University leaders outline plans to address enrollment declines and student debt

University of Washington President Robert J. Jones and Washington State University President Elizabeth Cantwell used their AWB Policy Summit appearance to spotlight enrollment and affordability challenges and outline institutional responses.

Jones said one immediate concern is low college completion: “it’s my understanding about only 31 percent of the kids that are finishing high school actually go on to get a college degree,” and he urged collaborative work across K–12 and higher education to raise college readiness and completion rates (Robert J. Jones, University of Washington).

Cantwell and Jones both emphasized that a degree still delivers economic value, but that messaging must improve. Cantwell advised families to compare a school’s sticker price with the actual average graduate debt and the percentage who graduate with no debt; she said about 50 percent of WSU students graduate without debt and the average debt at WSU is roughly $11,000.

Jones discussed debt‑free initiatives and campus programs that reduce sticker shock, citing programs like Husky Promise at UW that provide free tuition and fees for eligible students and saying many UW graduates leave with no debt. The presidents said institutions must expand access for nontraditional students, invest in continuous design of programs, and partner more closely with employers to ensure graduates have workplace experience when they leave campus.

The session concluded without a formal policy vote; both presidents said they will pursue strategies through their strategic plans and legislative engagement to increase debt‑free graduation rates and address the projected enrollment decline.