Today’s declining enrollments suggest that, more and more, students are questioning the value of a four-year education. Even businesses are beginning to discount the value of a traditional degree—an education seems to matter most when it’s combined with marketable skills. What does this mean for the future of higher education? Based on the widening skills gap, income disparity, and cost-to-value of a college degree, students will most likely enroll in schools that provide the job and life skills necessary to thrive in today’s digital world.
Larger, more elite institutions will likely weather the changes in the higher ed landscape, but smaller schools with fewer resources looking to stay competitive may have to consider adjusting the way they deliver education. To best serve students, institutions will need to offer education that is hybrid, bite-sized, and personalized.
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