motivated to apply to certain schools because they received application fee waivers

59%

of parents said that the institution their child selected was not the most affordable option

78%

of parents said that a school’s stance on political issues would influence whether they felt comfortable with their student attending

33%

of students used an AI tool in their search, with the most popular being ChatGPT

About Spark451

Spark451, a Jenzabar company, is a higher education enrollment strategy, technology, and marketing firm that combines creativity with powerful technology to achieve measurable results. With a mission to help colleges and students fuel their future, the firm integrates a multitude of communication channels and platforms for effective enrollment marketing, student search, creative services, and digital media. Since 2011, Spark451 has worked with over 200 colleges and universities nationwide.

2025 College Bound Survey Report

Sneak Peek:A Few Key Takeaways From the Surveys

About Spark451

Sneak Peek:
A Few Key Takeaways From the Surveys