The Enrollment Cliff is Here: How Universities are Responding
Due to demographic shifts following the 2008 recession, the pool of college-aged students is shrinking. Regional universities are facing an existential financial crisis.
Projected High School Graduates (Northeast Region)
| Year | Total Graduates | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 645,000 | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 620,000 | -3.8% |
| 2026 | 585,000 | -5.6% |
Links: University endowments, Student loan forgiveness, Edtech consolidation, International enrollment, Cognitive development, Student mental health, Tuition inflation, For-profit colleges, School board elections, Value of liberal arts, Campus protests, NIL regulations, Acclaimed professor, Community college transfers, Vocational training, Title IX, AI in the classroom, Green campuses, School lunches, Research grants, and Teacher unions.
Common Mistakes in College Selection
- Looking at sticker price vs net price: Private colleges often have high sticker prices but offer substantial institutional aid, making the net price lower than out-of-state public schools.
Education FAQ
What is FAFSA simplification?
The recent overhaul of the federal aid form changed the formula from EFC (Expected Family Contribution) to SAI (Student Aid Index).
Next Step: Use our aggregated net price calculator.