Ransomware incidents affecting K–12 districts, colleges, and other educational institutions reached 251 in 2025, with U.S. entities accounting for the majority and 3.89 million breached records reported. Major incidents included large breaches at the University of Phoenix, Dartmouth College, and the University of Pennsylvania; gangs exploited vulnerabilities in third‑party software such as Oracle’s E‑Business Suite. Cybersecurity experts warn that higher ed’s decentralized IT environments and reliance on third‑party vendors create systemic vulnerabilities. Institutions are racing to patch legacy systems, harden supply‑chain defenses, and prioritize incident response planning. Boards and presidents will face increased pressure to allocate funds for cybersecurity, insurance, and identity‑protection services for affected communities.