Free Republic

There’s about to be fewer feet sticking to frat floors and hands slapping the bag. US colleges are facing an enrollment cliff after the population of Americans aged 18 peaked last year. Undergraduate enrollment is projected to decline by 13% in the next 15 years, according to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Meanwhile, many schools are already in a pickle: Families are increasingly bargain hunting for the most generous financial aid as they doubt the value of a higher education. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has restricted international student visas, denting enrollment in the process.

Leaders of Pennsylvania’s four state-related universities told lawmakers this week that without more support, they’ll make up the missing funding through tuition increases. The University of Pittsburgh, Penn State University, Temple University and Lincoln University testified that declining enrollment and struggles to keep graduates in Pennsylvania means that Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 7.1% funding increase won’t be enough to stave off future hikes. “Pennsylvania is going to be feeling the demographic cliff,” said Pitt Chancellor Patrick Gallagher. “It really hits the universities in 2026.”