Key Updates to the 2025-26 Access Plans
As a member-driven nonprofit, we continuously improve our enrollment solutions based on your feedback. You’ve highlighted the need for improved functionality, increased ease of use, and better alignment with your internal processes. And we’re listening. Our 2025-26 Access Plans are designed to meet your diverse needs and preferences.
FAQ
What are the key changes to 2025-26 Access Plans?
Our improvements are driven by member feedback to best meet your needs, such as:
Fiscal alignment with higher ed: We’re taking a necessary step in 2025-2026 to synchronize our contract cycles with most campuses’ fiscal cycles. The 2025-26 subscription plan year will begin on September 1, 2025, and end on June 30, 2026, for a one-time,10-month plan term. The shorter cycle will enable us to launch the 2026-2027 subscription year on July 1, 2026.
SFTP usage functionality: We are making day to day usage of Search even easier with SFTP enhancements. Search users who have the CRM systems we partner with will have the ability to set up SFTP on all Search orders as part of their plan offering in 25-26. This improvement will create a seamless output file transfer process. We are currently prioritizing CRMs by member usage. More information will be available soon. As we introduce and refine this new functionality, we are pausing the Living Record feature for reimagination in future years
Increased reach in Connections: As Connections grows, we’ve heard from campus partners that the reach provided by Connections Audiences has become essential to their recruitment plans. To better support our members, we have increased the base number of Audiences in Access Plans A-G.
Tailored support and solutions: We will offer a formal Access Plan tailored to the unique goals and budgets of community colleges and technical schools, including expanding our partnerships with scholarship organizations. This strengthens our commitment to help students discover a range of postsecondary opportunities.
Why is College Board making these changes to 2025-26 Access Plans?
College Board’s 2025-2026 Access Plans reflect extensive conversations with many institutions throughout recent years to meet the diverse needs and preferences of our members. The plans highlight our continued commitment to features that have supported our members’ educational goals and strategic adjustments to enhance the quality and impact of our services for our members and the students they serve. Our fiscal alignment, improved functionality, and expanded reach will drive results and improve the way we work together in the year ahead.
Why is College Board changing the prices for 2025-26 Access Plans?
The pricing adjustment for the 2025-2026 plans comes after a year of flat pricing and is driven by current market conditions and accounts for supporting key enhancements. We are announcing pricing early to help you plan for your next fiscal cycle. Our team is available to help you prepare for the year ahead and select a plan that suits your budget and goals. We recommend booking a consult at your convenience.
When can I order my 2025-26 Access Plan?
The 2025-26 ordering window will open in mid-May 2025. Once open, you will be able to order your plan(s) in the Search platform or begin the long-form contractual agreement process with your College Board Search consultant. We recommend booking a consult with your consultant before ordering begins to review your options. Invoicing for 25-26 plans will begin in early September after the cycle begins and plans are activated.
How should I make the most of this one-time, 10-month cycle?
We are confident all Access Plan users can maintain or even grow their strategies in the one-time, 10-month 2025-26 cycle. This year’s Access Plans maintain the reach of Search records and provide increased Connections audiences to allow you to conduct similar or enhanced strategies within the shorter period. Plans include the major milestones (i.e., all Connections score releases, Search PSAT/NMSQT data load) when most students engage in college planning. We project similar student engagement from September 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026 to a typical cycle. Your College Board Search and Connections Customer Success consultants will be able to advise you throughout the entire term to make sure you leverage all records, audiences and features in your plan(s).
Your next steps right now are planning for 2025-26 pricing in your 2025 fiscal year, booking a consult with your College Board Search consultant this spring to finalize your plan selection, and making sure you order your plan this summer, so it’s activated on September 1, 2025, to get the full 10 months of access.