US colleges are cutting majors and slashing programs after years of delays
U.S. colleges are cutting degree programs due to financial challenges and declining enrollment, with St. Cloud State eliminating 42 programs, including music, amid significant budget shortfalls and rising operational costs.
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U.S. colleges are increasingly cutting degree programs and majors as they face financial challenges exacerbated by declining enrollment and the end of federal COVID relief funds. Institutions like St. Cloud State University are eliminating numerous programs, including its music department, which has left students like Christina Westman scrambling to find new educational opportunities. The cuts are a response to a significant budget shortfall, with St. Cloud State reporting a $32 million deficit over two years. The trend is not isolated; many colleges across the country are making similar reductions, with some even closing entirely. Enrollment has been declining since the pandemic, and experts warn that the situation may worsen as fewer high school graduates are entering college. The financial strain is compounded by rising operational costs and a shrinking pool of potential students due to lower birth rates following the Great Recession. As colleges reassess their offerings, programs in the humanities and smaller fields are particularly vulnerable. The situation raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of higher education institutions and the impact on students and faculty.
- U.S. colleges are cutting programs due to financial challenges and declining enrollment.
- St. Cloud State University is eliminating 42 degree programs, including its music department.
- Many colleges are facing budget shortfalls and some have closed entirely.
- The decline in college enrollment is linked to fewer high school graduates and rising operational costs.
- Programs in the humanities and smaller fields are particularly at risk of being cut.
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