Special Report
The Shrinking of Higher Ed
A special report on the implications of the enrollment contraction.
Delcan & Co. + Danielle Del Plato for The Chronicle
Nearly 1.3 million students have disappeared from American colleges since the Covid-19 pandemic began. That enrollment contraction comes at a precarious moment for the sector. Inflation is driving up costs and straining budgets, stock-market volatility is putting downward pressure on endowment returns, and federal stimulus funds are running out. Why is the enrollment crunch happening now? How are colleges responding? What might turn things around? Those are the questions fueling this special report.
Disappearing Students
In the past, colleges grew their way out of enrollment crises. This time looks different.
The Search for Solutions
A community college, a public regional, and a small private institution try to innovate their way out of yearslong declines.
College Completion
As the number of traditional-age students shrinks, educators double down on efforts to re-enroll the 39 million Americans who left without a credential.
Finance
Many campuses with fewer than 1,000 students survived the pandemic on fumes. What’s next?
The Lived Experience
After more than a century of Black activists’ fight for college access, Black enrollment this past decade has tumbled at an alarming rate.
A version of this package appeared in the Sept. 2, 2022 issue.