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Colleges Try to Head Off a Coming Enrollment Crisis

Aug 20, 2026 · 12m

Summary

Rising health care costs and Walmart’s weakest sales growth in six years drove market declines, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent addressed bond yields and deficits. Meanwhile, falling birth rates threaten college enrollment, causing elite schools to see record applications as students seek better ROI. Finally, the episode explores the resurgence of claw machines, which now prioritize customer experience and higher win rates to attract visitors.

Topics discussed

IBM AI integration and HR results Show intro: Healthcare costs, Walmart, and college trends Rising US healthcare costs and out-of-pocket expenses California AI boom drives record VC funding Walmart earnings slump vs Target and tariff refunds Treasury bond buybacks and $40 trillion debt College enrollment decline and flight to quality Colleges marketing strategies and international students Predictions of 450 college closures in 10 years The resurgence of claw machines and claw-cades Show credits and Baird Private Wealth ad
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