What is on the five-year horizon for higher education institutions? Which trends and technology developments will drive educational change? What are the critical challenges and how can we strategize solutions? These questions regarding technology adoption and educational change steered the discussions of 78 experts to produce the "NMC Horizon Report: 2017 Higher Education Edition," in partnership with the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI). This report charts the five-year impact of innovative practices and technologies for higher education across the globe. The expert panel identified 18 topics very likely to impact technology planning and decision-making: six key trends (Blended Learning Design, Collaborative Learning, Growing Focus on Measuring Learning, Redesigning Learning Spaces, Advancing Cultures of Innovation, and Deeper Learning Approaches), six significant challenges (Improving Digital Literacy, Integrating Formal and Informal Learning, Achievement Gap, Advancing Digital Equity, Managing Knowledge Obsolescence, and Rethinking the Roles of Educators), and six important developments in educational technology (Adaptive Learning Technologies, Mobile Learning, The Internet of Things, Next-Generation LMS, Artificial Intelligence, and Natural User Interfaces). The three sections of this report constitute a reference and technology planning guide for educators, higher education leaders, administrators, policymakers, and technologists.