The cost of a college education has led many young Americans to explore other options. These colleges work with third-parties to launch or expand "direct admission" programs, which allow schools to send admission offers to students who haven't undergone the traditional application process. George Mason, Loyola University New Orleans, Iona, and St. Thomas are among the schools already using direct admission to recruit some students. College enrollment has fallen over 1% since last fall, according to a report from the National Student Clearinghouse. As well as helping to boost enrollment numbers, direct admission advocates argue the process can expose young people to colleges — and lower tuition prices — they may never have known existed.

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