Student enrollments are falling across the globe. In 2025, experts predict enrollments are going to drop significantly as the number of Americans of college-going age will fall.
International students are also on the decline. U.S. colleges and universities saw a 72% drop in students from other countries compared to the previous year, according to a report by Boundless. This is believed to be due to visa delays or denials, competition from other countries and the perceived anti-immigrant rhetoric in the country.
This drop in enrollments along with the growing digital skills gap and increased focus by employers on skills-based hiring has raised a vital question – is a college degree even necessary in 2025?
We believe the answer is yes, but it’s complicated!
Research from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation shows that while confidence in the value of a college degree declined in 2023, confidence in the value of job training and professional licensing programs went up.
This means it’s up to universities and colleges to ensure a degree is a good investment by equipping students with the skills required (theoretical and practical) by the modern labor market to boost their employability.
In this blog, we examine key ways the job market is changing and explore the strategies used by 8 universities to enhance their programs and increase student enrolments.