Closures and Mergers
-
The image by Stephen Matthew Milligan is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Limestone University may have a ‘lifeline’ to avert closure
The Christian institution's board said “a possible funding source has surfaced" after warning last week it may have to shutter or go online.
By Ben Unglesbee • April 23, 2025 -
The image by Stephen Matthew Milligan is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Limestone University needs $6M to avoid shutdown or going online-only
The South Carolina nonprofit has been drawing down its endowment while it grapples with lower enrollment and higher costs.
By Ben Unglesbee • April 17, 2025 -
The image by Michael Coulter is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Georgia Southern and East Georgia State merger gets green light from system board
The move, part of a nearly 15-year effort to streamline the University System of Georgia, would bring USG’s institution count to 25.
By Ben Unglesbee • April 17, 2025 -
The image by Michael Coulter is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
East Georgia State to merge into Georgia Southern under Perdue’s plan
The latest proposed consolidation is part of an ongoing initiative to simplify and save administrative expense while maintaining options for students.
By Ben Unglesbee • April 10, 2025 -
Rosemont College in Pennsylvania to combine with Villanova University
The Catholic Pennsylvania institution will become “Villanova University, Rosemont Campus” after a transition period under a merger agreement.
By Ben Unglesbee • April 1, 2025 -
"University of New Orleans Gate Plaque" by Result02 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
University of New Orleans should rejoin LSU system, state board says
The public institution has been deteriorating financially since Hurricane Katrina hit the city two decades ago.
By Ben Unglesbee • March 28, 2025 -
skynesher via Getty Images
Deep Dive‘You can’t create 18-year-olds’: What can colleges do amid demographic upheaval?
Raising retention and attendance rates, and accommodating diverse student bodies, could take on new importance as the traditional-age pipeline weakens.
By Ben Unglesbee • March 27, 2025 -
Djflem. (2019). [Photograph]. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
New Jersey City University pursues merger with Kean University
The public institution has made several moves to claw back from a financial emergency nearly three years ago.
By Ben Unglesbee • March 6, 2025 -
Courtesy of Findlay Bluffton Future
University of Findlay calls off merger with Bluffton University
The larger of the two Christian institutions iced the plan to combine, citing time, expense and the complexity of maintaining separate athletics programs.
By Ben Unglesbee • Feb. 28, 2025 -
aimintang via Getty Images
Penn State will close some campuses amid enrollment decline, president says
Neeli Bendapudi said the university will review a dozen of its commonwealth campuses to determine which will stay open and which will close.
By Ben Unglesbee • Feb. 26, 2025 -
"Northland College Campus" by Tschellnc is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Northland College to close after turnaround falls short
Despite recent restructuring efforts, the Wisconsin nonprofit’s board chair said it couldn’t weather “economic and demographic storms” hitting the sector.
By Ben Unglesbee • Feb. 20, 2025 -
Vladimir Vladimirov via Getty Images
Column // Merger WatchHow can college leaders navigate mergers and closures in 2025?
A consolidation expert urges officials to face the facts, explore their strategic options and be willing to accept external help.
By Ricardo Azziz • Feb. 20, 2025 -
Ben Unglesbee/Higher Ed Dive
University of the Arts unloads 2 buildings for $10.3M in auctions
The nonprofit Curtis Institute of Music beat out a local real estate developer and Temple University for one of the shuttered arts college’s iconic buildings.
By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 16, 2025 -
Ben Unglesbee/Higher Ed Dive
Pennsylvania AG argues Temple should win bid for UArts building
Attorney General Michelle Henry said Temple University's bid should take priority over a $6.5 million offer from a Philadelphia real estate developer.
By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 15, 2025 -
Ben Unglesbee/Higher Ed Dive
University of the Arts lands $8.3M in bids for 2 buildings
A Philadelphia real estate player and area theater nonprofit are among the first buyers to step up for the closed arts college’s iconic properties.
By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 10, 2025 -
The image by SilentMatt Psychedelic is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Gannon University and Ursuline College announce official merger deal
The nonprofit institutions will combine to form "the largest Catholic system of higher education along Lake Erie" by December 2026.
By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 3, 2025 -
Courtesy of Keystone College
Keystone College staves off accreditation loss for now
The financially troubled Pennsylvania nonprofit will retain its status as its accreditor hears its appeal.
By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 2, 2025 -
Dusan Stankovic / Getty Images via Getty Images
Column // Merger WatchDeclining K-12 enrollment spells trouble for higher education’s future
Given demographic trends, the sector will likely become more competitive and experience more closures, one consolidation expert argues.
By Ricardo Azziz • Dec. 19, 2024 -
Seattle University plans to acquire arts college
Cornish College of the Arts, in Washington, would retain its campus and be renamed under the Catholic university's banner, the institutions announced.
By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 6, 2024 -
EvgeniiAnd/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
College closures could increase sharply in the face of the demographic cliff
A new model for predicting financial failures from the Philadelphia Fed aimed to produce the most accurate forecasting to date of at-risk colleges.
By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 5, 2024 -
Courtesy of Keystone College
Keystone College could lose accreditation after MSCHE vote
Middle States Commission on Higher Education found that the Pennsylvania institution failed to show it can sustain itself.
By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 27, 2024 -
The image by Jwrandolph is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Birmingham-Southern College campus sale falls through
Miles College asked to extend a purchase agreement for the property, but trustees of the shuttered college said they must sell the campus quickly.
By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 27, 2024 -
Saint Augustine’s University cuts its workforce in half to shore up finances
The North Carolina institution is on probation with its accreditor as it tries to stabilize its operations.
By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 25, 2024 -
Cal Maritime and Cal Poly set to merge
A new report from California State University leaders said the nautical college faces a "dire, binary choice": Partner with another university, or close.
By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 22, 2024 -
The image by Webster University is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Webster University to close its military campuses
A decade ago, the nonprofit based in Missouri had over 40 locations on bases. Now, it is shuttering its last nine.
By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 1, 2024
