October 18, 2005 Laurel, Maryland

Potential students checking out the Capitol College website can find an admissions section that has been recognized among the best in the country, according to a study and index recently released by the National Research Center for College & University Admissions (NRCCUA).

In its 7th annual Enrollment Power Index, a research-based analysis of the admissions websites of more than 3,000 post-secondary institutions, NRCCUA gave Capitol an A for its admissions features. Capitol was one of only 130 institutions to receive this grade, and was ranked No. 7 out of 10 specialty institutions.

“With our academic focus on computer science and related fields, Capitol College’s potential students have a high expectation that they will be able to get the information they want on our website and know where to get it,” said Dianne Veenstra, vice president for planning and assessment. “We’re honored to hear that our admissions section is among the best and a valuable tool for future students.”

The NRCCUA is the leading organization connecting young people and their families with colleges and universities around the country. Its study evaluated the functionality and design of college and university admissions websites. The study graded sites on a 100-point scale and has been designed to determine how well admissions sites provide information to move potential students from prospect to applicant. 

The study examined 28 criteria that are divided into five main categories:

• Prominence of an admissions office link on the institution’s homepage
• Admissions webpage design and ease of navigation
• Online access to admissions materials
• Additional admissions information
• Ability to contact the admissions office

Capitol redesigned its website in early 2004 to create a more consistent appearance and simpler navigation. During the redesign, Capitol added two features that NRCCUA researchers say is critical because of student expectations -- better navigational elements, including a search function and a site map for the admissions section, and admissions visit functions, such as links to visitor information and scheduling campus visits through the website.

“Prospective college students are very Internet-savvy, and they have come to expect the admissions sections of university websites to provide critical information to help them make decisions,” said Don Munce, president of NRCCUA. “If the sites don’t provide what they need, with the ease of navigation they expect, they’ll go elsewhere. A quality website can now be the difference between a lost prospect and a new student.”