A new analysis argues media discourse still fixates on controversies at elite campuses while overlooking the realities facing the majority of students—older learners, community‑college attendees and working parents. The piece cites Gallup–Lumina polling that shows public confidence in higher education improving but warns policy and headlines remain misaligned with students’ needs around affordability, credit transfer and childcare. Enrollment managers and communications teams should refocus outreach to highlight outcomes at community and state colleges and to align messaging with student circumstances.