By Erin McGrath and Rebeccah Lystash, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV)
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Campus visits are a pivotal moment in a student’s college decision process. In fact, campus tours are frequently cited as the most important aspect of the college recruitment process, having an overwhelming effect on students’ impressions of whether college
is for them (Secore, 2018).
In addition, Goldschneider (2024) found that campus visits significantly enhance students' “anticipatory belonging,” a sense
of connection to the college that positively influences their decisions about enrollment and their initial experiences on campus.
SCHEV has seen firsthand how a college campus visit can spark big dreams, especially for students from low-income backgrounds. More than 5,700 Virginia students visited a college campus last year, thanks to efforts of our GEAR UP Virginia and Level Up programs.
GEAR UP Virginia is a federally funded grant that works with schools where more than 50% of students qualify for free or reduced-priced lunches. Level Up is a broader, state-wide college access initiative. College visits are one of the many strategies
the programs use to encourage post-secondary education.
According to GEAR UP Virginia students, those visits make a difference. In May 2021, SCHEV asked recent GEAR UP high school graduates which activity most influenced their decision to continue their education after high school. The number one response
was college visits.
Early and Often
GEAR UP Virginia coordinates visits to a wide range of colleges - from community colleges to large universities, both public and private - so students can see what’s possible. Providing early and repeated college campus visits is a key part of GEAR UP
Virginia’s strategy. By beginning college outreach in 7th grade, GEAR UP Virginia helps students envision their future after high school and gives them time to align their academic and personal goals with college in mind.
Research by Smith, Gosky & Martin (2021) on a GEAR UP grant in North Carolina shows that students who
went on organized campus visits in middle and high school enrolled in college at significantly higher rates. In other words, the earlier and more often students experience college firsthand, the more likely they are to pursue it.
Additionally, research by Swanson et al. (2021) provides evidence that campus visits during middle school significantly enhance students’ college knowledge, self-efficacy, grit
and academic work, while also increasing their likelihood of talking about college with school staff and enrolling in more rigorous high school courses.
We see the same pattern in Virginia. Many of our students will visit several campuses over the course of middle and high school. Each visit builds on the last, growing confidence and a sense of belonging. By the time they graduate from high school, these
students see post-secondary education as the next step.
Investing in Success
Because of our experience with the importance of early college visits, SCHEV has dramatically expanded the number of such visits it sponsors.
Since 2021, GEAR UP and Level Up Virginia have coordinated college visits for 17,537 students and 558 family members. This year, we anticipate about 8,000 additional students will visit college campuses.
In 2024-25, GEAR UP Virginia introduced specialized “transition” campus visits for 110 students with disabilities from eight high schools, focusing on accessibility and support systems at three colleges. Conducted in partnership with campus disability
support offices, the visits helped students understand how the accommodations process in higher education differs from the services available in high school.
The Takeaway
Virginia and the nation face the looming “enrollment cliff.” Starting this year, the number of high school graduates is projected to decrease due to demographic changes. According to WICHE’s “Knocking at the College Door” report,
there will be a projected 13% decrease in high school graduates between 2025 and 2041. That likely means less college enrollment in the years ahead.
One strategy to offset that decline is to broaden the pipeline of prospective students by seeking out those who historically might not attend college. Empirical and anecdotal evidence suggests that “early and often” college visits can encourage students
who otherwise might not see college as an option to pursue some type of post-secondary education.
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