Hampshire College in western Massachusetts said on Tuesday that it will close after the fall semester, citing what its leaders described as increasingly complex financial pressure that left the school unable to sustain full operations and meet regulatory responsibilities. In a statement attributed to the school’s board and its president, Jennifer Chrisler, Hampshire said the Board of Trustees voted to close after the fall semester and that prior efforts to stabilize finances had not worked.
In the statement, Hampshire said, “The College no longer has the resources to sustain full operations and meet our regulatory responsibilities.” The school said the approach included trying to increase enrollment, refinancing existing debt, and seeking new revenue from land sales, but that those efforts had fallen short. Chrisler later acknowledged on Instagram that the decision was difficult for the Hampshire community, saying, “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.”
The school said it chose a timeline that would let current undergraduates at the small liberal arts college finish their education at Hampshire or at a partner institution. Hampshire, founded in 1965, has faced financial challenges for several years, according to the school’s history described in reporting on the announcement. In 2020, it launched a $60 million fundraising campaign that included a $5 million gift in honor of Ken Burns, the documentary filmmaker listed among its alumni.
Hampshire has also drawn national attention in recent years for how it handled potential student transfers from New College of Florida, which Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis took over. Hampshire said it would accept students from New College of Florida who were in good standing, allowing them to transfer and, with student aid, pay the same amount in tuition they were paying in Florida. The two institutions, reporting said, are each known for progressive, free-spirited student cultures and for letting students design their own course of study.
Hampshire’s closure comes as small colleges across the United States, particularly in New England, have struggled with declining enrollment and financial strain. Reporting on the announcement pointed to broader trends including decreases in the birth rate translating into fewer college-age Americans, and smaller shares of high school graduates in some states heading to college after the COVID-19 pandemic. With higher education facing more supply than demand, many small private colleges have seen long-term enrollment declines that, in turn, have tightened finances and increased pressure.
With its announcement, Hampshire joined a broader list of institutions that have closed in recent years. For students and staff, the decision will shift how undergraduates plan their remaining semesters, with the college saying the fall-to-close schedule is intended to help students complete their studies through Hampshire or its partner options.