Wayne State University’s admissions Web site www.admissions.wayne.edu was recently ranked 6th among more than 3,000 colleges and universities nationally for effectiveness in reaching prospective students and applicants through its admissions information. The study, called Enrollment Power Index® (EPI), was conducted by the National Research Center for College and University Admissions (NRCCUA), a non-profit education research organization.

Thirty-four different criteria were examined in five categories including: Prominence of an admissions office link on the institution\'s home page; admissions Web page design and ease of navigation; online access to admissions materials; additional admissions information; and ability to contact the admissions office online.

According to NRCCUA officials, the EPI research revealed three components that have become more critical to admissions Web sites: Interactive functions, such as instant messaging and live online chat rooms; the presence of information about the community or city where the college is located; and the ability to apply online and track the application status.

The report suggested that college admissions Web sites overall are not keeping pace with prospective students’ expectations, and that colleges and universities might be missing out on prospective students because their Web sites are lacking certain key features.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 11 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students.