Universities maintain higher trust than most industries, but satisfaction dropped 0.8 points in 2025 while other sectors improved. With 14% of university customers reporting poor experiences (vs 12% globally), the culprit is clear: communication problems drive 66% of bad experiences—21 points higher than any other industry.
Education employees also struggle with leadership trust, rating it 4 points below the global average. Only 52% feel leaders prioritize wellbeing over profits, and communication gaps persist across K-12 and higher education settings.
The solution starts with transparent, authentic dialogue. Institutions must close feedback loops, demonstrate how input drives tangible improvements, and equip staff with better communication tools and training.
Read the full ebook: 2025 state of education report at https://www.qualtrics.com/ebooks-guides/2025-edu-trends/
How is your organization rebuilding trust through improved communication practices?
