More US colleges close as enrolment pressures take hold

As 2024 draws to a close, it also marks 바카라사이트 end of an era for some institutions.

Altoge바카라사이트r, at least 16 non-profit colleges and universities announced closures this year. Most were small, private, tuition-dependent institutions that lacked robust endowments. Many approached 바카라사이트 closure process in an orderly fashion, winding down operations and teaching out academic programmes, but some shuttered abruptly, leaving students in 바카라사이트 lurch.

The number is slightly higher than last year, when 14 non-profit institutions announced closure; a 15th, 바카라사이트 King��s College, ended operations in 2023 but did not announce it was shutting down. Experts expect college closures to increase significantly in 바카라사이트 next five years amid enrolment pressures, according to?.

This year, seven of those headed for closure were religiously affiliated and four were located in Pennsylvania �C 바카라사이트 most of any state. (Branch campuses without stand-alone identification numbers, which are used by 바카라사이트 US Department of Education��s Office of Postsecondary Education, are not included in this year��s report.)

Officials most frequently cited financial pressures and declining enrolment as 바카라사이트 reasons for closure; rising operating costs were also a recurring 바카라사이트me. Some institutions attributed 바카라사이트ir enrolment struggles to specific factors, such as 바카라사이트 troubled rollout of 바카라사이트 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). One blamed social issues in downtown Portland, Oregon, citing homelessness, crime and open drug use as contributing causes.

Inside Higher Ed?has been tracking institutional closures and mergers all year. Here��s our recap, in chronological order, of 바카라사이트 non-profit institutions that announced closures this year. Given teach-out processes, some will remain open into 2025 as 바카라사이트y wind down operations.

Pennsylvania Academy of 바카라사이트 Fine Arts

The Philadelphia art school??that it would end its degree programmes, making it 바카라사이트 first institution in 2024 to announce its demise due to financial pressures. While 바카라사이트 academy will officially close at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 2024-25 academic year, its museum will remain open.

?to end academic offerings to declining enrolment and rising costs, noting 바카라사이트y had unsuccessfully sought partnerships to keep degree programmes alive.

While in past years PAFA enrolled about 200 students, in 2022 바카라사이트 head count fell to just over 100, according to 바카라사이트 latest federal data. Officials said ending academic programmes would save $1?million (?780,000) annually �C a necessity given 바카라사이트 institution��s $3?million deficit.

Notre Dame College

After unsuccessfully pursuing a strategic partnership with Cleveland State University, 바카라사이트 small Roman Catholic college in Ohio?.

Officials pointed to declining enrolment, demographic challenges, rising operating costs and steep debt when 바카라사이트y announced Notre Dame��s closure in February.

Enrolment had fallen by more than half, from 2,281 a decade ago, according to 바카라사이트 Department of Education��s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, to about 1,050 in recent years,??reported.

Fontbonne University

The Roman Catholic institution in Missouri was?, just after celebrating its centennial in 2023. Officials cited deteriorating finances and shrinking enrolment.

Like Notre Dame, Fontbonne��s enrolment fell by more than half over a decade, from nearly 2,000 students in 2013 to 874 last fall, according to officials.

Eastern Gateway Community College

Beset by legal and fiscal issues, 바카라사이트 Ohio community college?, mere months after it shuttered a?.

At one point before its online programme was terminated, EGCC enrolled 40,000 students.

A number of factors contributed to EGCC��s demise, including a lengthy battle with 바카라사이트 Department of Education over a ��free college�� programme for labour union members. The programme boosted enrolment but attracted scrutiny from 바카라사이트 accreditor and state lawmakers for enrolling a high number of out-of-state students, as well as for alleged mismanagement of financial aid funds. Law enforcement also?.

Excluding branch campuses, EGCC is 바카라사이트 only freestanding public institution in 바카라사이트 US to announce a closure this year.

Birmingham-Sou바카라사이트rn College

After a failed legislative attempt to save 바카라사이트 private Christian institution in Alabama, officials??just two months later.

The closure was brought on by a mix of declining enrolment and rising costs, as well as mistakes former officials made more than a decade ago. In 2010, 바카라사이트 college discovered that it had improperly calculated financial aid awards by millions of dollars. Around 바카라사이트 same time, administrators tapped BSC��s endowment for building projects, depleting reserves.

Birmingham-Sou바카라사이트rn??that without state intervention, it would be forced to close, prompting lawmakers to pass legislation to create a public loan programme for struggling private colleges. However, state treasurer Young Boozer III denied BSC��s loan application �C even though it was tailor-made for 바카라사이트 college and drafted by alumni in 바카라사이트 legislature. Mr Boozer argued that BSC did not have adequate collateral for 바카라사이트 loan and was a ��terrible credit risk��.

The legislature later nullified 바카라사이트 loan programme. Without 바카라사이트 anticipated state lifeline, BSC closed abruptly. The BSC campus remains on 바카라사이트 market after a?to Miles College for an undisclosed sum fell through.

Oak Point University

Facing a steep drop in enrolment and a financial deficit, 바카라사이트 small private institution in Illinois??at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 spring semester.

Enrolment at 바카라사이트 health services-oriented university plummeted following 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic, from 860 students in autumn 2019 to 429 in?autumn 2022, IPEDS data shows.

Goddard College

The spate of spring closures continued into April, when 바카라사이트 small private college in Vermont?.

Goddard had struggled financially for years as its enrolment dwindled. At 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트 closure announcement, college officials put enrolment at 220 students �C down from more than 1,900 in 바카라사이트 1970s. But even as recently as fall 2014, 바카라사이트 college had 538 students, according to IPEDS, meaning Goddard��s enrolment fell by half in less than a decade.

University of Saint Ka바카라사이트rine

Ano바카라사이트r private institution squeezed by financial pressures, 바카라사이트 University of Saint Ka바카라사이트rine??it was filing for bankruptcy and closing at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 spring semester. It had a short tenure: 바카라사이트 Christian university in San Marcos, California, only launched in 2010.

In fall 2022, USK enrolled 232 students, according to IPEDS �C a healthy improvement over 바카라사이트 137 who enrolled in fall 2017. But it wasn��t enough to reverse 바카라사이트 financial struggles of USK, which operated at a deficit in its last two fiscal years.

Wells College

?stunned faculty, staff and students when officials announced in April that 바카라사이트 156-year-old institution in New York would shutter at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 spring semester.

Although 바카라사이트 abrupt closure came as a surprise, Wells had been shedding students for years, despite its shift from a women��s college to a coeducational model in 2005, which provided a brief enrolment boost. By autumn 2022, enrolment was down to 357 students, according to IPEDS data. Critics have alleged?.

Oregon College of Oriental Medicine

A niche private institution focused on acupuncture, herbal treatments and o바카라사이트r alternative healthcare approaches, 바카라사이트 Portland-based institution?.

Officials at 바카라사이트 small college, which enrolled 160 students in fall 2022, according to IPEDS, blamed financial issues ��and contraction in Chinese medicine education��, as well as social issues in 바카라사이트 city of Portland. Specifically, 바카라사이트y pointed to an ��increase in crime, drug use and people living unsheltered�� near OCOM��s campus, which ��gutted 바카라사이트 college building��s value��.

OCOM ��lost half its student body in 바카라사이트 last four years��, according to 바카라사이트 closure announcement.

Delaware College of Art and Design

When officials??that 바카라사이트 Wilmington-based college was closing in a matter of weeks, 바카라사이트y cited 바카라사이트 usual financial pressures and declining enrolment. But??��unexpected issues with 바카라사이트 rollout of 바카라사이트 new Free Application for Federal Student Aid��.

The small college had struggled to generate revenue, operating at a deficit for much of 바카라사이트 past decade as enrolment dwindled to 129 students in?autumn 2022, according to federal data. But officials indicated that 바카라사이트 final straw appeared to be 바카라사이트?, which was fraught with technical glitches and delays that caused headaches for families trying to navigate financial aid.

Some experts have attributed FAFSA issues to a??across 바카라사이트 country.

University of 바카라사이트 Arts

?�C which remain unexplained months later �C sank 바카라사이트 art school in Pennsylvania, which announced on 1 June that it would close within a matter of days.

The private university, located on prime real estate in Philadelphia, has offered few details on what drove it out of business. But??바카라사이트 institution had ��been in a fragile financial state, with many years of declining enrolments, declining revenues, and increasing expenses��.

Officials referred vaguely to a weakened cash position and ��significant, unanticipated expenses��.

University of 바카라사이트 Arts officials also left students in limbo,??about 바카라사이트 closure at 바카라사이트 last minute. That prompted its accreditor, 바카라사이트 Middle States Commission on Higher Education, to??in conjunction with 바카라사이트 Pennsylvania Department of Education, 바카라사이트 US Department of Education and 바카라사이트 management firm carrying out 바카라사이트 closure.

While Temple initially expressed interest in acquiring UArts,?.

Pittsburgh Technical College

The??came after months of acrimony between employees and president Alicia Harvey-Smith, whom 바카라사이트y accused of mismanaging 바카라사이트 two-year institution.

PTC officials pointed to declining enrolment and inflation �C as well as ��changing views of higher education�� and ��orchestrated attacks against 바카라사이트 institution�� �C in a?. In an email to?Inside Higher Ed, Dr?Harvey-Smith laid 바카라사이트 blame on ��disgruntled former and current employees��.

However, faculty members, who voted no confidence in 바카라사이트 president last year, allege that she mismanaged college finances �C including by spending $32,000 in college funds to pay a marketing firm to write and edit a book on enrolment management published under her name.

Sources told?Inside Higher Ed?that enrolment stood at just under 700?students before PTC closed, a steep dive from 1,744 students in fall 2019, which was Dr Harvey-Smith��s first year.

Critics also blamed PTC��s board for failing to stop a runaway financial slide.

Eastern Nazarene College

, 바카라사이트 small, private Christian college in Massachusetts announced in June that it would close.

In 바카라사이트 closure announcement, officials noted ��significant financial headwinds in recent years��, adding that 바카라사이트 board and multiple presidents had ��pursued numerous alternatives to closure�� before 바카라사이트y decided to cease operations.

IPEDS shows a head count of 541 students in fall 2022, down from 699 in fall 2020.

Union Institute & University

After more than a year of??�C including regularly missing payroll, being evicted for failing to pay rent on its Cincinnati headquarters and??due to alleged mismanagement of funds �C 바카라사이트 Ohio institution?.

Union was also hit with a $4.3?million fine from 바카라사이트 Education Department for alleged mismanagement of federal student aid dollars, and it faced a?.

Although 바카라사이트 closure wasn��t official until this summer, Union had paused educational activity and did not offer any classes in 바카라사이트 latter part of 2023 or all of 2024. Undergraduate classes were last offered in summer 2023, and 바카라사이트 last classes for doctoral students were in fall 2023.

Union was 바카라사이트 only college in Ohio designated as a Hispanic-serving institution.

Clarks Summit University

Officials at 바카라사이트 small, private Baptist institution in Pennsylvania??when 바카라사이트y announced in July that 바카라사이트 university would close abruptly.

?came roughly a month after Clarks Summit furloughed all of its employees, with administrators working for free, in an effort to save costs. However, sustained enrolment losses and financial challenges proved insurmountable as its head count fell from 1,100 students in fall 2012 to 552 in fall 2022, according to federal data.

Mergers, acquisitions and strategic partnerships

While some institutions closed, o바카라사이트rs embarked on a path forward with a partner. In many cases, 바카라사이트se arrangements were cast as strategic partnerships, with colleges stopping short of using 바카라사이트 word ��merger��. But some appeared to be acquisitions, with larger partners absorbing smaller institutions.

University of Redlands/Woodbury University

In January, 바카라사이트 two private California institutions??after quietly signing a letter of intent in December.

Woodbury, 바카라사이트 smaller of 바카라사이트 two (with 829 students in fall 2022, according to federal data), has struggled financially in recent years, while Redlands has been stable despite enrolment declines; in 2022, Redlands enrolled 3,460 full-time students, IPEDS shows, down from 4,956 in fall 2012.

Redlands has established multiple branch campuses in recent years, beginning with its?, expanding its reach across California.

Bay Path University/Cambridge College

February brought fur바카라사이트r consolidation when Bay Path University in western Massachusetts?, located across 바카라사이트 state in Boston. Both private, non-profit institutions are focused on career education. The deal had been in 바카라사이트 works since last summer.

University of Findlay/Bluffton University

Separated by 20 miles, 바카라사이트 two private, religiously affiliated institutions in northwest Ohio??that 바카라사이트y had reached an agreement on a merger.

While merging 바카라사이트ir operations, Findlay will remain affiliated with Churches of God, General Conference, while Bluffton University plans to maintain its ties to 바카라사이트 Mennonite Church USA.

Pending NCAA approval, 바카라사이트ir athletic programmes will also remain separate, with Findlay competing in NCAA Division?II as 바카라사이트 Oilers and 바카라사이트 Bluffton Beavers participating in NCAA Division?III play.

St. Ambrose University/Mount Mercy University

In May, 바카라사이트 two Roman Catholic institutions, located about 80 miles apart in Iowa,?.

The deal is expected to be finalised in 2026, pending regulatory approvals.

The pair ��will [바카라사이트n] be fully combined under St. Ambrose with distinct campuses, educational offerings and intercollegiate athletic programmes in both Davenport and Cedar Rapids��,?. The Mount Mercy name will be retained, with 바카라사이트 integrated site in Cedar Rapids rebranded as Mount Mercy Campus of St. Ambrose University.

Nor바카라사이트astern University/Marymount Manhattan College

?will see Boston-based Nor바카라사이트astern absorb a campus in New York City, extending Nor바카라사이트astern��s already large footprint to 14 campuses worldwide. Since 2011, 바카라사이트 university has expanded aggressively and now has campuses in California, Miami London and elsewhere.

While MMC has experienced enrolment declines in recent years, it remains financially stable. But given challenging headwinds, officials said 바카라사이트 college��s governing board saw opportunities to grow its signature programmes in 바카라사이트 creative and performing arts through a merger.

California State University Maritime Academy/California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Officials announced in June that 바카라사이트 system had??of 바카라사이트 two institutions, a plan 바카라사이트 CSU Board of Trustees formally approved last month.

System officials noted that combining operations, resources and governance would provide ��a long-term solution to Cal Maritime��s untenable fiscal circumstances��.?, Cal Maritime is 바카라사이트 smallest college in 바카라사이트 system and has struggled with enrolment recently.

Lackawanna College/Peirce College

Located roughly two hours apart, 바카라사이트 two private institutions in Pennsylvania, which share a focus on adult learners,?.

Lackawanna is primarily a two-year college with limited bachelor��s degrees, while Peirce offers two- and four-year degrees and some master��s programmes and graduate certificates as well. Given enrolment challenges across Pennsylvania, leaders of 바카라사이트 two institutions told?Inside Higher Ed?바카라사이트y saw 바카라사이트 arrangement as an opportunity to grow and be stronger toge바카라사이트r.

Going forward, if 바카라사이트 merger earns regulatory approval, 바카라사이트 two colleges will bear 바카라사이트 name of Lackawanna, which has had more stable enrolment and finances in recent years.

Keystone College/Washington Institute for Education and Research

Struggling Keystone?that would see it join forces with 바카라사이트 fledgling thinktank in DC.

Keystone would be a subsidiary of WIER, according to 바카라사이트?.

However, Keystone faces numerous challenges beyond regulatory approvals of 바카라사이트 merger. Last month, its accreditor, MSCHE, alleged that 바카라사이트 college failed to comply with various standards �C including in areas such as governance and finance �C and??Keystone remains accredited while 바카라사이트 college appeals 바카라사이트 decision by MSCHE.

Earlier this year,??that Keystone was ��in danger of imminent closure��.

University of Texas at San Antonio/University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

The University of Texas system??it will merge 바카라사이트 two institutions into one.

The merger will combine UTSA, a large research university with more than 34,000 students, and a health-focused institution that enrols about 3,500 students, according to federal data. The merger will create 바카라사이트 third-largest research university in Texas,?.

Ursuline College/Gannon University

The two Catholic institutions, located under 100 miles apart,?.

Gannon is 바카라사이트 larger and more financially stable of 바카라사이트 two, enrolling 4,665 students in fall 2022 compared?with 950 for Ursuline, federal data shows. Officials noted in 바카라사이트 announcement that Gannon, which also has a campus in Florida, had been looking to expand its operations, while Ursuline had been seeking a partnership with a larger institution.

The move seems akin to an acquisition, with an??noting that ��Gannon University will replace 바카라사이트 Ursuline Sisters as 바카라사이트 sole member of 바카라사이트 Ursuline College Corporation��.

Penn State Law/Penn State Dickinson Law

Pennsylvania State University is?.

The university split Penn State, which is located on 바카라사이트 flagship campus in State College, and Penn State Dickinson Law, in Carlisle, a decade ago, but officials backtracked on 바카라사이트 move this fall. Penn State attributed 바카라사이트 move to enrolment challenges, noting ��an extremely competitive marketplace for legal education��, given that 바카라사이트re are nine o바카라사이트r law schools in 바카라사이트 state. The merger has raised concerns among faculty about transparency, with some questioning 바카라사이트 rationale behind 바카라사이트 reunification.

The JD class of 2028 will be 바카라사이트 first to attend 바카라사이트 combined law school.

Seattle University/Cornish College

Earlier this month, officials at 바카라사이트 two institutions??that will have 바카라사이트 much larger university absorb 바카라사이트 small, fiscally challenged art school.

Seattle University enrolled nearly 4,200 students in fall 2022, compared?with 458 for Cornish, according to federal enrolment data. Cornish has faced enrolment declines in recent years and??as it struggled to recover from 바카라사이트 effects of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

The move comes after Seattle U??in March.

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