Is Great News for Career Educators!
For well over a decade now, colleges and universities have seen enrollment numbers plummet. In fact, between the fall semester of 2012 and the fall of 2022, enrollments dropped by roughly 1.9 million students, or almost 10%.[1][2]
Many colleges and universities now find themselves in crisis mode as more and more high school students and adult learners look at alternatives to college.
As a result, Marymount University, a Catholic school based in Virginia, has decided to eliminate 10 humanities degrees, including theology. Among the other degrees to be scrapped include English, history, art, and philosophy.[3]
Although the school has an endowment of roughly $58 million, university president, Irma Beccerra said, “‘Over the long term, it would be irresponsible to sustain majors [and] programs with consistently low enrollment, low graduation rates, and lack of potential for growth…
“As Marymount assesses the evolving higher education landscape, we are called to constantly refine our offerings and approach. While these specific changes are not financially driven, they will provide the University the opportunity to redeploy resources to better serve students and areas of growth.
“We believe investing in programs that appeal to students and prepare them for highly sought-after professions is not only our mission but our responsibility.”[4]
According to US News, 2021’s top three majors at Marymount were nursing, business administration, and information technology.[5] All are “career” based degrees.
While the slow demise of some traditional four-year degree programs is somewhat saddening, its fantastic news for schools that focus exclusively on career education…
And it’s precisely why we’re seeing traditional schools like Marymount switch their focus.
But as more and more colleges and universities begin to take advantage of the desires of today’s students, the competition to enroll them in career-based programs will undoubtedly grow fierce; even for those institutions already in the career-education field.
It’s why now’s the time for career colleges, trade schools, tech academies and vocational schools to redouble their enrollment efforts.
Simply put, universities will be going after prospective career-degree seeking students, and you need to attract them before “they” do.
But even with the multi-million-dollar endowments and massive marketing budgets the universities enjoy, you can still beat them to the punch and boost your enrollment.
Here’s how:
Partner with Conversion Media Group, the higher-ed lead generation experts!
We specialize in connecting adult learners, those interested in obtaining a career education, directly with institutions that offer them. Institutions just like yours.
We’re in constant telephone, SMS text and email communication with thousands of high-intent adult learners every day. Better yet, we can directly transfer these prospects right into your enrollment department, as we’re on the phone with them, live!
With Conversion Media Group as your trusted partner, you can compete with the universities for these students, even without the multi-million-dollar marketing budgets “they” enjoy!
If you’re interested in learning more about how Conversion Media Group can drive qualified education leads, live telephone transfers, applications, and enrollments to your institution – call one of our education specialists today at: (+1) 800 419 3201.
Or you can contact us HERE, and an education enrollment expert will get back with you shortly.
[1] Total undergraduate fall enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by attendance status, sex of student, and control and level of institution: Selected years, 1970 through 2030
[2] Current Term Enrollment Estimates | National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (nscresearchcenter.org)
[3] Marymount University’s English and history majors could be cut – The Washington Post
[4] Catholic liberal arts college cuts TEN traditional degrees – including THEOLOGY | Daily Mail Online
[5] Marymount University Academics & Majors – US News Best Colleges