Student Success Outlook 2026: Affordability, AI and the Changing Campus Climate

Student success leaders are heading into 2026 with a mix of both confidence and concern, finds Inside Higher Ed’s second annual Survey of College and University Student Success Administrators, conducted by Hanover Research.

Case in point: Most leaders say their institutions prioritize student success, deliver high-quality undergraduate education and graduate students ready for today’s job market, but many see gaps between aspiration and evidence-based practice. Few rate their institutions as highly effective at using student success data to guide decisions, widely adopting high-impact teaching practices, or more readily helping students access internships and experiential learning opportunities.

Recent federal policy shifts are also weighing on leaders: Some 29 percent report significant impacts on international student enrollment, and many more are worried about both the climate for all students amid federal restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. 

Join Inside Higher Ed Senior Editor for Special Content Colleen Flaherty and an expert panel as they shed light on the survey findings and discuss what student success may look like in 2026.

Register for the live discussion and bring your own questions for the panelists. 

Even if you can’t attend live, sign up to receive a recording and other information to help guide decision-making at your institution.