"The higher ed sector underwent rapid change in 2025, as leaders navigated new and evolving federal and state policy, emerging technologies and shifting employer expectations for graduates, all while responding to the diverse and pressing needs of students. For practitioners, faculty, staff and administrators looking to impact student success in the new year, Inside Higher Ed identified 26 data points that outline the major trends of 2025 and those to watch out for in 2026."
"80 percent of college students rate the quality of their education as good or excellent, up 7 percentage points from 2024. 83 percent of the class of 2023 remained enrolled for two terms and the national persistence rate rose to 77.6 percent, up from 74.8 percent in 2019. Two-thirds of Americans say a four-year degree isn't worth the cost because graduates leave without a specific job and with large amounts of debt."
Higher education experienced rapid change in 2025 driven by shifting federal and state policy, emerging technologies, and evolving employer expectations. Student-reported quality rose, with 80 percent rating their education good or excellent and national persistence increasing to 77.6 percent for the class of 2023. Public skepticism remained strong: two-thirds of Americans questioned four-year degree value and 70 percent said higher education was going in the wrong direction. Affordability and debt discouraged re-enrollment, with 23 percent citing upfront costs and 15 percent citing existing debt. Institutions began adopting generative AI for advising (15 percent) and predictive analytics (26 percent).
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
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