The college closings and mergers of 2025

At least 15 college campuses closed in 2025 as the traditional business models of higher education grew more volatile.

Here are 5 higher ed predictions for 2026

As seismic change continues to rock higher education, here are a few threads college leaders should begin preparing for.

How Trump’s influence over higher ed just grew more powerful

The first meeting held by NACIQI revealed how the Trump administration aims to reorient higher education by influencing U.S. accreditation standards.

The 15 most popular stories from this year

Some of the most-read stories in 2025 focused on how institutions are empowering their campuses with the latest AI tools.

How more relevant communication creates more college applicants

Enrollment struggles reflect a disconnect between how institutions communicate and how students and parents actually make decisions.

Why the future of higher ed collaboration is in the classroom

From empty seats to shared success: Course-sharing can keep students on track to graduate and create fiscal and operational efficiencies for institutions.

5 ways to manage change in turbulent times

To position your institution for the future, your rebranding effort must be about more than a logo refresh or new color palette

How digital friction impacts student life and learning

When digital environments are cohesive and intuitive, students report stronger satisfaction, reduced stress and a deeper sense of connection to their institution.

How STEM students can build dynamic careers in intellectual property

There is an entire ecosystem at the intersection of innovation and law that relies on STEM expertise every single day.

Continuous learning: Cultivating a mindset beyond graduation

Institutions that equip, empower and encourage learners in this way will set their graduates up for a lifetime of growth, not just academic success

What campus leaders should know as more students prioritize health

As college drinking rates hit historic lows, administrators must consider new perspectives about substance use.

Enrollment marketing: Here are 3 strategies to adopt in 2026

Institutions that stay curious, test quickly and double down on what works will be the ones that gain ground, even in a challenging market.

Built backward: Why colleges must design tech systems around students

When students are genuine partners in the enterprise of higher education, colleges and universities cultivate future generations of graduates who feel ownership of the institutions they attended.

Higher education’s systems problem costs more than money

The sector that appears stable on the surface while critical functions underneath strain, crack and eventually give way.

Addressing the CTE faculty shortage

A nationwide shortage of career and technical education faculty is straining workforce pipelines as colleges struggle to recruit and retain qualified instructors. Experts say more flexible hiring and stronger support are needed to stabilize CTE programs.

Wells College agrees to sell campus to nonprofit group that promotes Native American history

The college’s board of trustees said that the Hiawatha Institute for Indigenous Knowledge was the successful bidder for the campus. The board said the organization has indicated that it plans to use the campus for educational purposes.

Recruiters retreat from ‘talent is everywhere,’ increasingly favoring degrees, GPA and top colleges

A 2025 survey of over 150 companies found that more than a quarter, 26%, were recruiting from a brief selection of schools, up from 17% that were doing the same in 2022, according to research from recruiting intelligence firm Veris Insights.

Inside the $14.5 million federal push to create new college accreditors

The U.S. Department of Education awarded $14.5 million to support new, outcomes-focused college accreditors that could reshape how higher education quality and access to federal aid are evaluated.