We are the Enrollment Management Association

Our vision is to champion transformational education journeys. Our tools and resources provide essential insights so schools can empower students to seamlessly navigate their unique paths to success.

EMA CEO Heather Hoerle and members posing on stage for an award.

Together, let's champion transformational education journeys.

EMA was founded in 1957 as the Secondary School Admission Test Board (SSATB). Changing our name in 2016 was the catalyst of our brand evolution. As the Enrollment Management Association, our name rightfully emphasizes the importance of sustainable enrollment strategies. We are the leading resource dedicated to helping independent school leaders with their enrollment needs.

Most know us for pioneering the gold-standard SSAT, administered to 50,000 potential students each year. We have since evolved beyond traditional testing services, offering timely data, insights, and digital solutions to help sustain the independent schools of the future. We've grown from admissions professionals to a vast network of experts and advocates—developing the industry-standard Character Skills Snapshot, leadership tools like Learning Pass, and first-rate recruitment resources, like the Standard Application Online and Student Prospect List.

Here's how we empower you for success.

It’s our mission to provide unparalleled leadership and service in meeting the admission assessment and enrollment needs of schools, students, and families.

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Get personalized support and leadership development.

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Connect with a vast network of experts and professionals.

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You and your students and families get expert guidance through the full enrollment journey.

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Receive compelling insights and comprehensive knowledge.

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EMA addresses your specific needs and advocates for your success.

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Earn and keep your seat at the school leadership table.

We’re stronger by association.

We support more than 1,200+ independent schools across the globe, empowering both school leaders and students to navigate their journey toward success. This path is unique and requires transformational support at every stage that evolves with them as they learn, grow, and shape the future.

It's time to champion transformational education journeys. Let's do it together.

Partners and Sponsors

A Better Chance logoViewpoint School logoProctor Academy logoRansom Everglades School logoRiverdale School logo

See what admissions professionals have to say about EMA.

Benchmark testing allowed us to know the range of kids we already had in the building and gave us a better idea of the students we are capable of serving. This informed us in a way that made our admission gateway even more open - a surprise to those who were worried that an admission assessment would limit admission.

Nick Kent
Nick Kent
Deputy Head of School
Jakarta Internacional School (Indonesia)

“Who you are as a school is who a student should see from the moment they enter the admissions process. At Crossroads, this meant making the student, rather than the school, the focus of our admissions process. The Snapshot was the ideal tool to help us do that.”

Amy Walia-Fazio
Amy Walia-Fazio
Director of Secondary Admission, Crossroads, CA
Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences (CA)

"At a time when we are trying to reduce barriers, create access, and alleviate unnecessary stress on families, the value of the SAO has never been more evident."

Quentin McDowell
Quentin McDowell
Head of School
Mercersburg Academy (PA)

"We leverage EMA in various ways. Certainly, we use the SAO and the SSAT. And the daily Member Community emails that come through my inbox early in the morning remind me that the entire school community is thinking through the same questions we are. And it's exciting to have those conversations and know that we're not in this by ourselves. To remind ourselves that we're hundreds and thousands strong is impactful and important, particularly from a professional development opportunity for my staff."

Josh Labove
Josh Labove
Dean of Enrollment and Financial Aid, Wayland Academy, WI
Wayland Academy (WI)
Members of the EMA marketing team posing for an photo at an annual conference reception.

Careers at EMA

Educating our future is no simple task. Your success factors are complex, and an ever-changing education landscape presents new challenges each step of the way. Learn how we can help.

Interested in learning more about EMA? Let's chat!