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AMHERST, Mass. — The campus of Hampshire College, once a thriving liberal arts institution, now echoes the decline of higher education. With empty parking lots and darkened buildings, the college is set to shut down in December, joining the growing number of colleges closing or merging at nearly one every three weeks last year.
The desolate scenes at campuses like Hampshire resemble past industry downturns, with experts identifying a crisis in higher education. This crisis threatens access to education, particularly in rural areas, and risks reducing the availability of skilled graduates needed to fill roles left by retiring baby boomers.
Peter Stokes from Huron Consulting Group highlights a stark prediction: over 25% of private colleges could vanish in the next decade. Stokes notes the current decline follows decades of growth, with college enrollment decreasing since 2011 and projected to continue dropping until at least 2041.
Enrollment challenges have forced approximately 150 private, nonprofit colleges to close in the last decade, leaving behind unsold land and buildings. Public university branches in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are also closing. The primary issue: a declining number of students, exacerbated by fewer high school graduates opting for college.
The drop in international students due to visa issues further compounds the enrollment crisis. Kevin McElrath from Davidson College describes the situation as a long-brewing crisis, worsened by policy changes.
In college towns, economic impacts are severe. Colleges are major employers; their closure means lost jobs and decreased local spending. Nationally, fewer than half of students from closed colleges continue their education elsewhere, and less than half of those earn a degree.
Despite the crisis, some public flagship universities report increased enrollment. However, private colleges face ongoing declines. Brian Weinblatt of HCS Strategy notes a rise in colleges seeking mergers to survive, although many attempts come too late.
Hampshire College President Jen Chrisler emphasizes the broader impact of closures, noting the loss of community and opportunity when campuses shut down. The remaining students at Hampshire, like Madeline Keating, face a future without their alma mater, though they plan to maintain alumni connections.
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