In today’s competitive education landscape, your admission portal is more than just a digital form—it’s the first impression your institution makes on a prospective student. But when that portal is clunky, outdated, or poorly integrated, the consequences can be costly. And not just in money, but in time, talent, and trust.
In this blog, we’ll uncover the hidden costs of a poorly functioning student online admission portal—and how your institution can avoid falling into this silent trap.
Lost Applicants = Lost Revenue
Every drop-off in the admission funnel—whether it’s during inquiry, application, or payment—is a lost opportunity. Students today expect seamless digital experiences. If your portal is slow, buggy, or confusing, they’ll simply move on to another institution that offers a smoother journey.
Hidden Cost:
Each abandoned application could cost your institution thousands in lifetime tuition value. Multiply that across hundreds of missed prospects, and the numbers become staggering.
Operational Inefficiencies and Staff Burnout
When a portal doesn’t automate key steps like document verification, follow-ups, or status tracking, your staff ends up doing everything manually. This leads to overtime, duplication of effort, and avoidable human error.
Hidden Cost:
Higher recruitment costs, burnout-induced turnover, slower processing time, and dissatisfied applicants. Efficiency isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity.
Damaged Brand Perception
Today’s students (and their parents) associate the quality of the admission process with the quality of education they’ll receive. A frustrating admission experience casts doubt on your tech readiness, student support, and academic standards—even if those doubts are unfounded.
Hidden Cost:
Poor word-of-mouth. Negative reviews on forums. Missed referrals. A tarnished reputation that takes years to rebuild.
Data Inaccuracy and Compliance Risks
An outdated portal often lacks the infrastructure to manage data securely or track every applicant’s journey. With education data privacy laws tightening globally (think GDPR, FERPA, etc.), any slip in compliance can lead to legal and reputational fallout.
Hidden Cost:
Fines, legal troubles, data leaks—and the trust deficit that follows.
Lack of Insights = Poor Decision Making
Without advanced analytics built into your portal, you’re flying blind. You can’t track where drop-offs happen, which campaigns drive quality leads, or what improvements are needed.
Hidden Cost:
Wasted marketing spend, uninformed forecasting, and missed chances to improve conversion.
So How Do You Avoid These Costs?
The answer isn’t just to “go digital.” It’s to go smart with digital. And that’s where Meritto comes in. Meritto is more than just a student online admission portal—it’s a complete admission infrastructure that helps institutions:
✅ Streamline application journeys across web and mobile
✅ Automate follow-ups and status updates
✅ Integrate seamlessly with marketing and CRM tools
✅ Offer real-time analytics and applicant tracking
✅ Stay compliant with enterprise-grade data security
✅ Deliver a branded, intuitive experience that impresses students from day one
Institutions that switch to Meritto often see higher application completion rates, faster conversion, and a more satisfied admission team—because everything just works. To know more about how Meritto’s student online admission portal can empower your institution, click here.
