Higher education planning is a strategic approach for identifying and analyzing challenges and opportunities within the education system. Using a systematic review method and qualitative content analysis, this study examined 67 articles published between 1994 and 2004. The findings indicate that the most significant challenges include a lack of inter-sectoral coordination, ineffective policy implementation, and the neglect of regional needs—all of which have reduced the effectiveness of planning programs. Conversely, properly executed planning offers key opportunities, such as reducing geographical inequalities in educational access, promoting balanced regional development, improving educational quality, and enhancing student employability. This article proposes operational solutions to improve the implementation of planning policies, the most important of which are: strengthening inter-sectoral collaboration, fostering strategic thinking, establishing an effective monitoring and evaluation system, leveraging new technologies, and redesigning processes. Achieving the goals of higher education planning depends on adopting these solutions and conducting further applied research, which can ultimately lead to educational equity and sustainable national development.