Assumption College

An industry-wide spike in the number of applications from high school students has complicated the fine-tuned formula for figuring out which students – and how many – will ultimately enroll.

Central Massachusetts colleges and universities face a variety of pressures in the coming year, with shifting enrollment trends to new leadership to the need to impress incoming students.

Assumption College in Worcester has received the final state approval necessary to become a university, with plans for the transition to being Assumption University to take place next August.

The Greater Worcester economy grew by a 0.3% annualized rate in the third quarter, bringing the region back to positive growth after a contraction in the first half of the year.

Colleges with smaller endowments may be getting relatively poorer compared to deep-pocketed peers, but with the economy providing higher investment returns – and more donor support – nearly every Central Massachusetts college has seen endowments grow in the past decade or more.

Assumption College in Worcester is building a new 41,000-square-foot health sciences building for its new nursing program and other health studies.

An academic restructuring and proposed name change to a university are part of a broader effort to better appeal to students, the Assumption College president said.

Check out which professionals are on the move in Central Mass.

Who's on the move in Central Massachusetts?

While small colleges like Assumption try to get more applicants, the FBI uncovered a $25-million scheme where dozens of wealthy parents allegedly tried to bribe their children's way into prestigious schools.