American Universities Are Challenged as Never Before

Abstract

While economic data show that a college degree is still a very worthwhile and important investment of time and money, the public’s realization of this is eroding. In addition to these political challenges, higher education is grappling with changing demographics, which lead to a reduction in the number of students who can pay the full tuition and a change in where the new students are located; financial challenges that stem from the fact that higher education continues to increase in costs while revenue sources are shrinking; and technological challenges that change how students want to receive knowledge.