A new Inside Higher Ed and Hanover Research survey — sponsored by Strata Decision Technology — highlights growing concern among higher ed business officers as they face shrinking enrollments, reduced funding, and rising costs. Fewer than half expect their institution’s financial health to improve in the next year, reflecting a drop in short-term optimism compared to 2024.
Despite these challenges, many leaders remain cautiously optimistic about long-term stability. Colleges and universities are responding to current challenges by tightening operations, strengthening partnerships, and investing in data-driven decision-making to ensure sustainability.