Core Insights - A prediction by Huron Consulting Group indicates that up to 370 private colleges in the U.S. may close or merge in the next decade due to a continuous decline in student enrollment [1] - The projected closures are more than three times the number of nonprofit private colleges that closed in the previous decade, highlighting a significant trend in the higher education sector [1] - The decline in student numbers is attributed to a drop in birth rates starting in 2007, which has not reversed, with an estimated 13% decrease in graduates by 2041 compared to 2025 [1] Group 1: Current Trends and Predictions - Huron Consulting Group's analysis suggests that the impending closures and mergers will affect approximately 600,000 students and involve around $18 billion in endowment funds [1] - The report indicates that 430 institutions with over 1.2 million students and $134 billion in endowment funds are facing moderate survival threats [2] - The number of private nonprofit colleges that closed from 2010 to 2020 was 114, compared to only 59 in the previous decade, indicating a worsening trend [2] Group 2: Institutional Responses and Recommendations - Institutions are advised to develop plans to address enrollment challenges, such as diversifying student demographics through graduate programs, professional courses, and part-time offerings [2] - The urgency of planning is emphasized, with a warning that institutions with only three years of operational funding have less than a 50% chance of survival if they do not act early [2] - A recent study by the Philadelphia Federal Reserve suggests that a 15% sudden drop in college student enrollment could lead to an additional 80 college closures [2]