Principal

Elaine Rowles

Elaine works with Gray’s education clients on strategic planning projects, program portfolio evaluations, program feasibility studies, price benchmarking, and research-intensive custom project work. She has performed in-depth analyses of existing programs and institutions, as well as assessed demand and employment opportunities for new and emerging programs.
Demand Trend
Elaine Rowles

Recharge Your Program Portfolio with This Emerging Program

Looking for an exciting and innovative field of study? Look no further than energy storage! As advances in energy technology continue to drive demand for more efficient and powerful ways to store energy, the need for skilled graduates in this field is growing rapidly. From mechanical and thermal energy storage to hydrogen fuel cells and even quantum batteries, the possibilities for innovation are endless. Discover how higher education is rising to the challenge and offering exciting new programs in this emerging field.

Elaine Rowles
Espresso
Elaine Rowles

Fall Enrollment Increased for the First Time in Five Years

Ready for some good news? After five years of declining enrollment, higher education is seeing a glimmer of hope with a 1% increase in new student enrollment in Fall 2022 compared to the previous year. Get a comprehensive analysis of the data and discover which programs and disciplines are growing and which ones are declining.

Elaine Rowles
Demand Trend
Elaine Rowles

Smart Plants Offer a Garden Variety of Academic Program Opportunities

Imagine plants that can sense danger, communicate with each other and even act as radio stations. The world of smart plants is here, and it’s not just a fantasy from a Disney movie. Explore the multidisciplinary growth potential for academic programs and careers in the emerging field of smart plants, from phytoremediation to the Internet of Plants and beyond. Take a leaf of faith and discover the exciting possibilities of this fascinating field.

Elaine Rowles
Demand Trend
Elaine Rowles

How Climate Change Could Lead to New Opportunities for Higher Education

Are you prepared for a Jumanji-like world? Rising sea levels, natural disasters, and emerging societal shifts are the new reality. As climate change effects worsen, colleges and universities must launch new programs to prepare skilled graduates for the exploding job market focused on adapting structures, institutions, and society.

Elaine Rowles
Espresso
Elaine Rowles

2021 Completions: Associate Program Trends

Despite concerns about declining enrollment at community colleges, find out how completions have held steady and where growth is happening. From the most popular disciplines to the rise of online programs, dive deep into the data to discover the latest trends and what’s driving success in the associate degree world.

Elaine Rowles
Espresso
Elaine Rowles

2021 Completions: Bachelor’s Program Trends

Get the latest insights on bachelor’s degree program trends in 2021. From the top disciplines to the fastest-growing programs and a breakdown of online completions, you won’t want to miss our latest blog. With data from IPEDS and Gray’s Program Evaluation System (PES), you’ll get a comprehensive overview of the state of bachelor’s degree programs.

Elaine Rowles
Demand Trend
Elaine Rowles

New and Emerging Programs – Where Are They Now?

Where are they now? Our 2022 emerging academic program predictions included the rise of AI and cannabis programs. Take a look at how successful our predictions were last year and see how to tap into our best picks for 2023. Our team of experts scours the latest trends and breakthroughs to identify new and exciting academic programs with the highest potential for success.

Elaine Rowles
Espresso
Elaine Rowles

Master’s Programs Continue To Grow

Master’s degree programs are seeing a surge in popularity, with a 3% increase in completions in the US in 2021. Discover the top disciplines driving this demand and the most popular programs among students. Find out how online and on-ground program completions compare and stay ahead of the curve with our comprehensive analysis.

Elaine Rowles
Espresso
Elaine Rowles

Promising News! 2021 Completions Were Up

Are you ready to dive into the latest trends in higher education? Despite gloomy headlines, our data analysis reveals the surprising growth of the industry, Discover the latest trends in enrollment, costs, budgets, competition, political headwinds, and see how graduate programs are outpacing undergraduate programs.

Elaine Rowles
Espresso
Elaine Rowles

International Students Are Returning to the US

Good news! The total number of international students enrolled at US institutions has rebounded after falling sharply in 2020-21. We took a deeper dive into the data to see what is driving this growth, what programs international students are interested in, and where those students are located.

Elaine Rowles