Using machine learning to improve student success in higher education

Many higher-education institutions are now using data and analytics as an integral part of their processes. Whether the goal is to identify and better support pain points in the student journey, more efficiently allocate resources, or improve student and faculty experience, institutions are seeing the benefits of data-backed solutions. This article is a collaborative effort by Claudio Brasca, Nikhil Kaithwal, Charag Krishnan, Monatrice Lam, Jonathan Law, and Varun Marya, representing views from McKinsey's Public & Social Sector Practice. Those at the forefront of this trend are focusing on harnessing analytics to increase program personalization and flexibility, as well as to improve retention by identifying students at risk of dropping out and reaching out proactively with tailored interventions. Indeed, data science and machine learning may unlock significant value for universities by ensuring resources are targeted toward the highest-impact opportunities to improve access for more students, as well as student engagement and satisfaction.