5 Things We’re Excited About in 2025

The new year offers a clean slate; a perfect time to refuel with fresh energy and renewed focus. There’s an undeniable excitement in the air—a sense of possibility and the chance to start strong, with a clear purpose and anticipation for what the future holds.

It’s also a time for reflection. Clearly, 2024 was challenging. At this time last year, we were on the cusp of what would become one of the most challenging years to ever face financial aid offices. The new FAFSA presented challenges at every turn, causing frustration and stress for financial aid administrators, students, and families. And the effects of its botched rollout linger today, with first-year enrollment among 18-years olds dropping 5.8% year-over-year.

But despite the challenges we faced together last year, we’re optimistic about the year ahead. This past week, the team at Regent Education gathered together to refuel and refocus for the year ahead. These meetings create an energy and excitement that only comes from human connection and collaboration, something so many of us are lacking in our digital-first world. Coming together in person, however, created a different kind of energy. One where we were able to share ideas, align on our goals, and inspire one another to achieve even more in the months ahead.

After a week together, we left feeling energized, exhilarated and excited for the year ahead. Here’s what we are most looking forward to in 2025. 

Many colleges and universities are struggling to deliver the support and experiences students expect. Bogged down by the financial aid management (FAM) solution that came packaged with their student information system, financial aid officers lack the functionality needed to support multiple enrollment models, maximize institutional scholarships, and give students the transparency they need to make smarter borrowing decisions. And as the pressure to maximize enrollment heats up, many financial aid offices are realizing that their current solutions lack the rich set of features needed to manage the complex, ever-changing financial aid environment. 

The good news, however, is that institutions have options. Regent Education provides richer functionality and greater flexibility so that institutions nationwide can manage the complexity of today’s financial aid environment and support enrollment growth. Our client base is growing, and in the coming months, we’ll be announcing new customers who’ve selected Regent Education as financial aid solution partner. Stay tuned!

If there is one thing we all know it’s that going it alone is hard work. That’s why at Regent Education, we’re excited about growing our partnerships and continuing to build out solutions to deliver the innovative capabilities our customers need to thrive. By cultivating strong relationships with leading organizations such as NASFAA and C-BEN, we ensure that our strategies align with the priorities that matter most to you. 

Further, through our partnership with Salesforce, we offer our customers the unparalleled ability to integrate their financial aid management solutions with Salesforce. And did we mention that we are the only FAM provider approved to do so?

Our people form the foundation of our company. It’s their experience and expertise that set us apart from other FAM providers. As former education and financial aid professionals, they understand the intricacies of financial aid and can empathize when our customers face challenges such as those they experienced with FAFSA Simplification. 

Their input, grounded in decades of experience, guides the design, development, and implementation of our solutions. And because their insight comes from a place of knowledge, we have confidence that we’re delivering the capabilities our customers need to deliver the exceptional experiences students expect. This year, we’re continuing to tap into the rich experience and expertise of our team. And we hope you will, too. 

Competency-based education programs are on the rise, offering students the flexibility they want when pursuing a higher education degree. But traditional FAMs struggle with the requirements of CBE programs, leaving financial aid officers with manual, inefficient processes that fall short of student expectations. 

But that’s not the case with Regent Education. Using Regent Education, institutions can automate financial aid management across all enrollment models, allowing them to: 

• Package and repackage financial aid for CBE programs across standard and non-standard terms, subscription periods, and non-term enrollment models
• Reduce manual effort and errors, enabling staff to refocus their time and better support students throughout the financial aid process
• Maximize enrollment by awarding every available dollar

As CBE continues to gain momentum, we’re excited about the potential it holds to transform institutions, boost enrollment, and help students reach their educational goals. 

In addition to our ongoing commitment to keep our solutions up-to-date as regulations evolve and change, Regent Education is excited about the forthcoming release of our Award Swapping capabilities in Regent Fund. In response to requests from our customers and prospects, this new capability enables institutions to strategically adjust and reallocate scholarship awards between primary and subsidiary funds in order to better maximize resource utilization, align with donor or program requirements, and ensure they remain compliant with financial aid regulations. Award swapping will be generally available this year.

🎉Here’s to 2025, the year where we embrace the power of human connection, harness our collective wisdom and talent, and set the tone for a year of growth, innovation, and meaningful accomplishments. Together, there’s no limit to what we can achieve.