Rethinking The U: What's Next For Higher Education?

Forbes

28-07-2025

Catherine M. Wehlburg, Ph.D., is the President of Athens State University.
Higher education is at a critical inflection point. Once regarded as the unquestioned path to personal prosperity and societal progress, the traditional university model now faces increasing scrutiny from all sides. Declining enrollments, shifting public perceptions, tightening budgets and a rapidly changing workforce landscape are all forcing colleges and universities to rethink their missions, methods and measures of success.
In my view as the president of a university, incremental change won't suffice. What's needed now is bold, systemic transformation.
The Shifting Landscape Of Accreditation
For decades, accreditation has functioned as the backbone of quality assurance in higher education, offering a level of trust in the quality of degrees and institutions. But that landscape is changing. Traditional accreditation bodies, which have been criticized for being slow and process-oriented, have been under increasing pressure to focus more directly on student outcomes, equity and employability.
At the same time, new models are emerging. I'm seeing competency-based education programs, microcredentials and short-cycle certificates gaining traction—and these often lie outside or on the fringes of traditional accreditation pathways. Nontraditional providers such as Coursera or Google now offer credentialing that bypasses the formal structures of regional accrediting bodies, yet they are still being recognized by many employers. I believe the result is a decentralization of the power once held solely by accreditors.
Funding Challenges And The Financial Future
At the heart of the challenges facing higher education is a trend of declining public investment. Many states have cut funding for higher education, placing a growing financial burden on students and families. As tuition rises and student debt mounts, the question of value becomes increasingly urgent: Is a degree worth it?
This erosion of financial stability has led many institutions to rely heavily on tuition revenue, which I see as an unsustainable model in a time of demographic decline and public skepticism. Meanwhile, federal and state policymakers are experimenting with performance-based funding, tying resources to factors such as graduation rates and workforce outcomes and equity metrics. While intended to drive improvement, such models can also place pressure on institutions serving the most vulnerable students.
In response, I've observed that some universities are exploring innovative financing strategies, such as income-share agreements and dual enrollment programs. Yet, to truly secure the future, higher education must move beyond financial patchwork and rethink its business model by prioritizing access, quality, efficiencies and long-term sustainability.
Changing Community Perceptions And Interests
At the same time, higher education is grappling with a crisis of public trust. Surveys show that Americans are questioning the value of a college degree. Some see universities as disconnected from real-world needs, too expensive or ideologically out of touch. The idea of four years on a residential campus may feel either inaccessible or irrelevant.
Enrollment trends reflect this changing sentiment. Traditional-age student numbers are declining, which means adult learners—who comprise at least a third of higher ed students—play an increasingly important role in offsetting this trend. Many of these students are not looking for the "college experience," but rather affordable, flexible and targeted learning that aligns with their career goals.
To remain relevant, universities must reconnect with communities. That means investing in local partnerships, serving as engines of regional economic development and providing education that addresses the needs of local industries and populations. The civic mission of higher education—so central to its founding—must be reinvigorated if it is to survive and thrive in the future.
The Changing Economics Of Workforce Preparation
Perhaps the most profound shift affecting higher education is the changing nature of work itself. The 20th-century model—a linear path from college to career—is being replaced by a more fluid, lifelong process of learning, reskilling and adapting. More employers today value specific skills and competencies over formal degrees. And many learners are turning to faster, cheaper alternatives like industry boot camps, apprenticeships or industry-issued certifications.
This trend doesn't necessarily mean the end of the degree, but it does demand a transformation in how higher education prepares students for work. Institutions can consider integrating experiential learning, stackable credentials and digital badges into their offerings. Partnerships with employers are also essential, not optional, as universities seek to ensure alignment with workforce needs.
I believe the traditional one-size-fits-all degree must evolve into a customizable, modular system of learning that allows students to earn, learn, pause and return as their lives and careers evolve. The university of the future will need to offer both depth and flexibility—and think beyond the classroom.
What's Next: Rethinking The University Model
Given these pressures, what will the university of the future look like? In my view, it won't be defined by ivy-covered walls or semester calendars, but by adaptability, accessibility and community connection. Rethinking 'the U' means embracing new structures, such as:
• Personalized learning pathways that recognize prior learning and experience
• Competency-based education that emphasizes mastery over seat time
• Technology integration that supports hybrid and virtual learning models
• Lifelong learning ecosystems that provide value across a student's entire career
Change is already happening—but often in pockets. The challenge ahead is scaling innovation across institutions in a way that preserves the core values of higher education while responding to new demands. That will require courageous leadership, flexible governance and a deep commitment to student success. It also requires a shift in mindset from seeing the university as a destination to seeing it as a platform; a place not just to earn a degree, but to return to again and again as life and work change.
Higher education has long served as a ladder of opportunity to a better life. But today, it must become something more: a dynamic partner in economic mobility, civic engagement and lifelong learning. Accreditation must evolve, funding must stabilize, community trust must be rebuilt, and the link between education and workforce must be strengthened.
What's next for higher education isn't simply about doing more with less—it's about doing things differently. 'Rethinking the U' means reimagining what it means to learn, teach and serve in a rapidly changing world. The future belongs to the institutions that are willing to lead that change.
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