Higher Education Design Trends for 2025
With freshman enrollment at four-year universities dropping 5% since last year, campuses are clamoring for fresh recruits. The dip is partly due to the FAFSA redesign launch in 2024, which caused students to miss applying in time to receive financial aid. But the falling enrollment is also part of an ongoing trend.
Rising tuition can be to blame. According to research.com, college costs increased by 140% (inflation-adjusted) from 1989 to 2016. That’s eight times faster than wages. It’s why some students are exploring more cost-friendly options such as trade and vocational schools and community colleges. These institutions offer focused degrees and job placement without saddling students with massive debt.
In response to enrollment challenges, universities are desperately trying to appeal to an increasingly discerning student population. One way they’re doing so is by elevating the physical design of the campuses with open layouts, new technology, and modular furniture. With bigger budgets than those alternative schools, they hope this is where they can shine.
Natural Light and Biophilia
Research shows that sunlight and greenery reduce stress, boost attention span, and make us happier. That’s why campuses, now more than ever, are installing large floor-to-ceiling windows, skylights, and atriums to let more natural light in. They’re building open-air courtyards that double as study spaces, bringing nature directly to students. Facilities have also strategically placed glass in hallways, elevator banks, classrooms, and entryways to reflect and multiply light throughout the space.
And, of course, all the extra UV allows for greenery. Students enjoy “plantscaping,”—plant walls stacked in neat rows of green. They also print wall-sized nature scenes, like misting waterfalls or animals local to the area. Now students, especially in urban spaces, can feel connected to the natural world when they may not have the opportunity to touch grass.
Modular Furniture
Institutions are also being thoughtful about furniture. Once stagnant furniture is now often donned with wheels and lightweight designs, making it easy for students to shape the space on the fly. Ergonomic seating, standing desks, and spaces designed for movement, like high-top tables or cushy floor seating, are becoming common. Portable furniture, like a mobile whiteboard with flip-up desks, lets students create study areas anywhere, allowing them to work in their unique way.
Lounges and library areas offer mobile seating, glass tables, and partitions that students can modify for group projects or quiet study. This list goes on. But these changes mark a shift in thinking from a rigid way of learning to a space that prioritizes flexibility and autonomy in 2025.
Collaborative Spaces
Students who feel like they belong tend to perform better in class. That’s why institutions are adding more social areas where students can gather. These spaces provide comfortable seating, power stations, and café-style amenities for a comfy place to recharge. Many institutions have even tailored these spaces toward certain disciplines, such as science, art, and the humanities. For example, STEM collaboration spaces may have lab equipment and specialized software, while art and design studios include easels, drafting tables, and digital art tools. It’s another way simple design can support active learning.
By updating campuses with fresh, uplifting designs, universities create inviting spaces that support students in 2025. As alternatives like trade schools and community colleges become more appealing, universities hope to foster not just places of learning but vibrant community spaces that help students thrive for years to come.
