As the 18‑year‑old population recedes, colleges across the U.S. are simplifying admissions to attract a smaller applicant pool — waiving fees, offering one‑click applications and proactively admitting students who haven’t applied. Admissions offices are also recruiting past traditional deadlines and expanding yield incentives, according to reporting from the field and federal application data analysis. Acceptance rates have risen overall even as elite institutions remain selective; many regional and private colleges are reshaping enrollment funnels to stabilize tuition revenue amid a projected 15‑year decline in domestic high school graduates. Enrollment officers say the shift will force long-term changes to recruitment budgets, marketing tactics and admissions‑to‑financial‑aid workflows.