February 24, 2025 — Total undergraduate enrollment in the U.S. increased in the fall of 2023 for the first time since 2010 and total undergraduate enrollment is forecasted to continue growing over the next 5 years. How will universities ready themselves and their student housing and other campus real estate to compete for students in a more challenging funding environment
Below are the Top 4 Education Real Estate Trends to Watch that JLL identified for 2025:
- Higher ed institutions will increasingly look to strategic solutions to navigate financial challenges and market pressures: 12 higher education P3s closed in 2023, up from 5 in 2022 and 5 in 2021. There are currently 19 higher education P3s in progress YTD in 2024, up from 12 in 2023.
- The holistic campus experience will be a key differentiator for attracting and retaining students and faculty and staff: It’s essential for schools to develop affordable and highly amenitized student and workforce housing, innovative learning spaces, modern athletic complexes and technologically advanced research laboratories to drive growth and attract both students and faculty/staff.
- Colleges and universities will shift from planning to action as they prioritize campus sustainability and resilience: 80% of students report considering sustainability as an important factor in their college decision.
- Data-driven decision making will improve operational efficiencies in higher education campus management: 69% of educational organizations surveyed believe that the CRE function has the potential to deliver the most value over the next five years by supporting organizational efficiencies.
Education Trends to Watch: 2025 Global Real Estate Outlook (PDF) is available for download from JLL.
JLL researchers have also identified trends to watch for the following industries, in addition to the larger Occupier Trends to Watch piece:
