The 2025 Enrollment Reality Check: How to Support Students Now
Enrollment is flat-ish, but student needs aren’t.
That’s the clearest takeaway from the National Student Clearinghouse’s Spring 2025 enrollment update. While national headcounts are holding relatively steady, the picture beneath the surface tells a more urgent story.
Some institutions are seeing modest gains. Others are facing steep declines, especially in regional and rural areas. But across the board, one truth holds: academic preparedness gaps persist, and student expectations for support continue to grow.
Campus leaders are confronting a difficult equation. Resources remain tight. Student needs are rising. And the urgency to act has never been greater.
This fall, broad strategies won't be enough. Institutions need focused plays that deliver fast, flexible support, right now.
Here are three ways to get started.