The latest research and insights from Gray DI
As new program launches slow, institutions risk falling behind shifting student demand. Discover how to identify and prioritize high-growth programs before enrollment momentum stalls.
Academic program decisions have never been more complex, yet many institutions still rely on incomplete signals or long-standing assumptions. Enrollment shifts, evolving workforce needs, and growing pressure to demonstrate outcomes are forcing leaders to rethink how programs are evaluated. Discover the key signals and strategic framework institutions are using to make smarter academic program decisions.
When enrollment declines, the instinct to cut can feel like the safest financial move. But what if that decision actually creates a larger budget hole? Many smaller programs remain contribution positive, support high-volume general education, and hold untapped growth potential, while teach-out costs and ripple effects across student credit hours can quietly erase projected savings. Before reshaping your academic portfolio, it may be worth asking whether the real issue is the program, or the data behind the decision.
AI is not just reshaping classrooms and careers, it is reshaping the physical world. A historic surge in data center construction is driving new energy demands, workforce shortages, and emerging academic opportunities that few institutions are fully prepared for. The question is not whether this infrastructure moment will impact higher education, but how quickly you will respond.
Discover the “Unplugged” movement. From the “Attention Economy” to new college majors in Ecotherapy and Adventure Education, explore why we’re escaping back to reality.
As institutions look ahead to 2026, emerging academic programs have become essential to enrollment stability and growth. The programs gaining momentum, from Creative AI and Data Analytics to health, sustainability, and the creator economy, reveal important lessons about timing, risk, and return. Grounded in real enrollment data and institutional examples, these insights show how high-impact programs often emerge by reusing existing assets and why acting early can make a measurable difference.
Crafting a first resume often feels overwhelming, but Career Companion (CoCo) changes the experience entirely. By turning a few ideas and a transcript into a polished, professionally designed resume, CoCo removes the stress of wording, formatting, and layout. The result is a clearer, faster, confidence-building path for students who need to showcase their strengths and take the next step toward landing an interview.
Stop navigating enrollment droughts and budget drains in the dark. Join Gray DI’s free Master Class Series and unleash data-informed insights to transform your academic portfolio.
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