Declining Enrollments – Bucking the Trend

Until recently, a college education all but guaranteed a golden ticket to the middle class. While there are still those that extol the virtues of college, the stark reality is that colleges have experienced decreasing enrollments since 2013. Few outside higher education have noticed these trends, but the reality is that it has become harder colleges to recruit and retain students of all ages. Lower birth rates among 18- to 24-year olds mean that there is a smaller pool of potential students, and the improving United States economy has reduced the number of adult workers looking for additional training or mid-career job changes. Many colleges have had to raise tuition to make up for less students. Some for-profit schools have even had to shut their doors. The changes in higher education aren’t limited to any particular kind of program. Public…