Enrollment


  • Students standing in woods near a creek facing instructor.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Guilford College
    Image attribution tooltip

    Guilford College comes off accreditor probation after budget cuts

    The college was hunting for cash to balance its budget just six months ago. But donations and cost cuts saved it from accreditation loss.

    By Dec. 10, 2025
  • A sign at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh displaying the institution's name.
    Image attribution tooltip
    "UWOshkoshSign" by Royalbroil is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    Wisconsin public universities could start shedding programs more rapidly

    A committee developed a new metric based on enrollment that could increase the number of degrees that get flagged for review. 

    By Dec. 10, 2025
  • Trendline

    Enrollment and Retention

    A look at the pandemic's continuing impact on enrollment and how colleges can ensure students stay on course.

    By Higher Ed Dive staff
  • A college quad with students walking and sitting in the grass. Buildings are surrounding the quad.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    S&P: Negative outlook for nonprofit colleges in 2026

    The credit ratings agency on Tuesday cited federal policy shifts, rising costs and increased competition over students.

    By Dec. 3, 2025
  • A young person wearing a backpack drags a rolling suitcase behind them as they walk through an airport.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    New international enrollment dipped this fall, NAFSA survey finds

    The poll is the second released this month to show significant declines, especially in new foreign graduate students coming to the U.S.

    By Nov. 26, 2025
  • A view of the buildings at Florida State University from the observation deck of the Florida Capitol building.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Florida public universities plan to cut at least 18 academic programs

    The eliminations are part of a regular review of degree productivity based on graduate numbers. The latest review found 214 underperforming programs.

    By Nov. 24, 2025
  • .
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Sonoma State University
    Image attribution tooltip

    Sonoma State University gets new leader after turbulent year of cuts

    Cal State veteran Michael Spagna is set to take over the institution in January following widely opposed budget cuts and amid ongoing enrollment troubles. 

    By Nov. 21, 2025
  • College students walk down a pathway.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Higher education outlook remains negative for 2026, Moody’s says

    Enrollment, political and cost pressures abound and will stick around in the new year, analysts said in a recent report.

    By Nov. 21, 2025
  • .
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Mwanner is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    SUNY enrollment grew 2.9% in fall 2025, continuing upward trend

    The system's 30 community colleges saw a 5% headcount jump, which New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in part attributed to a new free college initiative.

    By Nov. 20, 2025
  • Two white buildings with a grass courtyard in front.
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Jane023 is licensed under CC BY 4.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    Sterling College in Vermont to close

    The environmental-focused institution, which has under 40 students, said that closing now was the responsible move to support their transitions.

    By Nov. 14, 2025
  • A close up of a pair of hands holding an education invoice and typing on a calculator that sits on a desk alongside a stack of coins and paper and a pen.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Net tuition rises at colleges, but costs are far below their peaks

    The prices students and their families paid after aid at four-year public colleges and private nonprofits ticked up in 2025-26, per College Board estimates. 

    By Nov. 7, 2025
  • An abstract digital painting
    Image attribution tooltip

     

    iStock / stellalevi

    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Mighty Citizen

    How to stop sounding like every other university

    Today’s students quickly spot generic, rinse-and-repeat marketing from a university. Cut through the sameness and create a positioning strategy that actually connects.

    By Whitney Larimer and Mike Steckel • Nov. 3, 2025
  • Gavin Newsom up close shot.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Mario Tama via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    California governor signs Cal State direct admissions program into law

    A pilot version of the program proactively offered thousands of students acceptance into the public university system.

    By Updated Oct. 14, 2025
  • Multiple colored university banners hanging from buildings on busy city block.
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Kmf164 is licensed under CC BY 2.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    DePaul University weighs budget measures amid cratering international enrollment

    The private Chicago nonprofit is considering cutting executive pay and freezing staff hiring after new international graduate enrollment fell 62% from last year.

    By Oct. 6, 2025
  • Campus tour
    Image attribution tooltip

    stock.adobe.com/Sean Locke/Stocksy

    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by CampusESP

    Families at the forefront: What the 2025 Prospective Family Survey means for enrollment strategies

    New survey shows what parents of prospective students expect, and how it can impact your enrollment outcomes.

    Oct. 6, 2025
  • College students walk down a pathway.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Inside North Carolina’s direct admissions program

    A statewide initiative is offering high school students proactive admission to dozens of public and private colleges, following a pilot last year.

    By Danielle McLean • Oct. 3, 2025
  • Conference sign at expo center.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by NACAC
    Image attribution tooltip
    NACAC 2025

    College admissions in a rapidly evolving world

    Experts dug into diversity trends, college readiness indicators and more at the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s recent conference. 

    By Sept. 26, 2025
  • AI powers big data analysis and automation workflows, showcasing neural networks and data streams for business.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    NACAC 2025

    The difficult human work behind responsible AI use in college operations

    Officials should carefully consider if an AI tool can actually address a problem — and then perform audits and error checks after it’s rolled out, experts said.

    By Sept. 25, 2025
  • A teacher writes a formula on a chalkboard.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    NACAC 2025

    Just how integral is calculus to college readiness?

    Higher education experts say viewing the math course as a proxy for rigor presents equity-related and pedagogical problems.

    By Sept. 24, 2025
  • A group of students walk together on a sidewalk on a college campus.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    NACAC 2025

    Digging into diversity in college admissions

    Researchers pointed to disparities by race among prospective and admitted students during a Friday presentation at an annual admissions and counseling conference.

    By Sept. 23, 2025
  • 6 college students sitting on stairs, smiling, and close to each other
    Image attribution tooltip

    Getty Images

    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Ellucian

    What today’s students really want — and what that means for higher ed

    1,500+ students reveal what's broken in higher ed—and how to fix it.

    By Ellucian • Sept. 22, 2025
  • A sign outside of Northcentral Technical College
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Royalbroil is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    UW-Stevens Point partners with community college to shore up struggling branch

    Leaders hope partnering with Northcentral Technical College will create new opportunities and cost savings for the public university’s Wausau location. 

    By Sept. 12, 2025
  • ECU sign on campus
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by COGpio is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    East Carolina University eyes $25M in cuts

    The three-year savings goal would be met through permanent cuts, academic program changes and operational restructuring, the public institution said.

    By Updated Sept. 9, 2025
  • Brick building with columns and campanile.
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Garden Sprite is licensed under CC BY 1.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    Ohio University to cut 11 academic programs to comply with new law

    A sweeping higher education law enacted this year requires the state’s public colleges to end undergraduate programs that award low numbers of degrees.

    By Aug. 27, 2025
  • Red brick building with white columns and dormer windows.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from Albright College on January 22, 2025
    Image attribution tooltip

    Albright College declares ‘remarkable’ turnaround as it borrows $15M from endowment

    The private institution said it’s on track for a $10 million budget surplus after recent cuts and cash concerns.

    By Aug. 27, 2025
  • The entrance to the Air Force Academy.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Students for Fair Admissions drops lawsuits against West Point, Air Force Academy

    The anti-affirmative action group has found an ally in the Trump administration, which barred race-conscious admissions in the nation’s military academies. 

    By Aug. 12, 2025