🖥️ Digital degrees now outnumber traditional ones in the US. Agentic AI in Education Accelerates.

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Higher education is shifting to online, with campus-first models now challenged by digital demand. In the US, fully online degree enrollment is set to outpace fully in-person study for the first time, marking a pivotal moment that mirrors moves in other mature education markets. This momentum is opening up new recruitment strategies, with institutions embedding micro-credentials and short-term learning into degrees to broaden appeal and perceived value. But price parity remains a sticking point: 83% of US online programs cost the same or more than their campus counterparts. For learners increasingly approaching education as a calculated investment in their careers rather than an experience or location-driven choice, universities are already starting to reimagine digital infrastructure, cost models, and global positioning to remain competitive.

US Higher Education Enrollment by Modality, 2012-2030F

🤖 Agentic AI in Education

Agentic AI is being deployed to deliver personalized learning and skill development, showing early signs of boosting student engagement. At the same time, questions persist around academic integrity and AI’s ability to replicate human judgment. The conversation now focuses on balancing technical capability with lasting learning outcomes.

HolonIQ’s analysis unpacks this evolving space, exploring the key stakeholders, both institutions and organizations within the space. There is clear momentum and growing curiosity around how Agentic AI tools can be integrated across the various layers in higher education. If you aren't already a customer, request a Demo today for access to the HolonIQ platform's market data, analysis, and briefings.

⭐ AI & Digital Innovation Spotlight

🤖 The University of New Mexico has joined a national institute, led by Brown University, to develop trustworthy and intuitive AI assistants, supported by a $20M grant from the National Science Foundation

⚛ UT Tyler is launching an AI teaching assistant, developed by university researchers, that uses only course-specific content to answer student questions and monitors student conversations for emotional engagement, while maintaining anonymity.

⚡ eSkilled launched an AI-assisted marking tool integrated into its learning and student management systems to address inconsistent and biased assessment in vocational educatio

🤝 Policy & Partnerships

💻 Pakistan has approved its National AI Policy 2025 with plans to train 1M AI professionals by 2030, establish AI funds, initiate AI-driven civic projects, and offer scholarships. This initiative aims to utilize AI for national growth.

✨ Mississippi State University partnered with Amazon Web Services and Quintilian to launch an AI initiative that aims to improve engagement with prospective students and alumni through AU use and offers internships to students.

🏛️ APG Shimla University partnered with GeniusMentor to integrate AI into its curriculum to introduce personalized learning, 24/7 AI tutor support, and data-driven assessments.

🇺🇸 2025 Back to School Summit, Sept 9-11,NYC

Join CEOs, University Presidents, Tech Leaders, Investors and more at at the 2025 Back to School Summit, September 9–11 in New York City. Register Now to reserve your spot. This summit will sell out!

💪 Power Moves & Funding

💸 Bangladesh and the ADB signed a $150M loan agreement to improve TVET education by aiming to train 10,000 educators in modern technologies.

🤖 Bett and GSV Summit, two major education technology events, announced their merger to form the largest and most influential education innovation community worldwide.

💸 Greenn, a Brazilian payment platform, has acquired Xgrow, an authoring tool for online learning programs, expanding Green’s reach to include 4M students.

🚀 Year13, an Australian career prep service provider, has acquired Student Edge, a student assistance platform, to support its expansion in the US.