Cole Clark
Managing Director, Higher Education,
Deloitte
2025 Higher Education Trends: A Look at the Challenges and Opportunities Shaping Higher Education
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | 1:00PM–1:45PM CT | Meeting Room 103, Level 1
Session Type:
Breakout Session
Delivery Format:
Presentation/Panel Session
The past year saw extraordinary events across American higher education. These events have been highly visible and have significantly impacted public perception of the sector, prompting action on Capitol Hill as well as in many boardrooms across the nation. The presidential election ushered in a new administration with a reform agenda aimed at reshaping many aspects of the public sector, including higher education. We are already seeing shifts in how instruction and research are funded, the standards for accreditation, how endowments are taxed, and other policy and regulatory changes with far-reaching implications for colleges and universities. Amid this change, higher education leaders and governing bodies are challenged to chart a course for their institutions that addresses the public’s broader concerns while being tailored to their specific constituents’ context. In this presentation, we will outline five areas that should occupy significant focus in leadership and governance circles. Deloitte’s Center for Higher Education Excellence convened college and university presidents, EVPs and CFOs in December 2024 and February 2025 for the New Era Forum and the Summit on Higher Education & Finance, where these stakeholders gathered to have open discussions across institutions. The presentation will describe and prioritize trends identified through discussions with the New Era Forum & Higher Ed Finance and the Economy communities.
