# The Future of Residential College: Hybrid, Scalable, and Built for Student Demand

By Darin Francis · Published 2025-05-08 · Updated 2026-05-19 · Education Technology on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/education-technology/the-future-of-residential-college-hybrid-scalable-and-built-for-student-demand
Creator hub: DisruptED

> As enrollment pressures mount, smaller institutions are abandoning one-size-fits-all models in favor of flexible learning formats that meet evolving student exp

## Key points

- Enrollment pressures are forcing smaller institutions to rethink traditional residential college models.
- Hybrid and scalable learning formats are emerging as practical alternatives to fully in-person programs.
- Student demand and evolving expectations are driving structural changes in how colleges deliver education.

Block Field

The traditional residential college experience is transforming. Driven by rising costs, declining enrollment, and student demand for flexibility, small private colleges are rethinking their academic models. A [2022 McKinsey & Company](https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-sector/our-insights/what-do-higher-education-students-want-from-online-learning?utm_source=chatgpt.com) survey found that 65 percent of higher education students want aspects of their learning experience to remain virtual, even post-pandemic. This shift signals a growing appetite for hybrid environments that blend campus life with scalable online access.

> 65 percent of higher education students want aspects of their learning experience to remain virtual, even post-pandemic.

What does a hybrid future look like for small colleges, and can it preserve the heart of the campus experience while offering students more?

On [*DisruptED*](https://marketscale.com/shows/disrupted/), guest host [Darin Francis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/darin-francis/), the CEO at [Harbinger Lane Consulting](https://www.harbingerlane.com/), welcomes [**Charlie Anastasi**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-anastasi/), the VP at [**Rize Education**](https://www.rize.education/). Anastasi explains how his team is guiding colleges through the shift toward hybrid learning. Speaking from the [ASU+GSV Summit](https://www.asugsvsummit.com/), he describes how **Rize** partners with over 100 institutions, including many residential colleges, to collaboratively deliver online programs that broaden academic offerings, boost enrollment, and improve career outcomes.

### Key Takeaways

-  **Rize** enables small colleges to launch high-demand programs like cybersecurity by sharing core online courses across institutions. 
-  Students retain the in-person residential experience while gaining access to new majors that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive to launch individually. 
-  **Rize** partners report a fivefold return on investment through increased enrollment and strong student satisfaction with hybrid course offerings. 

### About the Guest

**Charlie Anastasi** is Vice President of Revenue and Academic Partnerships at **Rize Education**, where he leads institutional growth strategies that expand access to affordable, career-aligned programs. He previously served in leadership roles at **Adrian College** and **CADRE**, bridging higher education innovation with strategic development. Earlier in his career, he worked in real estate private equity at **Blackstone**, bringing strong financial and operational expertise to the education sector.

Tags: asu+gsv summit, Charlie Anastasi, Darin Francis, Harbinger Lane Consulting, higher education, RIZE education

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