A. Brick and mortar college educations are too expensive for any family with an income at or below $100k. The cost outweighs the risk in many cases. This puts any middle class and below demographic, on the path to either trades work (nothing wrong with it) or online degrees.

B. Online degrees are more efficient, more flexible, cost effective and as good if not better from a gained knowledge standpoint. And you are into the workforce faster with less financial burdens.

C. It's 2022, foreign students can remotely attend classes in the US from the comfort and safety of their own homes in whatever country they are from, saving the cost of travel, housing, etc along with having the peace of mind that they won't be affected by the increasing violence in the US.

The brick and mortar college mentality is antiquated and in many instances obsolete (hands on learning aside). Those that are prestigious will maintain their numbers as mentioned but those not in that upper realm will need to adjust to a more cost effective, efficient model or simply not survive.

It's the same "dinosaur lifecycle" we see with most everything when it comes to technological advancements; adapt or die.