by Rob Westervelt | Oct 29, 2026 | Revenue, Strategy
Ambition is not a substitute for strategy. Providence says its closure was due to declining enrollment. I disagree. It’s about a weak strategy and ambitious goals that failed to deliver. Back in 2017, the university made a big strategic bet. It changed its name,...
by Rob Westervelt | Oct 23, 2026 | Revenue
For three straight years, more than 40% of the Christian colleges in our dataset have generated negative operating cash flow. That means net cash provided by operating activities was below zero. In collaboration with Gary Stocker at College Viability, we analyzed...
by Rob Westervelt | Oct 22, 2026 | Financial Aid, Revenue
Some Christian colleges are losing more revenue through uncollected student accounts than they generate from annual tuition increases. They raise tuition to bring in more revenue while failing to collect money students already owe. One culprit is an important yet...
by Rob Westervelt | Oct 19, 2026 | Enrollment, Financial Aid, Marketing & Branding, Revenue, Strategy
After 28 years in higher education, including 18 in executive leadership, here are 10 things I wish more boards understood. 1. Growing enrollment is not a strategy. It’s an outcome. Strategy explains which students you’re choosing to serve, which needs you’ll meet,...
by Rob Westervelt | Sep 30, 2026 | Enrollment, Revenue
There’s no mission without margin. Growing enrollment means little if it weakens the institution and compromises your ability to deliver the education and experience you promised. That’s why net tuition revenue (NTR) matters more than headcount. William Jewell College...
