Closures and Mergers
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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 -
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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 -
Explore the Trendline➔
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TrendlineCommunity Colleges
The nation’s community colleges look to innovative programs and funding models as they work to boost enrollment and stay financially afloat in the changing higher education world.
By Higher Ed Dive staff -
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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 -
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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 -
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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 -
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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 -
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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 -
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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 -
Ben Unglesbee/Higher Ed Dive
The fallout: A two-part look at the University of the Arts’ closure and legacy
Higher Ed Dive traveled to Philadelphia to chronicle the lasting impact of a beloved arts education institution’s sudden demise.
By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 14, 2024 -
3 Virginia universities face some viability risk
Radford University, University of Mary Washington and Virginia State University have struggled with enrollment or pricing challenges, or both.
By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 10, 2024 -
Permission granted by Temple University
Deep DiveThe fallout: The University of the Arts saga lives on — will its legacy?
Temple University and others have absorbed former UArts students. But can they replace the unique urban arts institution after its demise?
By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 9, 2024 -
Ben Unglesbee/Higher Ed Dive
Deep DiveThe fallout: University of the Arts haunted by unanswered questions months after sudden closure
Students and employees were left in the lurch after the nearly 150-year-old institution shuttered with just a week's notice.
By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 8, 2024 -
LaylaBird via Getty Images
ColumnTo understand the future of higher education, look to the past of healthcare
A college consolidation expert breaks down similarities between the two sectors — and what institutions can learn from them.
By Ricardo Azziz • Oct. 1, 2024 -
The image by Jwrandolph is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Miles College to buy shuttered Birmingham-Southern’s campus
Just miles apart, both institutions struggled with declining enrollment in recent years. But Birmingham-Southern couldn’t rebound financially.
By Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 26, 2024 -
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Arizona State to add tuition surcharge, close 1 campus after state funding cuts
With a $24 million reduction in public funds, the Arizona university warned of impacts to students.
By Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 24, 2024 -
The image by SilentMatt Psychedelic is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Gannon University and Ursuline College eye a combination
The two private Catholic institutions signed a letter of intent that would bring the Ohio-based Ursuline under the umbrella of Gannon, in Pennsylvania.
By Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 17, 2024
