Higher education is going through an exciting transformation. As more people turn away from college as a necessary stepping stone in life, more of us are pursuing higher education and getting jobs, careers, and other opportunities in industries where higher education isn't as important.


The need for education in other fields has never been greater. More people than ever are being exposed to information and opportunities online and through their mobile devices. We're seeing major shifts in job opportunities, economic growth, culture, and lifestyle.

These changes mean that universities must adapt to keep up with today's society and continue to attract students. In the United States alone, almost 20 million adults are now taking some form of college credit online, which is growing by almost 5% annually.

According to a report by the U.S. Department of Education, an increasing number of jobs are being created in industries that don't require an associate degree such as nursing, construction, truck driving, and cosmetology. Meanwhile, industries such as software development and technology are hiring at a rate of nearly 9% annually.

We've seen these trends before. When you think about the rise of technology and the fall of the newspaper industry, you'll remember all the new and exciting things the web brought to us. Now we see that the internet is affecting nearly every industry, and higher education is no exception.

Technology is changing our world in so many ways, including how we learn. It's now more important than ever for universities to innovate.

What's Next?

• Online Education

More and more people are enrolling in online degree programs, which are a lot cheaper than traditional university options. Online degrees have already become the most popular option for people who want to pursue a degree without moving out of their hometown.

As more colleges embrace online learning, they're able to lower their tuition rates while giving students the same educational experience. Some institutions, such as Udemy and Coursera, are also starting to develop online degree programs on their own.

• Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

Online courses can be a great alternative to expensive, conventional classroom lectures. MOOCs can be taken on your own time and from anywhere you have access to a computer.

Some people who don't have the funds or schedule to take a traditional college course take MOOCs instead. Since these courses are free, they're open to anyone who wants to pursue a degree, even those without a college degree.

• Digital Textbooks

When you want to learn a new subject matter, you often have to buy expensive textbooks. Thankfully, digital textbooks are available for purchase online.

Textbooks can be used digitally, meaning that they can be read online, searched, copied, and printed. This makes them much more accessible and convenient than physical books. However, the price can still be steep.

• Social Learning

Students in the past had only one way to learn: through a class room lecture. Now we have endless opportunities to learn from experts around the world. YouTube