A looming crisis threatens smaller U.S. colleges, with as many as 80 potentially closing within five years due to a demographic cliff, financial distress, and changing perceptions of higher education’s value. While elite institutions thrive with record applications, smaller colleges face declining enrollment and rising costs, exacerbated by the pandemic.Nearly 80 US colleges may face closure within 5 years, even as Ivy League schools see enrollment surge: Philadelphia Fed research shows
A looming crisis threatens smaller U.S. colleges, with as many as 80 potentially closing within five years due to a demographic cliff, financial distress, and changing perceptions of higher education’s value. While elite institutions thrive with record applications, smaller colleges face declining enrollment and rising costs, exacerbated by the pandemic.
