Higher education institutions across the country are preparing for a drop in enrollment due to a drop in the U.S. birthrate following the 2008 financial crisis. In 2025, it's expected that the number of high school graduates will begin quickly decreasing. By 2029, many universities like Western will experience a “demographic cliff” with a decline in enrollment. Seattle is expecting to see an enrollment decline of 6.21% in 2029 compared to 2013, according to the College and University Professional Association. Washington and Oregon, as a whole, will see an enrollment drop of 1.5% in the same timeframe.
