How to reduce summer melt: Student-centered strategies for a shifting higher ed landscape

Explore five coaching-informed strategies that can help institutions reduce melt and boost yield

Every year, tens of thousands of college-intending students never make it to day one. Known as “summer melt,” this phenomenon can affect as many as 40% of students, especially those from low-income, first-generation and historically marginalized backgrounds. According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), common causes include confusion about enrollment steps, limited access to support after high school graduation, and delayed or unclear financial aid information — all of which can erode a student’s momentum at a critical time.

And in 2025, melt risks are even higher. The redesigned FAFSA has delayed financial aid decisions for millions of students, while public discourse continues to raise doubts about the value of higher education. For many students and families, anxiety around affordability, fit and follow-through is at an all-time high. The gap between intention and enrollment feels wider than ever — and more urgent to close.

But summer melt isn’t inevitable. When students feel overwhelmed, uncertain or alone, it’s not uncommon for them to disengage — sometimes ignoring emails, missing deadlines or assuming it’s too late to enroll. With the right support, that pattern can be interrupted. Institutions that take a student-centered approach — focusing on trust, clarity and connection — can bridge the gap. At InsideTrack, we’ve supported hundreds of colleges and universities in navigating melt through holistic, human-centered coaching. Here are five proven strategies to help keep students on the path to enrollment and success.

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1. Rebuild trust in the value of higher education

The skepticism is real: In a 2024 Pew Research Center survey, only 22% of Americans said a four-year degree is worth the cost, even if it requires taking out loans. Nearly half — 49% — said college is only worth it if it doesn’t require getting loans.

Today’s students — and their families — are asking tough, valid questions. Will college actually pay off? Will I fit in on campus? Will I be supported if things get hard? Rising costs, cultural polarization and mixed media messages have eroded confidence in the traditional college pathway.

That’s why rebuilding trust must start with the goals students have for themselves. Instead of leading with institutional prestige or rankings, focus communication with prospective students on how your programs help students achieve their personal, professional and community aspirations. This means:

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• Personalizing messages based on intended major or career track
• Showcasing diverse student and alumni stories that reflect multiple definitions of success
• Framing your value proposition in terms of real-life outcomes — not just degrees, but opportunities

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For institutions looking to earn trust, it’s not about marketing louder — it’s about connecting more authentically. To dive deeper, explore our recent blog on rebuilding trust with today’s students.

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2. Personalize support to reflect student realities

According to a capstone report from Harvard’s Strategic Data Project, first-generation and low-income students are especially vulnerable to summer melt — often due to gaps in guidance and a lack of sustained support once high school ends. In one large school district, researchers analyzed students who had been accepted to college and indicated plans to enroll, but ultimately didn’t matriculate in the fall — a classic case of summer melt. Among those students, 59% of Latino graduates and 41% of Black graduates melted, compared with just 19% of white graduates.

It’s clear that first-gen students, students of color and learners from low-income backgrounds often encounter added layers of complexity — from confusing paperwork and limited guidance to deeper concerns around belonging and representation. It’s clear that a one-size-fits-all strategy won’t cut it. Instead, institutions need to take a more tailored approach to student engagement — one that reflects students’ lived experiences and keeps their momentum going through the summer. That might include:

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• Customized outreach that’s culturally relevant and empathetic
• Partnerships with trusted community-based organizations that help maintain trust and connection
• Safe spaces for students to voice concerns and ask questions

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One-on-one enrollment coaching makes a measurable difference here. Coaches offer proactive, personalized support to help students navigate uncertainty, build confidence and stay on track toward enrollment — often helping them connect with their motivation to follow through and access resources that fit their individual needs.

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3. Proactively address financial concerns

Affording college is a complex, deeply personal challenge — and in 2025, it’s even more uncertain. FAFSA delays have left millions of students waiting on critical information, with completion rates trailing by as much as 30%. At the same time, debt relief efforts have stalled, and many families are left wondering whether they’ll be able to cover the gap between aid and actual costs.

These concerns don’t just affect decision-making — they erode confidence and momentum. Without timely support, some students assume they can’t afford college and quietly step away.

That’s why institutions need to lead with clarity. Proactive, student-centered financial communication can make all the difference. Strategies include:

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• Providing regular updates on aid timelines and packaging
• Offering one-on-one support to walk students through financial aid, scholarships and payment options
• Normalizing affordability questions so students feel safe asking for help
• Pointing students toward last-dollar scholarships, emergency aid or flexible payment plans that may not be on their radar

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Even small acts of transparency — like clearly explaining award letters or demystifying verification steps — can restore trust and encourage students to keep going. Coaches and advisors play a key role here, offering guidance at the moment students are most likely to feel stuck.

For more information, the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) has a FAFSA resource hub that provides regularly updated tools and insights for student support professionals working to navigate aid timelines and coach students through financial uncertainty.

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4. Sustain human connection through the summer

The months between admission and arrival are one of the most vulnerable stretches in a student’s journey. Even the most committed students can start to question their decision — not because they’ve changed their minds, but because no one seems to be checking in.

That silence sends a message. Without intentional, sustained outreach, students may feel like they’re on their own — and drift away quietly. That’s why summer communication should go beyond reminders. A human-centered, tech-enabled outreach strategy can reinforce a sense of care and belonging. That might include:

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• Personalized text, call and email check-ins throughout the summer
• Progress tracking tools to support onboarding steps
• FAQs or message templates that normalize uncertainty and offer encouragement

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Even a short note — “We’re excited to welcome you” or “You’re not alone in this” — can make the difference between a student moving forward or melting away. It’s not about being perfect — it’s about being present. 

InsideTrack’s holistic coaching approach combines technology, empathy and one-on-one connection to guide students through moments of doubt and transition. Research underscores the impact of this kind of support: one national study showed that just two to three hours of summer coaching increased enrollment by three percentage points overall, and by eight to twelve percentage points among low-income students.

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5. Streamline the transition to campus

For many students, getting accepted is just the beginning. The stretch between saying yes and showing up can be filled with logistical friction — unclear deadlines, confusing systems, missing steps. Left unresolved, those small barriers can pile up and push students to disengage.

Reducing that friction doesn’t mean automating everything. It means walking students through the process with empathy, clarity and follow-through. That might include:

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• Checklists or onboarding platforms that centralize next steps
• Dedicated support to guide students through registration, housing or financial aid tasks
• Timely, human outreach that answers questions and affirms progress

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Personalized coaching plays a crucial role here — not just in solving problems, but in helping students feel seen, supported and connected to the community they’re about to join. And for institutions, the onboarding period is a strategic window to partner with coaching experts to assess, refine and improve how students experience that transition. InsideTrack’s coaching development and training programs offer hands-on support to help staff develop skills and approaches that put students first from day one.

This is also a key moment to build belonging: encouraging peer-to-peer introductions, spotlighting inclusive campus programs or simply affirming that they made the right choice.

The more guidance students receive during this window, the more likely they are to arrive on campus with confidence — ready to engage, succeed and feel like they belong.

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Every yield counts — and every student deserves support

In 2025, reducing summer melt isn’t just an enrollment goal — it’s a moral imperative. Every melt statistic represents a student who said “yes” to college… and then got lost in the noise, the confusion or the silence.

They’re not lost causes. They’re just lost in the process.

When students feel overwhelmed or unsupported during the summer, they lose momentum and drift away. Not because they’ve changed their minds — but because they’re unsure how to move forward. That’s why onboarding should feel like an invitation, not an obstacle. A welcome, not a checklist.

Colleges and universities don’t have to solve melt alone. With the right strategies — and the right partners — it’s possible to keep students connected, confident and on track for the future they’ve worked hard to pursue.