Unless you work in higher education, you probably don’t know what the “enrollment cliff” is, or that the U.S. is at the precipice.

Starting this fall, institutions across the country will begin to see a steep decline in the pool of college candidates.

Forbes reports this could mean 16% fewer students in the Midwest over the next several years.

The reason? The Great Recession that began 18 years ago on the dot.

After subprime mortgages and the Lehman Brothers gutted the economy, many decided to pause starting a family—or forgo kids altogether—because they lost their jobs or were wary of the instability.

While large universities like Iowa will be able weather this “cliff,” smaller ones might not. Many that are already struggling with enrollment numbers will have to face the harsh reality of consolidating—or closing altogether.

This article appeared as part of a package in the 2025 issue of Exchange magazine about "hot topics" from the worlds of healthcare, tech, higher ed, real estate, and college sports.

 

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