Colleges across the country are closing.

Here is what parents need to understand.

On This Trail

Introduction

June 19, 2026

There is an unfortunate reality facing higher education today, and it's a reality that you and your family need to be prepared for. Small colleges are closing at a concerning rate, and estimates for pending closures are even more serious.

The reason for this situation is what in higher education is called the demographic cliff, also known as the enrollment cliff. With the declining birth rate that began around 2008 and never rebounded, colleges and universities knew there would be fewer college-age students enrolling today and that numbers would continue to decline through at least 2035.

Nearly 50 public or private schools have closed or announced plans to close since March 2020—with nearly half closing in 2025 or 2026. Analysis by Huron Consulting Group estimates that roughly one out of every four private, nonprofit, degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States could face a financial crisis in the next decade.

As storied institutions shutter, tens of thousands of students will have their college plans upended, forced to transfer to a new school. In some cases, some may decide not to continue their education—an even more unfortunate scenario for those who will still need to pay back student loans without obtaining a degree.

We don’t mean to be alarmists, but we feel it necessary to share what we know about higher education stability. We want families to search for and discover institutions where their child can start and finish a degree program without the future shock of being told their school is closing before their child graduates.

At MCLA, we believe in the power of accessible education. In addition to our 130-year commitment to public education, we have fortified our dedication to equitable academic excellence.

Whether you choose to pursue an MCLA degree or are interested in a different institution, we want you to be armed with the facts. That is why we've created this guide.

When you research what schools you might want to attend, it's important to focus on key areas like programmatic offerings, geographic location, and cost. We also recommend you ask these questions of any institution you plan to consider.

Is the school accredited?
What are the school's enrollment trends?
What is the school's financial health?

By examining these questions, you'll have a more complete image of a school, helping you see if it is the right fit for you now—and in the long term.

Is the school accredited?

Accreditation is much more than a bullet point somewhere on a school's website. When a college or university is accredited, it means that the institution meets acceptable levels of quality established by the U.S. Department of Education and reviewed by a non-governmental accrediting agency.

It is important to understand that a school must be accredited by a "nationally recognized" accrediting agency in order for its students to receive federal student aid from the U.S. Department of Education. Institutional accreditation is an important indicator of a college or university's overall financial health and long-term stability.

For background knowledge, there are two types of educational accreditation: institutional and specialized or programmatic. As explained on the U.S. Department of Education website, "Institutional accreditation normally applies to an entire institution, indicating that each of an institution's parts is contributing to the achievement of the institution's objectives, although not necessarily all at the same level of quality." Specialized or programmatic accreditation can refer to a subset of an institution, either a specific school, department, or curriculum. Colleges facing financial strain need to be in good standing with a nationally recognized accrediting agency to prevent closure.

Nationally recognized accrediting agencies include:

If you want to learn about a school's accreditation history, you can access the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs, maintained by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education.

MCLA has been accredited since 1953 by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Our accreditation was last renewed on April 18, 2024.

Information taken from U.S. Department of Education

What are the school's enrollment trends?

As mentioned earlier, enrollment declines have been a concern for schools for a while now due to the enrollment cliff, but successful schools are finding ways to navigate this shift.

Eight schools were slated to close in 2026, including three in Massachusetts. According to The College Investor website, nearly every one of those eight schools saw enrollment declines between 30-70% in the past decade.

It is vitally important that you review a school's enrollment numbers. Yes, there are fewer students entering college, but that doesn't mean all schools are seeing lower enrollment.

At MCLA, new student enrollment in Fall 2025 was up nearly 5%. New student deposits for Fall 2026 increased by 20%.

To find out about a school's enrollment trends, you can explore their website (the information will likely appear on an "About" page or a "Quick stats" page. For MCLA, enrollment numbers can be found on our "At a Glance" page). You can also find out enrollment information about individual schools on the National Center for Education Statistics' Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

What is the school's financial health?

There are a collection of reasons for why so many schools have been closing recently and are at risk for closing in the coming years, but it's clear that chief among them is the financial health of the institution.

ProPublica is a phenomenal resource to get a glimpse at this information. If you search for "[INSERT SCHOOL NAME] tax filing ProPublica" on a search engine, you should be able to find a page that has historical tax information about the school. Specifically, you can see:

Bar graphs showcasing the school's revenue, expenses, and total assets (which includes endowments) from the past 12 years
Tax filings organized by individual years
Audit information, which is required for nonprofit organizations to submit if they spend $750,000 or more in federal grant money in a fiscal year

Some specific trends to look at include:

Whether a school's net income (revenue minus expenses) is positive or negative
How has that net income varied the past few years
Are total assets increasing or decreasing

If total assets (which include a school's endowment) has shrunk, that may indicate a need to fill a budget gap. If that happens for several consecutive years, it means the school is consistently spending more than it makes.

At MCLA, we've maintained positive net revenue and have grown reserve and endowment funds to their highest levels in institutional history.

Conclusion

Choosing a college or university is an important life choice—likely one of the most important you will make. There is a lot of anxiety and pressure that already comes with that choice—you shouldn't have to also worry about whether that school will stay open for the duration of your time there.

It's important to do your research.

If a school's assets are shrinking and its enrollment is decreasing, that should be a flashing red warning sign. Hopefully the school will be able to make necessary adjustments, but we're seeing more and more schools who unfortunately aren't able to make that happen.

At MCLA, we have maintained a quality college experience and a degree that delivers an exceptional ROI. The education and opportunities available to MCLA graduates come at an exceptional value. Our students leave with less debt and better financial stability right from the start. All with small classes, personal connections throughout the campus and community, and the assurance that MCLA has been here for 130 years, and will be here for decades to come.

MCLA Enrollment Grows for Second Straight Year, Against the National Trend

MCLA projects strongest enrollment in five years as deposits rise 20 percent | Northern Berkshires | The Berkshire Eagle

MCLA says enrollment is up 20% for incoming class, continuing multi-year trend | WAMC

MCLA president talks enrollment growth in face of nationwide downward trend | WAMC