What Keeps College Presidents Up at Night?

HigherEdRisk Editorial

The 2026 Inside Higher Ed Survey of College and University Presidents captured the responses of 430 higher education leaders. And this data tells a story that goes beyond the enrollment cliff and fiscal challenges. From AI to Trump 2.0, the data exhibits the complex and intertwined risk landscape.Let's jump into some of the key findings along with my two cents;<h3>Fast-Growing Risks</h3>The two fastest-growing institutional risks identified by presidents are financial volatility (45%) and political interference (43%), both of which have already materialized beyond earlier projections. By 2030, presidents predict AI (48%) and cost pressures (45%) will have the greatest impact on higher ed, though private nonprofit presidents identify cost pressures as most transformative.What can be done? Institutions must diversify their sources of revenue beyond tuition and federal funding. Regardless of which party is in control, political interference of any kind typically accelerates financial volatility. Now, with AI disrupting cost structures, institutions will be forced to innovate. All of these risks are intertwined, so viewing them through an enterprise risk management lens can also bolster institutional resilience.Is the 10-year plan dead? Presidential confidence in 10-year financial stability dropped 13 points in a single year. Institutions have quietly abandoned the decade-long strategic plan — 60% are now planning just 3–5 years out.My thoughts: This could be an opportunity. External disruption can support a more sustainable planning process, one that is more adaptive, with shorter-cycle elements (3-year rolling plans and annual strategic priorities), rather than a rigid document that canno