A recent article highlights a force I have written about often: The demographic shifts that will intensify over the latter half of this decade and into the 2030s. A brief summary of the article and issues follows.

The Looming Demographic Cliff and Its Ripple Effect on Higher Education and the Economy

A silent yet profound shift is taking place in the United States (and globally) one that will reshape higher education and have far-reaching economic consequences. The “demographic cliff,” a term used to describe the decline in the number of 18-year-olds available to enter college, has been looming since the Great Recession triggered a drop in birth rates. This decline is expected to manifest significantly by this fall, presenting an existential challenge to colleges and universities and broader implications for the nation’s economy.