This Week In College Viability (TWICV) with Beth Wilner College Counselor

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This episode of This Week in College Viability features a conversation between Gary Stocker and college admissions consultant Beth Wilner, founder of Rose Cliff College Consulting, about how families can make more informed college decisions in an increasingly uncertain higher education environment. Wilner explains that her consulting process centers on three questions: What matters to the student and family? What information do they need to gather? And how should they respond? She emphasizes that successful college planning isn't about gaming admissions but about identifying a student's priorities, gathering meaningful information, and making decisions that align with both personal goals and long-term outcomes. Throughout the discussion, she argues that colleges are living, evolving organizations rather than static institutions, making it essential for families to look beyond brochures, rankings, and campus appearances when evaluating schools. A major focus of the interview is the growing importance of college financial health as part of the admissions process. Stocker and Wilner discuss warning signs such as declining enrollment, deferred campus maintenance, aggressive tuition discounting, and heavy marketing campaigns that may indicate institutional financial stress. They encourage parents to ask more probing questions during campus visits, including what has changed most dramatically at the college over the past year, while recognizing that many first-generation families may need guidance navigating those conversations. The interview also examines the confusion surrounding financial aid offers, the limitations of college rankings, and the idea that families should evaluate a college's financial stability before considering other factors. Wilner concludes by encouraging families to focus first on what truly matters to them, recognize that colleges are businesses operating in a changing market, and seek information that helps them choose a college that will remain financially healthy throughout a student's education

This Week In College Viability (TWICV) for June 8, 2026

In this episode of This Week in College Viability, He highlights a growing wave of layoffs, academic cuts, hiring freezes, and financial distress across higher education, arguing that these developments confirm the industry is in long-term decline. Gary cites recent budget reductions and workforce cuts at institutions including Kent State, Colorado State, Portland State, the University of Oregon, and the University of Maryland. He also chats about some colleges that publicly challenge poor financial ratings from the new Forbes college financial grades. Stocker focuses heavily on Westminster University and La Salle University, arguing that their public reassurances conflict with enrollment declines, shrinking revenues, and reduced endowment values shown in federal and audited financial data. Throughout the podcast, he stresses that graduation rates and accreditation alone are not reliable indicators of institutional stability, especially when colleges face persistent enrollment losses and financial strain. Stocker introduces his related podcasts, Kitchen Table College Chat and Beyond the College Brochure, both aimed at challenging traditional college marketing narratives and encouraging greater transparency. In the final segment, he discusses a Forbes article by Ryan Craig about “healthcare donut degrees,” criticizing colleges that offer healthcare-related majors without guaranteed clinical placements required for graduation and licensure. Using his own medical laboratory science background as an example, Stocker argues that too many institutions create revenue-generating degree programs without providing the full educational pathway students need to complete them successfully. He closes by urging families to seek independent financial and academic data rather than relying solely on college marketing materials or sponsored college-ranking websites. Show Notes: + College Viability Inspection Report [https://www.mycollegeviability.com/]+ 2026 College Majors Completion App [https://collegeviability.com/products/ols/products/2026-college-majors-completion-app-for-academic-leaders] + Kitchen Table College Chat podcast [https://kitchentablecollegeconversations.transistor.fm/] + Beyond the College Brochure podcast [https://beyondthebrouchure.transistor.fm/] Story links: ‘It’s Just Been Agony’: Facing a Big Deficit, the New School Begins Layoffs [https://www.chronicle.com/article/its-just-been-agony-facing-a-big-deficit-the-new-school-begins-layoffs?sra=true] Kent State, Colorado State and other universities turn to budget cuts [https://www.highereddive.com/news/kent-state-colorado-state-budget-cuts/821868/%20] Westminster University (UT) disputes Forbes' assessment after receiving failing financial grade [https://kutv.com/news/local/westminster-university-disputes-forbes-assessment-after-receiving-failing-financial-grade%20] Pa. college’s (Albright) touted $10M surplus was less than half that: audit [https://www.pennlive.com/education/2026/06/pa-colleges-touted-10m-surplus-was-less-than-half-that-audit.html%20] La Salle University’s accreditation reaffirmed by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education [https://www.lasalle.edu/news/la-salle-universitys-accreditation-reaffirmed-by-the-middle-states-commission-on-higher-education/] Despite Headwinds, College Enrollment Increases Nationwide Once Again [https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2026/06/04/despite-headwinds-college-enrollment-increases-nationwide-once-again/%20] Universities Are Selling Healthcare Donut Degrees [https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryancraig/2026/06/05/universities-are-selling-healthcare-donut-degrees/%20] [https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2026/06/04/despite-headwinds-college-enrollment-increases-nationwide-once-again/%20]

8. juni 202629 min

This Week In College Viability (TWICV) with Beth Wilner College Counselor

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