For years, experts have predicted that the number of 18-year-olds entering college will begin a long period of decline due to lower birthrates after the 2008 recession. Now, that period—the “enrollment cliff”—is here.
This report from Ellucian explores strategies to expand outreach to new learner segments, leverage AI to transform enrollment models, and enhance the value proposition of continuing education and workforce development. While the enrollment cliff is a significant concern across the higher education industry, institutions that innovate quickly can tap into a vast network of prospective students and power a lifetime of learning opportunities, the report notes.
The study, which surveyed more than 1,500 learners across the country, also found that better communication and support systems could dramatically improve re-engagement rates of students who left college without completing their degree or credential.