America’s school system is in crisis. This may be the result of many issues, including the distractions of digital devices, diminished exposure to full texts or books from kindergarten through high school, so-called “teaching to the test” and an emphasis on teaching students skills rather than reading. Meanwhile, as we have explored, many youths have recognized that a college degree may no longer be worth either the cost or the future debt obligation. As a result, more graduating high schoolers are deciding not to enroll in institutions of higher ed, thus straining the finances of colleges and universities beyond current stresses. In fact, Fitch Ratings service recently called the outlook for American higher education “deteriorating.” These developments may paint an ugly picture, yet we are beginning to see the first signs of responses by institutions to shore up their head counts, from bringing down students’ overall costs to increasing acceptance rates. Graduating high school seniors may be pleasantly surprised as they enter this new environment, while some institutions of higher education, continuing to face challenges, may have to adjust their expectations.