State of the Industry
20 Higher Ed Trends to Watch
Back in July, I shared a State of the Industry report exclusively with Kanahoma Partners. It’s a meaty briefing that outlines 20 emerging trends every higher ed leader should be watching in FY26 - from demographic shifts and enrollment pressures to AI disruption, B2B growth, and the renaissance of the trades.
At the time, we kept it internal. But with fall census numbers coming in this week, and so many institutions grappling with questions of enrollment performance and strategy, I thought it was the right moment to release it more broadly.
Here’s the full 25-minute walkthrough. It’s not a polished keynote - it’s a straightforward run-through of the deck, the kind of candid conversation I’d have with a leadership team behind closed doors.
My hope is that it sparks thought, discussion, and maybe even a new perspective on the challenges and opportunities ahead.
About The Author
Seth is the founder and CEO of Kanahoma, a San Diego-based performance marketing agency on a mission to build a better agency for organizations building a better world.
You can learn more about who we are and what we do at www.Kanahoma.com.
Thank you for this deep dive! I am curious if you think that the rhetoric of this administration and their aligned media repetitively discussing trades as a better alternative to college is directly connected to the "renaissance" or if you believe it has more to do with economics and access to opportunities.
Seth, I'm not even halfway through and sharing with my team. Thank you for deep and wide perspective. Your voice is essential to our community. Keep going!