On January 20, 2025, the presidential inauguration will introduce a new administration. Political transfers of power can see major shifts in the higher education landscape, and many have questions and concerns about what could happen under the upcoming administration. But with the right strategic approach and a clear understanding of the political context, higher education institutions can continue to excel.
Read on to discover higher education outlook for 2025 and beyond, and what it will take to thrive under the upcoming administration.
Higher ed 2025 expectations — what we can expect from the new administration
While only time will tell, higher ed institutions can anticipate these eight developments while preparing for the next four years and beyond.
1. The persistence of the DoE through 2025
Many in higher ed have concerns about the upcoming administration dismantling the Department of Education (DoE). This would only be possible with the backing of Congress. While previous candidates have advocated dismantling the DoE for several decades, and the President-elect previously proposed combining it with the Department of Labor, the DoE has survived multiple presidencies and will likely persist under the coming administration. Even if the new administration tries, the chances of gaining a sufficient majority in the Senate to pass a bill abolishing the education department seem very slight.
2. Decline in international enrollment
The promise of stricter immigration controls was central to the President-elect’s successful 2024 campaign. This could impact international student enrollment numbers during the next four academic years. This was the case during the 2017-2019 academic year under the new President’s first administration when international student inflow declined by 12 percent relative to comparable countries. For institutions looking to maintain their international enrollment numbers, competition could get tough over the next few years.
3. Increased scrutiny in private institutions
Recent years have seen increasingly stringent Congressional oversight of private institutions, especially Ivy League schools. The 2023 hearing regarding antisemitic incidents at Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Pennsylvania was one prominent example. The President-elect’s first administration introduced a 1.4 percent endowment excise tax on many private colleges and universities. His 2024 campaign’s criticism of Ivy League schools suggests that this scrutiny will sharpen over the next few years, extending into disciplinary, academic, and financial areas.
4. Overhaul in liberal education policies
The President-elect has indicated that his second administration intends to combat left-wing influences in curriculum areas like critical race theory (CRT) and gender studies by withdrawing federal funding and accreditation. The Republican party and its supporters have also criticized faculty hiring and student recruitment policies emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
At the same time, Republicans have stressed that the federal government should have a limited role in education, making it difficult to predict how far government interventions will go. Higher education institutions should pay close attention to federal and state regulation changes under the upcoming administration that could potentially affect hiring, research, and instruction.
5. Shifting attitudes toward DEI
Since 2020, dozens of states have introduced restrictions on curriculum components dealing with topics like race, gender, sexuality, class, and equity. Political observers suggest that the upcoming administration will provide federal support for these anti-DEI regulatory shifts. If this plays out, institutions may have to revisit how they present certain courses as well as student support resources and administrative offices.
6. Increased accountability for institutions
Holding colleges and universities accountable is a stated priority for the upcoming administration. Accountability measures during the next four years could include:
- Scrutinizing, reducing, or removing federal subsidies for higher ed institutions.
- Overturning the previous administration’s student loan forgiveness initiative.
- Supporting alternatives to four-year degrees, including career training programs.
- Increasing taxes for wealthy private institutions.
- Combating antisemitism on campus through Congressional oversight.
7. Changes in Title IX regulations
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 aims to prohibit gender-based discrimination and protect against sexual harassment. The 2017-2020 administration saw revisions of this law, including a stricter definition of sexual harassment and tighter controls on investigations of alleged violations.
While the previous administration reversed these controls and added gender identity as a protected category, the upcoming administration could roll back the most recent reforms. Implications of these changes could impact whether people may access on-campus spaces like women’s bathrooms based on their gender identity or only their biological sex.
8. Transformed diversity initiatives
While diversity initiatives can continue under the upcoming administration, they may need to adapt in response to new legal challenges. These initiatives are already facing restrictions at the state level, and the President-elect’s 2024 campaign proposed new accreditors and fines on endowments as measures to stop equity initiatives designated as discriminatory. The Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action may suggest a shift toward considering any treatment of race as a criterion for admission or other benefits to be discriminatory. DEI initiatives may have to evolve to comply with any further state or federal regulations following this line.
What higher education institutions can do to stay resilient
While political tides shift, the importance of higher education remains constant, and institutions must prepare for an agile response to the new administration’s trajectory. Following this 11-part recipe for resilience will help ensure continuing institutional success:
1. Plan for change
While the extent of the upcoming changes remains uncertain, commentators on both sides of the political aisle are expecting the transfer of power to have a significant impact on higher ed. This means higher education administrators should brace themselves for action. Ways to prepare include:
- Assigning staff to track regulatory changes and initiate stakeholder engagement on compliance plans.
- Planning marketing campaigns to enhance your institutional brand and attract students.
- Investing in software and protocols to improve efficiency in the face of potential funding cuts.
2. Communicate with students and faculty
Many students and faculty are already anxious about how the new administration could affect their experience on campus. If institutional policies change to comply with new regulations, some may feel disappointed or even betrayed. Aim for transparent communication about how legal changes apply to the institution and why policies must adapt. Provide an open forum for people to express their concerns and ideas. Reaffirming the institution’s commitment to promoting an inclusive campus and demonstrating support for women and minorities will be especially vital during this time.
3. Leverage data for student success
While DEI initiatives may take hits, institutions can continue to support all students and help them succeed. Instead of allocating resources to students based on racial or gender characteristics, institutions can opt for a data-driven approach. Consider using student success software with predictive analytics to recognize students at risk of disengagement or academic difficulties. This ensures that all students get the help they need to succeed as soon as they need it.
4. Maintain accreditation
The upcoming administration has proposed outlawing DEI standards for accreditation and establishing new accrediting authorities with more conservative standards. If this takes place, maintaining accreditation for programs could require adhering to revised standards or potentially pursuing new accreditations altogether.
Keep in touch with your accrediting bodies to learn more about these developments. Your institution can also leverage accreditation management software to compare outcomes against the latest standards and streamline work on self-studies.
5. Adjust enrollment and retention strategies
With affirmative action in admissions being banned, institutions must ensure their student enrollment and retention strategies remain compliant. You can support diverse students while keeping in step with regulatory requirements by:
- Evaluating fairness: Analyze enrollment data from each program and administer anonymous surveys to look for indications of unconscious bias, such as disparities in enrollment numbers or outcomes between students of different genders or races.
- Celebrating diverse perspectives: Cultivate a reputation for curricula that reflect diverse experiences to attract more women and minority applicants.
- Monitoring success and engagement: Use innovative software with real-time predictive analytics to identify students who need extra support and intervene to provide it.
6. Simplify student access to financial aid
The federal student loan forgiveness initiative is likely to end and some institutions may be short on financial aid resources because of endowment taxation and other proposed measures. In this context, students may need more help to find viable financial options to fund their education. Institutions can address this need by:
- Running webinars and workshops to educate students on financial aid options.
- Designing mobile-responsive, prepopulated application forms.
- Collaborating with local businesses and community organizations to open new funding avenues.
- Offering flexible learning schedules for students who are employed while studying.
7. Focus on student support initiatives
Under the new administration, DEI initiatives will need to adapt. But institutions can still provide a diverse student body with the support resources it needs, including:
- Mental health counseling services
- Financial aid offices
- Child care facilities
- Mentorship programs
- Tutoring services
- Career counseling
- Disability accommodations
- Student support groups and cultural societies
8. Support academic freedom
A recent survey found that 91 percent of respondents at higher ed institutions agree to some extent that academic freedom is under threat. This includes substantial proportions of both Democrat and Republican voters. Higher ed institutions can address some of these concerns by doing their part to protect academic freedom. This could include:
- Supporting rigorous scholarship from a broad range of political and cultural viewpoints.
- Hosting respectful debate and discussion forums on campus.
- Establish policies that defend academic freedom in class while setting well-defined boundaries.
9. Make student learning relevant to the job market
The new administration’s educational policies are looking friendly toward career and technical education. In this context, aligning program design with job market demands is one way institutions can stay in line with upcoming regulatory developments while positioning students for lasting success. Ways to achieve this include:
- Industry research and job market data analysis.
- Partnerships with industry leaders.
- Incorporating emerging industry technologies into learning.
10. Rethink DEI programs
Higher ed institutions can reaffirm their commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging even as DEI initiatives face new legal constraints. Ways to do this include:
- Encouraging open conversations about what diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging mean on campus today.
- Producing research that reflects diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
- Including questions about DEI on course evaluations and student surveys.
- Providing academic support accessible to diverse students without making race or gender a criterion for benefiting.
Seek up-to-date legal advice about what federal regulations do and don’t require. Developing contingency plans for likely scenarios is prudent, but your institution need not comply with all proposed changes until the government actually enacts them.
11. Strengthen non-discrimination policies
Anti-discrimination policies and procedures may require revision to comply with any changes to Title IX. At the same time, institutions will still have a basis to investigate and take disciplinary action against discrimination within legal limits. Institutions can still:
- Inform faculty and students on what constitutes unlawful discrimination on campus and how to report it.
- Invest resources in thorough investigations of any alleged acts of discrimination.
- Provide counseling and other support resources for victims of discrimination.
The future of higher education
While presidential terms come and go, higher education retains an important role in society. This role includes:
- Cultivating critical thinking and research skills.
- Preparing students for career success.
- Forming intellectually engaged citizens.
To maintain public trust through shifting political climates, higher ed institutions must demonstrate excellence in these functions and avoid portraying a partisan image. Institutions that embrace their role and invest in student success while complying with new policies can continue to succeed.
Stay resilient through political change with the Watermark EIS
The upcoming administration’s policies could pose new challenges to many higher education institutions. But with clear vision, student-centric goals, and the right tools to realize those goals, forward-looking institutions can still thrive. In an era of rapid change, the Watermark Educational Impact Suite (EIS) is your institution’s software arsenal for lasting success.
This all-in-one system for institutional success through data-driven insights includes:
- Planning & Self-Study: Collaborate on compelling accreditation self-studies with ease.
- Course Evaluations & Surveys: Improve course evaluation response rates by 70 percent and turn feedback into actionable insights.
- Faculty Success: Demonstrate faculty credentials and propel professional success.
- Student Learning & Licensure: Guide and assess students with transparent learning outcomes.
- Outcomes Assessment Projects: Analyze assessment outcomes for equitable, institution-wide improvement.
- Curriculum Strategy: Craft impactful curricula to keep pace with regulations and prepare students for the job market.
- Student Success & Engagement: Support student success from recruitment to graduation while boosting retention with predictive analytics.
Contact us to learn more and get your free demo of the Watermark EIS.
