Higher ed is falling apart and we need to talk about it

I just read this piece about how colleges are basically collapsing right now and honestly it shook me. I went back to school at 34 after years out of the workforce, and it saved my life, but reading about all these institutions in crisis makes me wonder what happens to people like me who are counting on education to change things. The article shows empty campuses and it's haunting because there are real people depending on these places to get credentials, to escape dead end situations, to actually build something different. If you're thinking about going back to school or you're already doing it, start by talking to your specific program advisor about their enrollment numbers and whether your degree will actually be recognized if things shift around. Don't let this paralyze you, but don't ignore it either.