Blog.
Why Colleges Should Stay Optimistic
This week's leading story in higher education was about the significant reductions in the Department of Education. These cuts understandably caused concern for college leaders. Change is never easy, but colleges should focus on opportunities for growth and innovation....
College Financial Sustainability: Budget Mindfulness, Default Aversion, and Strategic Enrollment
Challenges keep coming at college financial sustainability: enrollment instability, student retention issues, growing student loan delinquency rates, and recent changing federal policies and the attempt to dismantle the Department of Education. Institutions must...
Student Loan Borrowers See Credit Scores Drop
The Wall Street Journal and other news outlets reported that student loan borrowers' credit scores are dropping. Here's a look at the current situation: Bad News: Credit scores of student loan borrowers have dropped Approximately 43% of federal student loan borrowers...
Record High Student Loan Defaults Are Coming
The warnings have been sounded. As we highlighted in previous blogs, the end of the three-year pandemic era payment pause, ongoing borrower confusion, federal servicer limitations, and economic pressures have created a perfect storm for a student loan default crisis....
How Colleges Can Thrive in a Changing Higher Education Landscape
Higher education is going through changes. Colleges and universities are grappling with complex challenges including fluctuating enrollment, rising student loan delinquency, shifting public perception, and confusing federal policy changes. These issues are not...
Higher Education Uncertainty: Enrollment Trends, Student Loan Delinquency, Future of Federal Aid
The higher education landscape is constantly changing. Institutions face federal policy changes, fluctuating enrollment numbers, and poor student loan repayment records. Colleges must proactively adjust their enrollment strategies, support student loan borrowers to...
Three Challenges for College Administrators: Enrollment, Student Debt, and Public Perception
Congratulations on making it through the first month of 2025. However, college administrators are facing complex issues this year. From shifting demographics and the return of student loan defaults to maintaining academic quality and public trust, the pressure to...
College Enrollment Trends for Fall 2024: Are you keeping pace?
The latest enrollment estimates from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center for the Fall 2024 school year reveal a complex picture for today's colleges and universities. While overall enrollment has nearly rebounded from pre-COVID levels, the growth is...
Student Loan Delinquency 3x Higher Than Pre-Pandemic
The return to student loan payments has been rocky, with millions of borrowers now delinquent. Approximately three million student loan borrowers are over three months behind on their payments. According to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), the federally...
College Enrollment Demographic Cliff: Fewer High School Graduates
The higher education landscape is about to shift. A recent report paints a concerning picture: a college enrollment "demographic cliff" that begins this year, with a steady decline in 18-year-olds expected to start college. This trend will create lean years for...