In this episode of EDU Unlocked, Ashish Fernando sits down with Gary Stocker, Founder of College Viability, to unpack the financial realities reshaping higher education.

Gary brings a candid perspective on the growing instability within the sector, highlighting why the era of blind trust in colleges is coming to an end. With increasing instances of sudden college closures, students and families are being forced to look more critically at institutional health before making decisions.

He explains how, for decades, strong student demand allowed colleges to operate without deeply prioritizing financial sustainability. However, with the demographic cliff and declining enrollment, that reality has shifted dramatically. Today, even a single bad enrollment year can take up to five years for an institution to recover from.

The conversation also explores the unintended consequences of tuition discounts and merit scholarships. While they benefit students, they often create long-term financial trauma for colleges, masking deeper structural challenges. Gary points to a growing imbalance between the number of institutions and the pool of students willing to pay, even at discounted rates.

He also discusses the evolving perception of a college degree, acknowledging both the significant value it can offer and the increasing number of students questioning whether it is necessary.