College presidents at the American Council on Education conference warned of an impending “earthquake” for higher education driven by tighter student visas, AI adoption, and demographic pressures. Leaders cited a 17% drop in new international enrollment at many institutions and predicted an enrollment reshuffle that will force curricular and operational rethinks. Concurrently, analysts identified eight major admissions trends reshaping the sector: test-policy fragmentation, a surge in applications alongside international declines, AI’s dual role in application screening and academic integrity, and shifting yield dynamics. Institutions are retooling recruitment, credentialing, and career‑services strategies to adapt to these pressures. Why it matters: institutional leaders should update enrollment forecasts, scenario‑test visa‑policy shocks, and integrate AI into curriculum and admissions workflows while protecting academic standards.