Customized AI Solutions for the Entire Student Lifecycle

Awarding & Affordability Studies

Financial Aid Budget Forecasting

Enrollment Forecasting and Strategy

Retention Forecasting and Strategy

Data Sourcing Solutions

The SightLine team provides customizable predictive analytics and AI services for the entire student lifecycle. These are stand alone solutions, so that you only buy what you need. We do not require any software downloads or setup. We also collaborate on peer-reviewed statistical and data science research, so feel free to reach out if you have a research question that you need answered!

Financial Aid

Financial Aid Awarding and Affordability Studies

Challenge

Students and parents are more concerned about the cost and value of college than ever before. The demographic cliff and increasing economic challenges are exacerbating these issues.

SightLine Solution

SightLine supports colleges and universities to set and communicate tuition and scholarships with a data driven strategy that makes education more affordable and accessible. How we do it:

  • Assess student level data to quantify what different student segments are able to pay

  • Create merit- and need-based awarding strategies to enroll and support the most students

  • Recommend clear communication tactics that reduce students’ barriers to entry

  • Compare the value of your institution and academic programs to market benchmarks

Budget

Financial Aid Budget & Expense Forecasting

Challenge

Enrollment and retention are uncertain every year. When your institution is unsure which students are enrolling or persisting, it is difficult to know how much will be paid out in institutional financial aid.

SightLine Solution

SightLine uses individual student level probabilistic models to predict which students will enroll and return each year and then quantify how much will be paid out in institutional aid. How we do it:

  • Analyze individual student characteristics and academic progress for precise predictions

  • Estimate range of possible outcomes to support risk management

  • Provide payout predictions from specific institutional funds based on individual student data

  • Verify whether your institution is on track to stay within budget during a financial aid cycle

Enrollment

Challenge

Each institution offers unique academic opportunities to prospective students. Communicating that story to enroll more students and consistently predict yield is difficult in a changing market.

SightLine Solution

SightLine uses probabilistic models to predict which individual students will enroll and identify student segments that are a good fit for the institution to build a unique brand and increase yield. How we do it:

  • Analyze individual student characteristics to estimate each student’s propensity to enroll

  • Identify generalized student segments that enroll and thrive at your institution

  • Develop unique outreach and engagement strategies to attract new students that fit an ideal profile

  • Assess communications and support for underrepresented or financially underserved segments

Enrollment Strategy and Forecasting

Retention

Retention Strategy and Forecasting

Challenge

Every semester students fail to persist or graduate. Many institutions struggle to identify those students and provide support before it is too late.

SightLine Solution

SightLine uses probabilistic models to identify which individual students are unlikely to persist or graduate, a year in advance, and then recommend and build out retention strategies. How we do it:

  • Develop unique AI models to proactively identify individual at-risk students with up to a year lead-time

  • Quantify top retention factors for individual students and segments for batch-based interventions

  • Recommend strategies and programs around existing campus resources

  • Assess challenges and opportunities for underrepresented or financially underserved segments

Data Source

Data Sourcing Solutions

Challenge

Test optional trends have both reduced granularity on student caliber, and limited pathways to connect to new prospective students. Additionally, traditional data like deposits are less predictive of enrollment.

SightLine Solution

SightLine has partnered with a community-based, student-centric social media platform to understand enrollment behavior and psychology before deposits are ever due. How we do it:

  • Create a new channel to organically connect with students and predict enrollment

  • Gain insights with cross-app data provided by students, well before deposits are due

  • Identify convertible students for targeted outreach and communications

  • Understand the sentiment and behaviors behind decisions to identify strategic areas for growth