Gray tracks inquiries, essentially online forms filled out by potential students interested in higher education programs. Inquiry volume had been dropping, often by double digits, for over five years. 2018 broke the trend. Inquiries increased 1.7% for the year and sprinted to the finish with a 9% rise in December.
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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.
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