Closures and Mergers
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What 3 credit ratings agencies forecast for higher ed in 2026
Fitch Ratings, S&P Global and Moody's Ratings all predicted a tough year ahead, pointing to deteriorating financial conditions and heightened uncertainty.
By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 5, 2026 -
Pomona College considers acquiring Claremont Graduate University
The pair initiated confidential talks in late spring and entered exclusive talks in December to negotiate a definite agreement over the coming months.
By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 22, 2025 -
Courtesy of Coursera Press Kit
Coursera to acquire Udemy to create $2.5B MOOC giant
The companies pointed to their complementary offerings and demand for AI skills training.
By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 17, 2025 -
The image by Enunnally55 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
DeSantis wants to give USF’s Sarasota campus to New College of Florida
The Florida governor's budget proposal would expand the liberal arts college, which he has sought to make a conservative blueprint for higher education.
By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 12, 2025 -
Alamy
Martin University to ‘pause’ operations at the end of the month
The board of the private Indianapolis university is working to find a path toward economic viability, it said in a Tuesday press release.
By Laura Spitalniak • Dec. 10, 2025 -
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S&P: Negative outlook for nonprofit colleges in 2026
The credit ratings agency on Tuesday cited federal policy shifts, rising costs and increased competition over students.
By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 3, 2025 -
Courtesy of Eastern Gateway Community College
Audit slams shuttered Eastern Gateway Community College for ‘derelict accounting’
A state-issued report questioned millions in spending and detailed voluminous recordkeeping and process issues in the troubled Ohio college’s final years.
By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 3, 2025 -
Unkown. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
Column // College Closure FilesHow the ‘immortal’ Limestone University collapsed
The South Carolina college weathered tough financial times over the course of its life. In April, it made its last play to stay open — but it wasn’t enough.
By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 1, 2025 -
Sterling College in Vermont to close
The environmental-focused institution, which has under 40 students, said that closing now was the responsible move to support their transitions.
By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 14, 2025 -
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Column // Merger WatchHow college leaders can own the narrative about a major restructuring
Officials can either actively and diligently manage the narrative about a closure or merger or others will craft it for them.
By Ricardo Azziz • Nov. 6, 2025 -
Retrieved from Trinity Christian College on November 05, 2025
Trinity Christian College to close at the end of the academic year
The institution considered slashing programs and finding a partner but ultimately decided there was “no sustainable path forward,” its president said.
By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 5, 2025 -
The image by Jhalent is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Elon University AAUP demands larger faculty role in Queens University combination
“Faculty should be included in the decision of both institutions to move forward with the merger,” the group said.
By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 17, 2025 -
Djflem. (2019). [Photograph]. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
New Jersey City University and Kean University sign official deal to merge
Under the deal, New Jersey City University would become “Kean Jersey City,” marking a new chapter after years of financial distress.
By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 3, 2025 -
The image by Jhalent is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Elon University and Queens University of Charlotte announce intent to merge
The private North Carolina institutions said the combination would help meet the educational and workforce needs of Charlotte, the state's biggest city.
By Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 17, 2025 -
The image by Royalbroil is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
UW-Stevens Point partners with community college to shore up struggling branch
Leaders hope partnering with Northcentral Technical College will create new opportunities and cost savings for the public university’s Wausau location.
By Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 12, 2025 -
The image by SilentMatt Psychedelic is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Deep DiveMore Catholic colleges are merging amid demographic pressures. What does it really take?
Mergers can help struggling colleges stay afloat, but uniting different cultures and operations is rarely straightforward, experts say.
By Danielle McLean • July 29, 2025 -
The image by Kiran891 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
The King’s College closes after 2 years without classes
New York's education department gave the Christian institution until Tuesday to present a plan for resuming operations — a deadline it could not meet.
By Laura Spitalniak • July 14, 2025 -
Column // College Closure Files
Bacone College shut down after 145 years. What went wrong?
The Oklahoma institution had shaky finances for years. And some insiders have accused it of straying from its mission of serving Native American students.
By Ben Unglesbee • July 14, 2025 -
Siena Heights University to close after coming academic year
The 105-year-old Catholic nonprofit in Michigan concluded it was “no longer feasible” to continue operating.
By Ben Unglesbee • July 1, 2025 -
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Column // Merger WatchHow can college officials know if they’re ready to lead ‘Big Scary Change’?
They should consider if they hold views counter to successfully leading an institution through a merger or acquisition, one consolidation expert says.
By Ricardo Azziz • June 30, 2025 -
The image by MollyElliott77 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
For-profit performing arts college in New York to close
The New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts said it had exhausted “every possible alternative” prior to the decision to wind down.
By Ben Unglesbee • June 5, 2025 -
Cornish College of the Arts opens under Seattle University banner
A majority of Cornish's original employees and nongraduating students will return to its Washington campus in fall 2025, the university said Tuesday.
By Laura Spitalniak • June 4, 2025 -
University of Idaho abandons plan to acquire University of Phoenix
Faced with opposition from the beginning, the state university and for-profit college ended negotiations.
By Ben Unglesbee • June 4, 2025 -
Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
‘Finally’: Keystone College completes merger with nonprofit
After a recent closure scare, the institution is continuing operations under the nonprofit Washington Institute for Education and Research.
By Ben Unglesbee • June 3, 2025 -
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Penn State University’s board greenlights plan to close 7 campuses
A 25-8 vote sets in motion the plan to pare down the university’s commonwealth campuses to 13 after spring 2027.
By Ben Unglesbee • May 27, 2025
