How Predictive Analytics Supports Higher Ed Student Success

The journey to student success doesn’t end at enrollment—it’s just the beginning. For higher education institutions, helping students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally throughout their college experience is essential. Predictive analytics is transforming how institutions approach this challenge, offering AI-powered insights that identify risks, anticipate needs, and guide timely interventions. The use of predictive analytics in education is no longer a far-off, futuristic concept but a practical tool that enhances student engagement, satisfaction, and long-term outcomes.

Predictive analytics leverages historical and real-time data to forecast future outcomes. In higher education, this means analyzing student performance, behavior, and engagement to identify patterns that signal success—or potential struggles. With AI forecasting tools like Liaison’s Othot platform, institutions gain a clear view of each student’s journey, enabling them to provide personalized support when it matters most.

From predicting which students are likely to excel to identifying those at risk of dropping out, predictive analytics equips institutions with actionable insights. This data-driven approach ensures that support systems are proactive, not reactive, creating an environment where every student has the opportunity to achieve their aims.

AI-powered predictive analytics is transforming how higher education institutions support student success. By leveraging data insights, institutions can anticipate challenges, provide timely interventions, and improve student outcomes. Institutions can then tailor their outreach efforts, offering timely tutoring, relevant campus activities, or counseling services. Here are some of the other benefits:

1. Forecasting Higher Ed Student Success
   AI tools like Othot can analyze thousands of data points, including academic performance, attendance patterns, and engagement levels, to predict which students are likely to graduate on time and who may need additional support. This allows institutions to allocate resources effectively, leading to better retention rates, higher graduation rates, and more engaged students.
2. Identifying Retention Risks Early
   Retention remains one of the most significant challenges for institutions. Recent research found that only 62% of students who start a degree or certificate program finish that program within six years. The question isn’t just how to improve student outcomes but how to do so before students disengage. Predictive analytics helps answer that question by identifying students at risk of dropping out before challenges become insurmountable. By analyzing factors such as course performance, financial aid status, and campus involvement, AI lets institutions implement targeted interventions—such as academic advising or financial assistance—to keep students engaged.
3. Building Proactive Support Systems
   Othot can integrate with CRM systems, like Liaison’s TargetX, to automate personalized outreach. Predictive insights from Othot can be mapped into the CRM to inform communications and interactions, helping institutions engage students more effectively. This data-driven approach fosters stronger student connections and boosts satisfaction and persistence.
4. Boosting Student Engagement
   Predictive analytics tracks student interactions across various touchpoints, including class attendance, extracurricular participation, and feedback surveys. Institutions can then tailor their outreach efforts, offering timely tutoring, relevant campus activities, or counseling services. For example, if a student appears disengaged from campus life, predictive analytics tools can suggest relevant activities or counseling services. These data-driven interventions create a supportive environment where students feel seen, valued, and motivated.

By harnessing AI forecasting tools, higher education institutions not only strengthen student outcomes but also build a proactive support system that enhances engagement, satisfaction, and long-term success.

Predictive analytics not only supports individual students but also informs broader institutional strategies. By analyzing trends across the student body, higher education leaders can identify systemic challenges and implement solutions that benefit all students. For example, if data reveals that a particular course has a high dropout rate, institutions can take steps to revise the curriculum, provide additional resources, or train faculty to offer better support.

AI forecasting tools also enable scenario-based analysis, allowing institutions to test different strategies and predict their outcomes before implementation. This continuous refinement helps institutions remain agile and responsive to student needs, ultimately driving better outcomes across the board.

As higher education evolves, the need for data-driven strategies becomes increasingly clear. Predictive analytics offers a powerful solution to one of the sector’s most pressing challenges: how to improve student outcomes throughout their college journey. By leveraging AI forecasting tools, institutions can not only anticipate challenges but also provide timely, personalized support that helps students thrive.

Partner with Liaison to harness the power of predictive analytics at your institution. From AI-driven forecasting to proactive support systems, Liaison’s solutions help you turn data into action and drive meaningful outcomes. Contact us today to learn how we can support your enrollment and student success goals.