Gray Decision Intelligence

Student success is a critical ingredient in efficient institutional economics. In our third Master Class session of 2026, we examined the significant financial impact of unsuccessful course completions, specifically focusing on the high "DFW spend" in lower-level undergraduate courses. Here are the key takeaways from that analysis: - Unsuccessful completions carry a high price tag. Across our benchmarking database in the most recent year of data, nearly $16 million was spent to teach undergraduate math to students who received a D, F, or Withdrew. - Lower-level courses represent the highest risk. Most unsuccessful completions occur in introductory 0-200 level courses. If a student is not retained after a DFW, the institution potentially loses three full years of future tuition revenue. - Success is a major efficiency lever. Improving course completions in the programs you already offer is one of the most effective ways to increase institutional efficiency without cutting programs. By addressing DFW rates in these core subjects, leaders can protect both their students' academic progress and the institution's long-term financial health. Missed the live session? You can catch the full breakdown of these insights and other Master Class sessions here: https://lnkd.in/epr948Ja #HigherEd #StudentSuccess #AcademicPlanning

Choosing a degree is a major decision, and students need clear information to understand the value of their educational investment. The Gray DI Career Insights Widget helps institutions provide this transparency by embedding real-time labor market data directly onto academic program pages. This tool allows prospective students to view data-informed career insights without leaving the school's website. - Real-time wage data is accessible. Students can view average salary expectations to help assess the potential ROI of a specific program. - In-demand occupations are highlighted. It is easier to see the volume of active job postings and how programs link to the most sought-after roles. - Market trend insights guide planning. Long-term growth forecasts and employment outlooks help students understand the health of the labor market. We’re excited about how this tool equips learners with the insights needed to choose the right career path. Visit our website to schedule a demo: https://lnkd.in/eHi_zsKz #HigherEd #StudentSuccess #CareerData

When evaluating whether to sunset an academic program, it’s easy to assume that cutting it will immediately improve the bottom line. However, program cuts are often not the primary source of savings. In our third Master Class session of 2026, we walked through the actual financial ripple effects of retiring a program. Here are the key takeaways from that analysis: - Faculty savings are often overstated. Savings from instructor salaries frequently do not account for the additional costs of faculty buyout agreements. - Non-majors create hidden instructional costs. Students from other majors who take courses in the retired program don't disappear. Instead, they simply shift to other departments, meaning instructional costs are often moved rather than eliminated. - Lost revenue can outweigh potential savings. The combined effect of lost tuition revenue with the ongoing cost of teaching students elsewhere can lead to a net negative financial impact on the institution. By looking beyond the surface level of faculty salaries, leaders can better understand why some "cost-saving" measures may inadvertently hurt the institution’s overall financial health. Missed the live session? You can catch the full breakdown of these insights and other Master Class sessions here: https://lnkd.in/epr948Ja #HigherEd #AcademicPlanning #DataInformed

📊Gray Data Drop📊 The fastest-growing job postings right now are not just in tech. Healthcare and skilled roles are leading the way. Fastest-growing occupations by job posting volume (Feb 2026 YoY): 🔹 Physical Therapists: 473% 🔹 Industrial Engineers: 178% 🔹 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers: 160% 🔹 Software Developers, Applications: 130% 🔹 Nursing Assistants: 62% 🔹 Radiologic Technologists and Technicians: 51% 🔹 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses: 50% 🔹 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics: 34% 🔹 Accountants and Auditors: 27% 🔹 First-Line Supervisors, Production & Operating Workers: 24% Healthcare roles dominate the list, but growth across engineering, logistics, and technical fields shows demand building across multiple career pathways. For institutions evaluating programs, this is a clear reminder: student demand is only one side of the equation. Employer demand is moving fast, too. #HigherEducation #HigherEd #GrayDataDrop #Jobs #Job

Most institutions are making million-dollar program decisions using the wrong numbers. Average costs feel safe, but they often mislead. One more student can cost almost nothing or trigger a major expense. This is where Predictive Program Economics changes the conversation. See why traditional assumptions fall short and how “what-if” modeling reveals smarter paths forward. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eY3vk434 #HigherEd #HigherEducation #Economics #Finance

When you're evaluating your program portfolio, is the real financial picture being obscured by overhead? In our third Master Class session of 2026, we discussed a data model that focuses specifically on what happens inside the classroom. To make the most effective academic decisions, institutions should prioritize the contribution margin rather than getting bogged down by indirect allocations. Here are the core principles of this methodology: - Focus on the contribution margin. Cutting a program that is contribution-margin positive, even if it doesn't cover all allocated overhead, such as facilities or administration, can actually cause a net financial loss for the institution. - Use direct data modeling. This approach provides clarity by focusing on three primary factors: the sections taught, the students enrolled, and the instructors teaching them. - Identify true instructional costs. We look at student tuition and fees minus institutional discounts, alongside instructor pay, benefits, and non-personnel essentials like lab materials. By isolating these direct instructional variables, leaders gain the clarity needed to manage their program portfolios based on actual academic performance. Missed the live session? You can catch the full breakdown of these insights and other Master Class sessions here: https://lnkd.in/epr948Ja #HigherEd #AcademicPlanning #UniversityFinance

Choosing a degree is a big investment. Students deserve clear, real-time career data before they decide. The Gray DI Career Insights Widget embeds labor market insights directly onto academic program pages, helping students explore salary potential, in-demand careers, job postings, and long-term market outlook without ever leaving your website. It’s a smarter way to connect programs to outcomes and help students choose with confidence. ➡️ Visit our website to schedule a demo: https://lnkd.in/eHi_zsKz

Your institution has programs nobody talks about. ASU fixed that. Learn how Arizona State University went from managing by tradition to managing by signal...and grew digital master's enrollment 325% in a decade. Zachary Paz (Gray Decision Intelligence) and Elysia Labita (Arizona State University) reveal the lifecycle framework that tells you which programs to launch, scale, fix, or sunset. Real data. Real examples. The cross-functional model that actually works. Wednesday, April 22 | 11 AM PT | Free Webinar Live Q&A included. Register Here: https://lnkd.in/g8zVM3bp

📊Gray Data Drop 📊 After multiple years of decline, bachelor’s fall enrollment is now trending upward again. Total U.S. bachelor’s enrollment: 🔹 2020–21: 8.45M 🔹 2021–22: 8.29M 🔹 2022–23: 8.17M 🔹 2023–24: 8.26M 🔹 2024–25: 8.39M 🔹 2025–26: 8.52M What stands out is the shift from contraction to steady, incremental growth over the past three cycles. While gains remain modest, the trajectory signals stabilization in bachelor’s enrollment after earlier declines. #GrayDataDrop #Enrollment #HigherEd #HigherEducation