Trending Now - Hampshire College to Permanently Close Its Doors This Fall
WHO:
ABC News - Hampshire College President Jennifer Chrisler stated, “This is an incredibly painful moment for the Hampshire community, and we are doing everything to support our students in completing their studies and assist our faculty and staff in navigating what comes next.”
WBUR - Jose Fuentes, chair of Hampshire College's Board of Trustees, said, “The financial realities we face: declining enrollment, the weight of long-standing debt, and stalled progress on land development left us no other responsible path.”
ABC News - Hampshire College's Board of Trustees, President Jennifer Chrisler, and Chair Jose Fuentes.
Bloomberg Wealth - Hampshire College, a liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Boston.com News - Hampshire College administration.
WHAT:
WBUR - Hampshire College reported a $24 million endowment at the end of the last fiscal year.
WBUR - The college faced a $3.7 million deficit at the end of the last fiscal year.
The Guardian - Commencement ceremonies will still be held in May 2026 for graduating students, and a streamlined ceremony will take place in December 2026 for those completing their degrees.
ABC News - The Board of Trustees stated that efforts to increase enrollment, refinance existing debt, and generate new revenue through land sales had "fallen short."
WBUR - The college's accreditor, New England Commission of Higher Education, required Hampshire to "show cause" by June 2026 regarding its accreditation status due to struggling enrollment and financial issues.
The Guardian - The college will refund deposits for all accepted students who were set to enroll in the incoming 2026 class.
ABC News - The Board of Trustees voted to close Hampshire College due to "increasingly complex" financial pressure.
WBUR - Hampshire College launched a $60 million fundraising campaign in 2020, which included a $5 million gift in honor of Ken Burns.
WBUR - As of the fall of 2023, Hampshire College had more than 700 students enrolled and employed 55 full-time and eight part-time faculty.
Bloomberg Wealth - Hampshire College will close after the 2026 fall semester.
Boston.com News - The college failed to gain financial footing despite a five-year plan conceived in 2019.
WHERE:
Bloomberg Wealth - Amherst, Massachusetts.
WHEN:
WBUR - The college's accreditor, New England Commission of Higher Education, required Hampshire to "show cause" by June 2026 regarding its accreditation status.
Bloomberg Wealth - The closure will take place after the fall semester of 2026.
Boston.com News - The five-year plan was conceived in 2019.
WHY:
WBUR - The Board of Trustees cited "declining enrollment, the weight of long-standing debt, and stalled progress on land development" as the financial realities leading to the closure.
WBUR - The college faced a $3.7 million deficit at the end of the last fiscal year and had a $24 million endowment.
Boston.com News - The closure is attributed to declining enrollment and financial instability.
HOW:
The Guardian - First- through third-year students will be able to transfer through agreements with partner institutions including Massachusetts College of the Liberal Arts, in addition to previously mentioned institutions.
The Guardian - First- through third-year students will be able to transfer through agreements with partner institutions, including Bennington College, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and Prescott College.
WBUR - Current students who are not graduating will have access to transfer pathways at partner institutions, including Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Boston.com News - The college attempted to implement a five-year plan to remain open, which ultimately did not succeed.
(UPDATED April 15, 2026 15:20 UTC)
Hampshire College is facing significant challenges, prompting President Jennifer Chrisler to express deep concern for the community while emphasizing support for students and faculty during this difficult time. The college, which reported a $24 million endowment but also a $3.7 million deficit at the end of the last fiscal year, has seen declining enrollment and long-standing debt lead to tough decisions, according to Board of Trustees chair Jose Fuentes. Despite these issues, commencement ceremonies will still take place in May for graduating students, and first- through third-year students will have transfer options available through agreements with partner institutions.
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(UPDATED April 15, 2026 09:20 UTC)
Hampshire College has announced that it will close its doors after struggling with declining enrollment and financial issues, as the Board of Trustees revealed that efforts to boost enrollment and refinance debt have fallen short. The college's accreditor has mandated that Hampshire show cause by June 20th26 regarding its accreditation status, prompting the decision to refund deposits for all accepted students in the incoming 2026 class. First- through third-year students will have the opportunity to transfer to partner institutions, including Bennington College, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and Prescott College.
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(UPDATED April 14, 2026 23:14 UTC)
Hampshire College's Board of Trustees has voted to close the institution due to increasingly complex financial pressures. The college, which launched a $60 million fundraising campaign in 2020 and had over 700 students enrolled as of fall 2023, is facing a $3.7 million deficit and must address its accreditation status by June 20th26. Current students who are not graduating will have the opportunity to transfer to partner institutions such as Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
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(UPDATED April 14, 2026 19:26 UTC)
Hampshire College, a liberal arts institution in Amherst, Massachusetts, will close its doors after the fall semester of 2026 due to ongoing financial instability and declining enrollment. Despite efforts to stabilize the college through a five-year plan initiated in 2019, the administration was unable to achieve the necessary financial footing. The decision to close follows a series of challenges that ultimately proved insurmountable for the college.