Capturing Alternative Revenues

Colleges and universities face an increasingly challenging financial landscape with rising costs and declines in traditional revenue streams such as tuition and government funding. As the gap between revenues and expenses grows, many institutions struggle to achieve a balanced budget. With these financial pressures unlikely to dissipate, leaders are once again considering how alternative revenue streams could bolster their institution.

Like in the Great Recession’s wake, leaders are seeking non-traditional funding streams that can relieve the pressure to reduce costs. However, achieving an ROI on alternative revenue strategies remains difficult to generalize or replicate. Where success has occurred, institutions report modest returns that are unlikely to offset major budget shortfalls. The most successful institutions are often the beneficiaries of one-time opportunities rather than replicable strategies.