Board reviews Apply Kansas expansion and Apply Free Days pilot; BASC requests more data before formalizing continuation
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Summary
KBOR staff reported that Apply Kansas school participation jumped and that free‑application days produced large increases in applications and saved students hundreds of thousands of dollars; the Board’s BASC committee tabled a final decision and asked for additional operational and cost data.
The Board of Regents heard an update on Apply Kansas — a statewide college‑application campaign — and the Apply Free Days pilot that waives undergraduate application fees for a short period. Presenters reported substantially higher participation and application counts in 2024, but the Board’s BASC committee asked staff and provosts for more information about operational costs and net yield before making the pilot permanent.
Apply Kansas grew to 301 participating schools (259 reporting data) and 253 participating school districts, representing an 89 percent district participation rate in 2024, presenter Misty Knox said. Schools designated “All-Star” hosts are expected to follow up with FAFSA‑completion and senior‑signing events. Knox said that in 2024 Apply Kansas reported 22,808 college applications, about 60 percent to public institutions.
The Apply Free Days pilot showed a large year‑over‑year increase in applications: systemwide applications submitted during the free days rose 72 percent from 2023 to 2024, and public institutions saw a 76 percent increase. The board materials estimate the application‑fee savings for families at roughly $281,390 in 2023 and $481,570 in 2024.
KBOR presented preliminary yield analysis. For public institutions, students who applied during the November 2023 Apply Free Days had an admitted‑to‑enrolled yield of 30 percent (2,593 enrolled of 8,733 admitted). The overall yield for public institutions across the full enrollment cycle was 49 percent; excluding Apply Free Days applications, the public-institution yield was 52 percent. KBOR staff cautioned that a unit‑record (KIDS) collection due in October 2025 will provide a more precise picture of duplication and student-level outcomes.
BASC discussion and next steps
Regent Mendoza and other members said the initiative is promising but that the committee needs more data to assess whether Apply Free Days is cost neutral for institutions and how to reduce admission‑processing burdens and duplication for campuses. BASC asked institutional provosts to work with KBOR staff to provide additional operational details before the committee advances a formal recommendation. The presenter's recommendation — to continue the October time window for the pilot — remained on the table but was not adopted as final policy.
Why it matters
Apply Kansas focuses on increasing college access, particularly among first-generation and low‑income students. The Apply Free Days pilot aims to reduce a financial barrier and expand student choice; board members supported the goal but sought more granular data on yield, processing cost and duplication before committing to an ongoing schedule.