Preliminary National Student Clearinghouse data show overall higher-education enrollment up about 2% this fall, driven by a 2.4% rise in undergraduates and a strong gain at community colleges. The clearinghouse reported that community colleges posted roughly 4% growth while undergraduate certificate and short-term credential enrollments jumped more than 6%, signaling continued student demand for vocational and workforce-ready options. For institutional leaders, this means resource allocation should favor scalable credentialing, employer partnerships and student support models suited to shorter-term training. Graduate enrollment remained essentially flat, with master’s programs down slightly and doctoral-level enrollment inching up, underscoring divergent demand dynamics between undergraduate and graduate markets. The clearinghouse also highlighted a steep drop in computer and information sciences enrollment, particularly at the graduate level, a potential reaction to labor-market turbulence in tech and AI sectors. Short-term credentials are being adopted as pragmatic pathways into STEM-adjacent trades and health fields. Campus planning offices should monitor the shifting program mix: growth in mechanical, health and engineering technologies suggests hiring and curriculum investments should align with local employer needs. One-sentence clarification: short-term credentials refer to non-degree certificates and industry-recognized credentials typically completed in months rather than years.