Future of Division III

[IC798891]

Exactly.

There's always going to be unknowns — we don't know how immigration will look over the next 18 years. We don't know what nationwide high school graduation rates are going to look like. We don't know what the future will look like for skills developed in trade schools

All those things could make things better or worse for colleges.

But the number of people born are the number of people born.

[WashJeff68]

W&J which has about 1,100 students is touting that they have 409 commitments for Fall. There will be some shrinkage, but still an impressive number. I'm meeting with a development person next week and look forward to his take. Obviously the recent $50,000,000 bequest to provide full tuition scholarships to first year students was a big factor. My question is how they will house all these students since they will be required to live on campus.

[Ron Boerger]

I think you underestimate the enrollment at W&J - according to this story from October 2024 enrollment was 1306, up from 1162 the previous year, with a record 471 new students, 36 of whom joined your new nursing program.  Your president was quoted then as saying "{o}ur hope is to stay in the 400s every year; that's a big goal for us" so congratulations on meeting that target in this time where small private colleges are struggling to attract new students.

W&J enrolled a little over 1,400 in the mid-2010s so hopefully there is sufficient lodging for all.  Please let us know what you hear from your development person!

[Ron Boerger]

Catholic University published an update on the challenges they face and 66 active staff positions (7% of workforce) will be eliminated immediately.  However, as a result of this and other changes (reduced salary increases and retirement contributions, and new programs in AI, data analytics, and more) which will adjust the annual budget by $30M, the school anticipates a balanced budget for the current fiscal year which began May 1st. 

The school anticipates no future actions to reduce costs/headcount and is on track to meet their enrollment goals (800 new undergrads, 80 transfers, 428 masters, 119 PhD, 180 Law; total 5013 students [3289 undergrad, 1724 graduate]) for the upcoming school year. 

[WashJeff68]

W&J has actually received 609 deposits for Fall 2025