Three Trends Shaping Student Engagement and Retention in 2026:
Insights from EAB’s 2026 First-Year Experience Survey

Today’s students are turning to new digital and AI tools to research schools, applying to more colleges than ever before, and keeping their options open longer. As a result, traditional signals of student intent have weakened, and late-cycle competition has intensified.

These new expectations do not disappear once students enroll. How students perceive the value of college, where they seek guidance, and whether they feel connected can shape their first-year experience and their decision to stay.

Drawing on responses from more than 9,500 first-year college students, this webinar explores three trends shaping the student journey and student retention in 2026.

Watch On-Demand

About the Webinar

Today’s students are turning to new digital and AI tools to research schools, applying to more colleges than ever before, and keeping their options open longer. As a result, traditional signals of student intent have weakened, and late-cycle competition has intensified.

These new expectations do not disappear once students enroll. How students perceive the value of college, where they seek guidance, and whether they feel connected can shape their first-year experience and their decision to stay.

Drawing on responses from more than 9,500 first-year college students, this webinar will explore three trends shaping the student journey and student retention in 2026.

Watch this webinar on-demand to learn how these insights can directly inform and strengthen your student success strategy.

In this webinar, you’ll learn:

How longer decision timelines and changing enrollment behaviors affect students’ commitment after they arrive on campus
How AI-influenced search habits shape students’ expectations for information and guidance during their first year
How to reinforce the value of college as enrolled students continue to question its cost and connection to their future