Small private colleges across the United States increasingly face severe financial strain, prompting many to consider mergers for survival, though some institutions resist, leading to closure. Hampshire College in Massachusetts, which announced its closure in April, exemplifies the consequences of prioritizing independence over consolidation.
Higher education expert Peter Stokes of Huron Consulting observes that board members often prefer to see their institutions close rather than merge. "I have been in meetings with board members who would rather see their institution closed than merge with another college," Stokes said, noting the deeply emotional and personal nature of such decisions.
The issue is widespread: Huron Consulting recently projected that 442
