Colleges compete for students as enrollment cliff looms

A battle is brewing among many colleges for the next freshman class. 

“They’re doing things to kind of wave their arms and say to kids like, ‘Look over here, look over here,’” said Cozy Wittman, a financial aid educator with College Inside Track.

Between decades of falling birthrates and higher starting wages for those with just a high school diploma, there are fewer kids considering college.

“This wasn’t my first choice,” said Ranya Ezzaid.

Ezzaid said she once considered going out of state for college before eventually settling on the University of Minnesota. Like many college students, Ezzaid made the choice that saved her money. 

“Tuition,” she said. “Tuition is just crazy expensive.”

Wittman says that, depending on the school, going out of state might have been a ne...