Before COVID-19, universities were already beginning to experience an enrollment decline, mostly fueled by demographic changes. The current crisis will raise existential questions for small and mid-tier institutions. Only universities with massive endowments and highly competitive admissions will escape the effects of the coming enrollment cliff.
Special coronavirus relief funding from state and federal governments will improve cash flow in the short term, but they are not permanent solutions. Colleges must act now to cut unnecessary expenses while preserving core academic functions. Download our policy brief, “Higher Education After COVID-19,” to read our full list of recommendations.
For more insight into the challenges posed by COVID-19, please watch Jenna A. Robinson’s interview with Shannon Watkins.