For about the last 60 years, higher education in America has enjoyed a growth spurt. Lots of students and lots of money. The livin’ was easy.

Not anymore. The future looks lean — fewer students and less money.  Adjustments must be made.

In today’s Martin Center article, Ashlynn Warta looks at the grim projections.

She writes, “As Inside Higher Ed recently reported, the 2025 Outlook Report from big-three credit rater Fitch noted that “rising pressures, including ‘uneven’ enrollment trends, growing costs and flat state funding, are likely to financially hurt U.S. higher ed institutions— especially those with already tight budgets that heavily depend on tuition dollars.” In light of the strain caused by Covid-era disruptions, colleges and universities are feeling the pinch, as previously existing issues—such as deferred maintenance—have only worsened. In short, countless schools face major financial challenges.”

Budget cuts will be necessary at many schools, but that will provoke backlash. Warta mentions the strike by adjunct faculty at one college. The infighting among competing interests for the dwindling number of dollars will get nasty, but the end result will be a less wasteful higher education sector.