5 Trends to Watch in Higher Education for 2025

• By Christina Counts
• 01/08/25

At the top of another new year, we are looking ahead to some of the top trends in higher education for 2025. Over the past five years, higher education has transformed as students and employers have reframed their perspectives around college degrees and professional certifications. Today's post-secondary learners are seeking diverse learning opportunities that offer them practical skills and knowledge that is directly applicable to future careers.

With declining enrollment and uncertainty about education policy in the upcoming year, many institutions will pivot in 2025 to address key challenges affecting higher education. Additionally, institutions will continue to adapt their certificate and degree programs to meet the evolving needs of industries that are constantly growing and changing.

In 2025, the trends shaping higher education reflect a continuous transformation of the higher education landscape to meet the changing needs of students and staff, while maintaining sustainable and cost-effective institutional practices.

Here are five key trends defining higher education in 2025:

1) Supporting Student Well-Being

Student well-being is at the center of some of higher education's most significant challenges in 2025. More than 60% of college students report feeling lonely, which has negative impacts on their overall mental health. To address this issue and enhance the overall college experience, educational institutions are improving student programs to promote social engagement on campus. Investments in student well-being and social initiatives will benefit institutions in the long run, increasing student retention, academic achievement, and program completion.

Furthermore, students are becoming increasingly overwhelmed with stress. In the face of financial struggles, anxiety about passing courses and finding a job, and insurmountable socio-political issues, students feel frustrated and helpless. Four in five students say stress impacts their ability to focus, learn, and perform well academically. Institutions can help address student stress by expanding career centers; providing support for obtaining scholarships, financial aid, and work study positions; and offering practical resources such as financial planning workshops.

2) AI as a Tool for Learning, Student Services, and Institutional Support

Last year, artificial intelligence (AI) was just beginning to emerge in higher education, but in 2025, AI will secure its place in almost every aspect of the higher education landscape. Notably, many institutions have already implemented AI to improve administrative functions, budgeting and planning, and other basic operations. To streamline administrative actions and lower costs, 52% of colleges that have adopted AI have chosen to implement chatbots, reshaping the way students engage with their school and its administration. This year we anticipate that adoption of AI as a tool for institutional management will quickly become the standard in higher education.

In addition, AI has a strong potential for supporting student learning, and in 2025 more institutions will pilot technologies that target academic achievement and educational support. Across all subject areas, educators are utilizing AI-produced educational materials for course enhancement and implementing AI technologies into the course content to help learners develop valuable skills. Some programs are taking advantage of AI technology that identifies student progress and learning needs in order to adapt the educational approach and personalize learning. Students are also using adaptive AI tutoring programs and AI-powered career guidance tools to help them along their entire learning journey.

3) Sustainable Facilities and Initiatives

The majority of today's students are concerned with their environmental impact and consider sustainability an important factor in making decisions. A 2024 survey identified that 61% of students consider an institution's commitment to the environment before deciding to apply to or attend the school. In 2025, the incorporation of sustainable facilities and initiatives at an institution remains a top asset for student recruitment and retention, making sustainability a powerful trend in higher education this year.

Declining enrollment, tighter budgets, and increased general costs have higher education institutions focused on thoughtful spending of every dollar. Still, maintaining and upgrading educational facilities through a sustainable approach is a worthwhile investment to retain current student satisfaction and capture the attention of prospective students.

In 2025, institutions will focus on making investments that are economical yet address long-term sustainability goals. When modernizing educational facilities, institutions will make choices that are sustainably driven, cost-effective, and long-lasting. This includes sustainable design practices, flexible and multipurpose furnishings that are designed to last, and more efficient energy management solutions guided by data, AI, and smart technology.

Colleges and universities can further enhance their sustainability and demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility through recycling programs, climate pledges, green certifications, and providing sustainability-focused majors and courses.

4) Varied Approaches to Learning and Credentialing

Post-secondary learners are taking new and diverse approaches to achieve their educational goals, whether they are obtaining certificates, degrees, micro-credentials, or continuing education credits. Many current undergraduate students are taking an alternative pathway to a degree, completing AP course credits in high school, acquiring core credits online or at a community college, and then transferring to a larger university to complete a specialized degree program.

For the first time since the pandemic, student transfers are on the rise, particularly among disadvantaged student populations. As students reshape what the higher education experience looks like for them, institutions will need to prepare for the impacts of increased transfer enrollment by implementing approachable transfer applications, transparent policies, and a smooth transfer credit process.

We also expect institutions to expand their non-degree programs in 2025, continuing to address the needs of learners who are seeking to acquire specific skills and micro-credentials. In particular, the need for new certifications and courses in AI and cybersecurity will increase as current students and continuing education learners seek out targeted skill development opportunities in these subject areas. Continuous learning and micro-credentialing allow professionals, graduates, and current students to upgrade their skills and knowledge, contributing to ongoing professional development as technology rapidly evolves.

5) Career Technical Education and other Industry-Focused Programs

As technology continues to advance, skilled professionals are in high demand. Technical education is no longer viewed solely as a backup option for students who aren't attending undergraduate programs for various reasons. Many students are seeking out career technical education (CTE) and other industry credentialing or job training programs as their top choice for post-secondary education. Offering high-wage jobs in fast-growing industries such as robotics, engineering, and manufacturing, CTE programs are attractive to students, equipping them with highly marketable skills.

Many technical industries are experiencing a persistent skills gap, resulting in a misalignment between the skills held by job candidates and those most demanded by employers. While professional development and micro-credentials can help partially address this gap, additional CTE programs are needed to train workers with skills that are directly applicable to vacant jobs. Many technical colleges and vocational schools are underfunded and need modern technology and additional resources to help close the skills gap. In 2025, we will see a push for education policy that provides greater funding for CTE initiatives, allowing states to expand these programs and enroll more students.