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2026 Higher Education Trends
Wednesday, 18 March 2026 12:00 p.m. ET

Virtual - Dbriefs

CPE credits | Event language: English

18 Mar. 2026

Wednesday, 12:00 p.m. ET | 1 Hr.

2026 Higher Education Trends

Government & Education

Participants will identify the challenges and opportunities shaping America’s higher education sector in 2026. 

Host:
Megan Cluver
, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP

Presenters:
Cole Clark
, managing director, Deloitte Services LP
Ruth Watkins, President of Postsecondary Education, Strada Education Foundation

1 Overview CPE credit | Specialized Knowledge

Key takeaways

As enrollment drops and skepticism about value rises, higher education’s business model and overall return on investment are facing heightened scrutiny. At the same time, artificial intelligence is reshaping how, where, and by whom work gets done, elevating the importance of distinctly human capabilities that higher education is uniquely positioned to develop. We’ll discuss:

  • The erosion of the revenue model for higher education
  • Shifting the conversation from the “cost of college” to the “value of a credential”
  • A future that may have fewer but stronger U.S. colleges, as more institutions choose to merge or form strategic partnerships