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WSJ What’s News

WSJ What’s News

Colleges Try to Head Off a Coming Enrollment Crisis

Aug 20, 2026 · 12m

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About this episode

P.M. Edition for Aug. 20. Colleges are facing a demographic cliff —lower birth rates means fewer 18-year-olds. WSJ higher education reporter Doug Belkin explains what impact that’s likely to have on colleges–and why it might not make it any easier to get into top-tier schools. Plus, Walmart was the biggest decliner in the Dow after it reported weaker sales growth in its second quarter. We hear from Journal retail reporter Sarah Nassauer about how Walmart’s earnings stack up to its rival Target. And employers are expected to pay even more for health insurance next year, which means their workers costs’ are probably going up too. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News…