The 2025 Landscape of Higher Education Report: What Governing Boards Need to Know, Do, and Ask

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In 2025, the higher education landscape is more dynamic and unpredictable than ever. With shifting student demographics, a tightening labor market, and increasing scrutiny on the value of a college degree, boards of trustees face both unprecedented challenges and transformative opportunities. Governing bodies that wish to stay ahead must rethink their institutional strategies, focusing on flexibility, career outcomes, and alternative credentialing to stay relevant.

EducationDynamics just released for its 2025 Landscape of Higher Education report(Download). Here are critical steps governing boards should consider to ensure their institutions thrive in this era of change. Included are vital questions boards should be asking to flex their governing muscle in the generative dimension of effective trusteeship.

Adapt Enrollment Strategies to Meet Shifting Student Preferences

Student preferences are rapidly evolving, with increased interest in part-time, online, and certificate programs. Boards must steer institutions toward a more diversified enrollment strategy that captures these trends.

Actionable Insight: Review program offerings to ensure alignment with student demand for flexible, career-focused education. Push for greater expansion of online, hybrid, and apprenticeship programs that meet the needs of modern learners balancing education, work, and life.

Generative Board Questions:

• Are we positioned to capitalize on the rising interest in alternative credentials like certificates and apprenticeships?
• How can we increase our presence in dual enrollment programs to attract students earlier in their academic journey?

Prioritize Career-Driven Education

The report highlights a decisive shift toward career-focused programs, with students demanding direct pathways to employment. This growing preference for practical skills and outcomes must guide program development.

Actionable Insight: Boards should encourage institutional leadership to cultivate partnerships with industries and align curriculum with labor market needs, particularly in high-growth fields like health care, finance, and technology.

Generative Board Questions:

• Are our current academic offerings aligned with industry demands, particularly in growth sectors?
• How can we enhance partnerships with local and national employers to increase internship and apprenticeship opportunities?

Address the Rising Skepticism About the Value of a Degree

With only 47% of Americans viewing a college degree as worth the investment (and much lower when loans are involved), boards must ensure that institutions demonstrate a clear return on investment to prospective students.

Actionable Insight: Conduct a thorough review of the institution’s tuition models, financial aid offerings, and student outcomes. Emphasize transparency in communications about the tangible benefits students can expect from their education, particularly in terms of career success and earning potential.

Generative Board Questions:

• How can we better communicate the long-term value of our degrees to prospective students and their families?
• Are there innovative financial aid models we should explore to reduce student debt?

Leverage the Untapped "Some College, No Credential" (SCNC) Population

The 2025 Landscape report reveals that 36.8 million adults have some college education but no credential. Reengaging this population presents a major opportunity for growth.

Actionable Insight: Develop flexible re-enrollment programs that cater to the SCNC population, offering personalized support services and affordable pathways to completion. Boards should champion targeted outreach and support services that address the unique challenges these students face.

Generative Board Questions:

• What programs or services could we implement to reengage and support the SCNC population?
• Do we have the necessary infrastructure and staff to facilitate the successful re-enrollment of these students?

Expand International Enrollment Strategies

International students represent a significant source of diversity and revenue, but competition for their enrollment is fierce. Boards must develop robust strategies to attract and retain this valuable population.

Actionable Insight: Institutions should invest in international recruitment efforts, ensuring comprehensive support systems for international students and establishing partnerships with global institutions to enhance recruitment pipelines.

Generative Board Questions:

• How competitive is our institution in attracting international students compared to peer institutions?
• What steps are we taking to improve international student recruitment and retention?

Build an Institution-Wide Focus on Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships have seen remarkable growth over the past decade, with sectors like health care and finance leading the charge. Institutions that expand apprenticeship programs will be well-positioned to meet the demands of both students and employers.

Actionable Insight: Boards should encourage the development of apprenticeship programs that align with growth sectors, ensuring that students gain practical skills and hands-on experience while reducing their financial burden.

Generative Board Questions:

• How can we expand apprenticeship opportunities in high-growth fields to provide more pathways to employment?
• Are our partnerships with local and national employers sufficient to support robust apprenticeship programs?

Conclusion:

The 2025 higher education landscape demands that governing boards embrace innovation and adaptability. Institutions that focus on career outcomes, flexible learning pathways, and re-engaging non-traditional students will thrive in this era of the modern learner. Boards must take an active role in shaping their institution’s response to these trends, guiding leadership with generative questions and actionable insights to ensure long-term success.

By proactively addressing these shifts, boards can help their institutions not only survive but lead the charge in a transformed higher education ecosystem.

Additional Readings:

• "The Value of College: Rethinking ROI in Higher Education" – Examines how universities can demonstrate the long-term value of their degrees and address rising skepticism about the cost of higher education.
• "Apprenticeships in Higher Education: A Pathway to the Future" – Discusses the growth of apprenticeships and how colleges can integrate these programs into their offerings to meet modern workforce demands.
• "Engaging the Some College, No Credential Population: A Guide for Higher Education Institutions" – Offers strategies for re-engaging SCNC students and helping them complete their degrees, contributing to institutional growth.
• "Global Perspectives: Strategies for Boosting International Enrollment in a Competitive Market" – Provides insights into how universities can attract and retain international students to enhance their global profile and increase diversity.

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Robert (Skip) Myers, Ph.D., advises and counsels college and university governing boards and their presidents seeking to optimize and align their joint leadership performance.

Follow him at Robert (Skip) Myers, Ph.D.