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Smaller universities/colleges facing extinction - OKIcat - 04-11-2026 08:48 AM
I know we've had tangential discussions here about this subject in the past, with particular attention paid to X and its mounting financial and enrollment issues.
There is an excellent front page feature in yesterday's Wall Street Journal titled, "Smaller Colleges Risk Extinction". "Shrinking enrollment at 442 private, nonprofit colleges...is placing them at significant risk of closing or merging...".
While I don't celebrate the loss of America's small, private colleges it's a megatrend that can't be ignored. And it's fair to suggest the folks over in Norwood are facing some grim realities behind closed doors. From the standpoint of athletics, I'm sure some over there believe competing in D1 basketball is a marketing tool for their university. But how many dollars can they continue to push toward competing in a Big East Conference where their school is already one of the smallest, and most poorly funded by endowment earnings?
RE: Smaller universities/colleges facing extinction - CLASS - 04-11-2026 11:23 AM
(04-11-2026 08:48 AM)OKIcat Wrote: I know we've had tangential discussions here about this subject in the past, with particular attention paid to X and its mounting financial and enrollment issues.
There is an excellent front page feature in yesterday's Wall Street Journal titled, "Smaller Colleges Risk Extinction". "Shrinking enrollment at 442 private, nonprofit colleges...is placing them at significant risk of closing or merging...".
While I don't celebrate the loss of America's small, private colleges it's a megatrend that can't be ignored. And it's fair to suggest the folks over in Norwood are facing some grim realities behind closed doors. From the standpoint of athletics, I'm sure some over there believe competing in D1 basketball is a marketing tool for their university. But how many dollars can they continue to push toward competing in a Big East Conference where their school is already one of the smallest, and most poorly funded by endowment earnings?
Makes me wonder why X is spending a **** pot full of money starting a Medical School (DO not MD)?
RE: Smaller universities/colleges facing extinction - OKIcat - 04-12-2026 04:36 PM
(04-11-2026 11:23 AM)CLASS Wrote:(04-11-2026 08:48 AM)OKIcat Wrote: I know we've had tangential discussions here about this subject in the past, with particular attention paid to X and its mounting financial and enrollment issues.
There is an excellent front page feature in yesterday's Wall Street Journal titled, "Smaller Colleges Risk Extinction". "Shrinking enrollment at 442 private, nonprofit colleges...is placing them at significant risk of closing or merging...".
While I don't celebrate the loss of America's small, private colleges it's a megatrend that can't be ignored. And it's fair to suggest the folks over in Norwood are facing some grim realities behind closed doors. From the standpoint of athletics, I'm sure some over there believe competing in D1 basketball is a marketing tool for their university. But how many dollars can they continue to push toward competing in a Big East Conference where their school is already one of the smallest, and most poorly funded by endowment earnings?
Makes me wonder why X is spending a **** pot full of money starting a Medical School (DO not MD)?
Yep, I've wondered the same thing. Tuition will likely be high and enrollment relatively low. Many now say an OD and an MD degree are interchangeable. Who knows? Like you though it would seem the capital investment to hire faculty, build labs, etc., would require a multi-year ROI to begin to benefit the University financial situation in any significant way. One would hope they know what they're doing but given the current predictament, their trustees should be wary.
RE: Smaller universities/colleges facing extinction - CliftonAve - 04-13-2026 02:59 PM
I think XU will be fine. They have the backing of the old guard in the city. The schools are risks are the small privates across the state- the Bluftons, Heidelberg and Wittenberg’s of the world that have enrollment or 1,500 students and are located in markets where other universities are within 20-30 miles.
Here is an interesting article hot off the presses- per this study 25% of small private colleges will close in the near future.
https://www.npr.org/2026/04/13/nx-s1-5777582/many-private-colleges-at-risk-of-closing