Lenexa, Kan. (October 25, 2023), Oct. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, EducationDynamics, a leading enrollment management agency specializing in higher education, released its highly anticipated "2023 Higher Ed Landscape" report. Now in its 4th year, the comprehensive report delves into the evolving dynamics between higher education, the changing labor market and prospective students.
The data-driven report compiles information from publicly available data sources, including the National Student Clearinghouse and the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), to create a holistic analysis of the challenges facing higher education. This year, the industry continues to face challenges at almost every level, and enrollment remains below pre-2020 levels. This is due to external disruptions, technological advancements and shifting government policies which continue to influence the industry, while the role of AI continued its meteoric rise in reshaping job opportunities and skills demanded by the workforce.
"Our '2023 Higher Ed Landscape Report' not only details the evolving nature of education in America, but also provides institutional leadership with insight into the priorities of their largest stakeholders: prospective students,” said EducationDynamics CEO Bruce Douglas. “We remain committed to helping higher education navigate these challenges and communicate the value of education to their communities."
In addition to the external forces reshaping higher education, the report offered three important factors that continue to impact enrollment:
Faith in Higher Education Continues to Drop
Faith in higher education has reached an all-time low, with only 36% of Americans expressing a “Great Deal” or “Quite a Lot” of confidence in higher education. Institutions must now persuade students that pursuing higher education overall is a worthwhile endeavor before convincing them that their specific school or program is the right choice.
The "Some College, No Credential" (SCNC) Audience Continues to Grow
While the SCNC demographic is a known entity to higher education, the report details how the number of Americans classified as “Some College, No Credential” continues to grow. With more than 45 million Americans identifying as SCNC, many believe re-engaging this audience is a ripe opportunity for schools looking to maintain or boost enrollment. But, the wide range of factors that led to their stopping out means that attracting this audience will require a more personalized and compassionate approach to outreach.
Non-Traditional Students are Younger
Younger, digital natives now identify as "non-traditional" learners, preferring hybrid, online, and flexible modalities. The combination of convenience, the rising cost of education and a robust employment environment are expected to drive more students to pursue higher education through less traditional paths.
Released each October, the "2023 Higher Ed Landscape Report" is the first report of the academic year, followed by the “Marketing and Enrollment Management” report in January, an “Online College Students” report in February, and June’s “eLearning Index.”
Data for the "2023 Higher Ed Landscape Report" was sourced from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Center for Education Statistics, and Gallup polling. The report is available for free download on the EducationDynamics website.
For more information, please visit educationdynamics.com/insights or contact Senior Director of Marketing and Corporate Communication Eric McGee at emcgee@educationdynamics.com.
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About EducationDynamics
EducationDynamics is the transformative strategic partner that helps schools meet the challenges and opportunities of serving today’s student. Our mission is to help colleges and universities understand, engage, and serve students and expand opportunity through education. We have dedicated the last 30 years to helping schools serve adult and non-traditional students through online programs, and we are the largest provider of unbundled marketing and enrollment management services for online and adult-focused higher ed. For more information, visit: educationdynamics.com.
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