New research finds a sharp decline in teenagers’ aspirations to earn a bachelor’s degree: only 44% of high school students in 2022 expected to complete a bachelor’s, a near 30% drop over two decades. First-generation students’ aspirations fell even more dramatically, from 60% in 2002 to 33% in 2022. At the same time, researchers and watchdogs report a decline in transparency: far fewer selective colleges have released the demographic makeup of their incoming classes this cycle, and federal longitudinal surveys have been halted, making it harder to track pipeline trends. Experts warn the data gaps hinder policy responses to equity and recruitment challenges. For admissions and government relations teams, the combined drop in college intent and gaps in demographic reporting complicate long-term enrollment planning, outreach to underrepresented communities, and state- and federal policy advocacy.