Penn Research & Strategies  ·  Higher Education

Research & Strategy for Colleges & Universities

From enrollment intelligence and student success research to faculty development and community impact analysis — PRS equips higher education leaders with the data and strategy needed to close equity gaps and elevate institutional performance.

Community Colleges4-Year UniversitiesHBCUsTechnical CollegesGraduate & Professional Schools
Core Service Areas

Student Experience & Sentiment Research

Understanding how students think, feel, and engage is foundational to improving outcomes. PRS captures student voice through rigorous research that goes deeper than standard satisfaction surveys.

RESEARCH

Student Experience Surveys

Comprehensive surveys measuring student satisfaction, belonging, academic support, and campus culture across programs and demographics.

Focus Groups & Student Listening Sessions

Moderated conversations that surface the reasoning behind student attitudes — especially among underrepresented populations.

Campus Climate & Culture Assessment

Measure how students, faculty, and staff perceive safety, inclusion, equity, and belonging across the institution.

First-Generation Student Research

Targeted research into the unique barriers, needs, and experiences of first-gen students to inform intentional support design.

Transfer Student Experience Studies

Understand the transition challenges and unmet needs of transfer students moving into or between institutions.

Enrollment, Retention & Student Success

PRS helps institutions diagnose why students choose, stay, or leave — and builds research-backed strategies to improve enrollment funnels and retention outcomes.

STRATEGY

Enrollment Market Research

Understand your competitive landscape, prospective student motivations, and which markets hold the most opportunity for growth.

Prospective Student Perception Studies

Research how prospective students and families perceive your institution's brand, programs, and value proposition.

Retention & Persistence Research

Identify the academic, financial, social, and logistical factors driving student attrition — by program, demographic, and cohort.

Exit & Stop-Out Interviews

Qualitative research with students who withdrew or stopped out to surface the real reasons behind departure decisions.

Student Success Program Evaluation

Assess the effectiveness of advising, tutoring, mentorship, and other student success interventions against measurable outcomes.

Recruitment Strategy Development

Research-grounded strategy to improve how your institution attracts and converts prospective students — especially underrepresented populations.

Alumni, Employer & Community Impact Research

An institution's value extends well beyond graduation. PRS helps you measure and communicate the long-term impact of your degree programs on graduates, employers, and surrounding communities.

IMPACT

Alumni Outcome & Feedback Studies

Survey graduates on career outcomes, salary trajectories, skill preparedness, and satisfaction with their educational experience.

Employer Perception & Feedback Research

Understand how local and regional employers view your graduates' readiness, skills, and overall preparation for the workforce.

Community Impact Analysis

Measure the economic, civic, and social contributions your institution makes to the surrounding region and community.

Workforce Alignment Research

Assess how well current curriculum and program offerings align with regional workforce needs and emerging industry demands.

Alumni Engagement Strategy

Research-informed strategy for strengthening alumni relationships, giving, mentorship, and connection to campus life.

Institutional Strategy & Planning

PRS works with presidents, provosts, and academic leaders to design bold institutional plans that are grounded in data and built to deliver measurable change at every level.

PLANNING

Strategic Planning Facilitation

Facilitation and research support for institutional strategic planning processes involving faculty, staff, students, and board.

Program Development & Assessment

Research and strategy to support the design, launch, or redesign of academic programs aligned to student demand and market need.

Governance & Leadership Development

Training and capacity building for boards of trustees, senior leadership teams, and academic governance bodies.

Performance & Operations Management

Systems design and support for measuring and improving departmental and institutional performance across key indicators.

Competitive Landscape Analysis

Secondary and primary research on peer and competitor institutions to inform positioning, pricing, and program strategy.

Equity, DEI & Organizational Development

Closing equity gaps requires more than good intentions. PRS helps institutions build the internal culture, data systems, and leadership capacity to create equitable outcomes — for students and staff alike.

EQUITY

DEI Strategy & Culture Work

Design and implementation support for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives grounded in institutional data and best practices.

Faculty & Staff Development

Training programs and workshops for faculty and staff that strengthen equity-centered pedagogy, culture, and management.

Equity Audit & Gap Analysis

Data-driven assessment of where equity gaps exist in enrollment, retention, graduation, hiring, and advancement.

Staff Satisfaction & Culture Surveys

Internal research measuring how faculty and staff experience the institution's culture, leadership, and equity commitments.

Capacity Building for Institutional Teams

Strengthen the skills, systems, and internal capabilities of administrative and academic departments to sustain equity-driven work.

Education & Capacity Building

Workshops & Training Programs for Higher Ed

Beyond consulting, PRS offers hands-on workshops and training experiences that build internal institutional capacity — equipping your teams to understand, gather, and apply data on their own.

From Survey to StrategyCommunity Listening & EngagementStrategic Planning 101Leadership EssentialsCustom & Private Trainings
How It Works
01

DISCOVERY CALL

PRS listens to your institutional goals, challenges, and context before any work begins.

02

RESEARCH PLAN

A custom study is designed aligned to your mission, student population, and strategic priorities.

03

INSIGHTS & ACTION

Clear findings are delivered alongside a practical roadmap so your team can act with confidence.

Every institution is unique.

If your needs don't fit neatly into a category above, PRS designs fully customized solutions around your campus, your students, and your goals. Projects typically take 4–8 weeks depending on scope, and PRS conducts research nationally with a focus on diverse and underrepresented communities.

Book a Discovery Call →