Demographic cliff be darned. Data from the Education Data Initiative is projecting the Fall 2025 semester, which is about to begin, to show enrollment growth!
Get this, for Fall 2025, college undergrad enrollment is projected to increase to 19.57 million students: up 290,000 undergrads over Fall 2024.
Although Bachelors and Associate program enrollments are still below the pre-pandemic years, they have also shown growth: 2.1% and 6.3% respectively.
Additionally, undergraduate certificate programs are seeing growth, with a 4.8% increase, driven largely by community college enrollments.[1]
Now, this is all great news for institutions of higher education, especially for traditional brick-and-mortar schools that have been struggling…
But for primarily online colleges and universities, the news gets even better.
You see, a recent Gallup/Lumina Foundation poll titled, “State of Higher Education 2025”[2] has revealed some information that is highly favorable for online schools.
According to the survey of nearly 14,000 non-credentialed U.S. adults, aged 18-59, over 80% of those who have never enrolled in any higher ed program say they are likely to enroll within the next five years.
Now, of all non-credentialed US adults surveyed, they fall into the following three categories:
One: 6,000 adults are currently enrolled in a certificate, industry certification, associate degree or bachelor’s degree program.
Two: 4,931 adults who previously enrolled in a certificate, certification, associate degree or bachelor’s degree program but did not complete it.
And three: 3,002 adults who never enrolled in a degree or certificate program after high school.
Of the entire group (excluding those who are currently enrolled), 57% say they have considered enrolling over the past two years. 57%!
Of course, what makes this number so remarkable isn’t simply the fact that over half of those who are not enrolled right now have been considering it…
But it’s the fact that they’re all adults, not high schoolers, that should make primarily online institutions rejoice.
Because that’s your key demo!
And it’s a key demographic Conversion Media Group targets for enrollment into our clients’ online programs. And we’re nationally known for it.
Through our digital and telephone communications (yes telephone) with these adult learner prospects, they’ve told us a lot: Like which kinds of online college degrees they’re seeking.
Degrees like: Business Administration, Computer Science, Nursing, and Psychology.
Now, you may be asking “why would they tell CMG this?”
Well, the answer is simple. We curate and nurture relationships with our prospective students. We know their wants, we know their needs and we know their educational desires; because we have one-on one conversations with hundreds, sometimes thousands of them.
Because of the relationship building we do, we’re capable of pointing prospects in the right direction. Or, more specifically, when our prospects show genuine interest in a particular program, we can transfer our live phone calls with them directly into your enrollment department… yes, while they’re still on the phone.
This is called a live transfer lead. And in the world of higher education enrollment initiatives, there may be no better leads, period. Why? Because those leads are only transferred when they indicate high intent. That’s it.
Because of our vast reach, and the fact that we own and operate US-based contact centers, CMG is capable of delivering an astonishing number of these live transfers to you. However many you need.
So, how can your institution become a part of our live transfer lead program?
Simple. Give us a call at +1 800 419 3201 to speak with one of our enrollment experts. Or click HERE and we’ll get back with you ASAP.
With over half of the adults surveyed saying they’re looking into higher education, now is the time to get them enrolled. Now’s the time to partner with CMG.
[1] College Enrollment Statistics [2024]: Total + by Demographic