Under Pressure: What’s Keeping Presidents Up at Night in 2026

Finances, politics, technology, enrollments: How are growing challenges shaping institutional planning?

Higher education campus leaders are encountering new financial, political, technological, and enrollment pressures, forcing them to make hard decisions in the hopes of ensuring long-term viability without compromising short-term objectives. The 2026 Survey of College and University Presidents, conducted by Inside Higher Ed, dives into where these institutional decision-makers are investing, where they foresee challenges arising, what keeps them up at night, and where they see opportunity for innovation.

In this corresponding webinar, expert panelists discuss some of the survey's most interesting takeaways as well as what these trends mean for higher education as a whole.

You can watch a recording of the webinar today to learn more about:

• How higher education presidents are balancing risks and rewards amid growing financial, political, and enrollment pressures.
• Where long-term uncertainties creep in, despite mostly positive outlooks on short-term strategies.
• Why institutional leaders are launching public trust-building initiatives that focus on emphasizing the value of higher education and return on education investments.
• How modern technologies like AI are shaping investment and innovation strategies.

Watch the webinar today!

You can also download the 2026 Survey of College and University Presidents here.