Higher education is facing a numbers problem, but the solution isn’t just about finding more students. In this Quick Take episode, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom explores the three major forces reshaping higher education: changing demographics, evolving student expectations, and declining public confidence. With fewer high school graduates entering the pipeline and more colleges competing for those students, institutions must rethink how they attract, engage, and support learners.

Cheryl breaks down why the “enrollment cliff” is actually a long-term demographic shift, why adult learners represent a major opportunity for colleges, and why rebuilding trust requires more than talking about affordability and degrees.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why the enrollment cliff is really a gradual demographic shift
• How adult learners are changing the higher ed landscape
• Why trust in higher education matters for enrollment success
• How colleges can rethink messaging around value and outcomes
• Why the student experience is becoming the next competitive advantage

Thanks for listening!

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Higher Ed Conversations is hosted by Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm, a marketing and branding agency specializing in community colleges and public education.