Benchmarking for Sustainability

Secure Your Institution's Future: A Program Economics Webinar for Higher Ed Leaders

Benchmarking your program economics is critical!

It is the only way to understand how your program and course economics compare to your peers. With external comparisons, you can identify which academic areas are highly efficient, and where there is opportunity for improvement. Gray DI has been growing our benchmarking database for a number of years and we are excited to share with you some of the hidden insights we have uncovered.

Join us on September 10th as we delve deeper into the world of program economics benchmarking.

Learn how to:

Optimize resource allocation to manage costs
Develop data-informed strategies to improve revenue generation
Position your institution for long-term sustainability in a challenging higher education environment.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain actionable insights and best practices from industry expert Elizabeth Atkins, Gray DI Vice President of Decision Intelligence Analysts and Product.

All who register will receive a copy of the recording and the presentation slides.

Sign Up to Gain Free Access to Gray DI's 2024 Benchmarking for Sustainability Webinar

Reads to Get You Ready

Beyond Budget Cuts: A Strategic Approach to Financial Sustainability in Higher Education

Financial sustainability in higher education requires more than cost-cutting—it demands a strategic, data-informed approach. Reactive budget reductions can undermine long-term stability, while smarter resource allocation, program optimization, and revenue generation drive resilience. By understanding program economics and leveraging benchmarking data, institutions can strengthen both financial health and student success.

Stop Cutting Programs: A Smarter Approach to Cost Reduction in Higher Education

Facing financial challenges? You’re not alone. Many institutions are struggling to increase revenue and reduce costs, and traditional cost-cutting measures like program cuts often do more harm than good. These cuts fail to consider the complex web of revenue generators and resources within an institution. By gaining a deep understanding of program economics, colleges and universities can identify hidden opportunities for growth, optimize faculty workload, and make strategic adjustments that ensure long-term financial sustainability.

What Does it Really Mean to Cut a Program?

When financial pressures rise, colleges and universities often consider cutting academic programs to balance budgets—but is this truly effective? Cutting a program can seem like an easy solution, yet the financial impact is complex, with potential enrollment and revenue losses that may outweigh the savings. Explore the nuanced economics of program cuts, using a real-world example to reveal how revenue, costs, and contribution margins intersect. Discover why a data-informed approach to evaluating program economics is crucial for making strategic, sustainable budget decisions.

Benchmarking for Financial Vitality in Higher Education: Beyond Cost-Cutting

Meeting the financial and educational demands of higher education today requires a careful balance of efficiency and quality. Benchmarking data enables institutions to make informed decisions that optimize costs, foster growth, and ensure student success. By analyzing cost per student credit hour, identifying growth opportunities, and implementing targeted cost reductions, higher education leaders can position their institutions for a sustainable future, supporting both fiscal health and educational excellence.

Maximize Your Faculty Resources

Discover how thoughtful faculty allocation can unlock greater efficiency and elevate student success. By comparing Contemporary University’s current faculty distribution with industry benchmarks, we uncover ways to redeploy full-time faculty across course levels, optimizing cost-per-student-credit-hour and boosting outcomes. Discover how benchmarking data can drive strategic, student-centered resource planning for impactful results.

Uncovering Hidden Economic Opportunities: Cost per SCH

Is your institution maximizing resources, or are hidden inefficiencies draining your budget? Discover how optimizing cost per student credit hour (SCH) can unlock major savings. Through a case study of Contemporary University—a fictional institution with over 13,000 students—this guide outlines four steps to reveal financial efficiencies, from benchmarking against peers to optimizing course scheduling. Learn how Gray DI’s PES Economics and Outcomes software can help improve resource allocation and drive long-term sustainability, showing how small adjustments can lead to substantial impacts on financial health.

Have questions or just want to connect? Reach out to info@www.graydi.us/