https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampshire-county/hampshire-college-to-close-permanently-after-fall-2026-semester/

Hampshire College to close permanently after fall 2026 semester

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) – Hampshire College’s board of trustees voted to permanently close the institution following the Fall 2026 semester. The decision comes after years of financial struggle and unsuccessful efforts to secure the college’s future.

The college has navigated financial challenges since 2019, experiencing declining enrollment, rising costs and an unstable funding environment that affects small, liberal arts colleges. Despite pursuing a financial sustainability plan and raising more than $55 million through its Change in the Making campaign, efforts in enrollment growth, debt refinancing and land development did not yield a viable path forward.

Hampshire College will provide academic, student life and transitional services to currently enrolled students through the end of the fall semester. The college will not admit a new class for Fall 2026 and all deposits from admitted students will be refunded.

Division III students, who are in their final year, will be eligible to complete their degrees at Hampshire College through the end of the Fall 2026 semester. Campus housing and support services will remain available for these students.

Division I and II students, who are in their first through third years, will receive individualized advising and access to transfer pathways at several partner institutions. These institutions include Amherst College, Bennington College, Mass. College of Art and Design, Mass. College of the Liberal Arts, Mount Holyoke College, Prescott College, Smith College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Commencement for eligible graduates is scheduled for May 16th. A second ceremony is planned for those who complete their degrees in the fall.

The college is collaborating with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and the New England Commission of Higher Education, known as NECHE, on teach-out planning. This planning includes two pathways for currently enrolled students.

Hampshire College will assist departing faculty and staff with information, resources and support as they navigate this transition. To address questions and provide detailed information about next steps, the college has developed a website for students, faculty, staff and the public.

Hampshire College will continue to provide academic, student life and transitional services to its currently enrolled students through the end of the Fall 2026 semester. Teach-out planning will proceed in coordination with state and regional higher education authorities.

“Hampshire’s board made this decision only after exploring every possible alternative,” said Jose Fuentes, Chair of the Hampshire College Board of Trustees. “Nearly every trustee is an alum, and we share in the community’s heartbreak. 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. Our commitment now is to ensure that every student, employee, and member of this community is treated with the care and respect they deserve.”

“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,” said Jennifer Chrisler, president of Hampshire College. “Since its founding in 1965, Hampshire College has been home to deeply curious, creative people who have radically reimagined what a liberal arts education can be. We have kept our commitment to one another – leaving no stone unturned, no solution unexplored, and making many sacrifices along the way. The timing of this decision assures that we can carefully steward the institution’s limited financial resources to facilitate a transition that allows our current students to complete their undergraduate education (either here or at a partner institution), is respectful of our faculty and staff, maintains the value of a Hampshire College degree, and honors the lasting legacy of Hampshire and its alumni.”

“The news that Hampshire College will close at the end of this calendar year comes after more than five decades of the College providing students with a unique, interdisciplinary, self-directed liberal arts education that will undoubtedly have a lasting impact,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “The Department of Higher Education (DHE) has been in close contact with President Chrisler and her leadership team, and we share a commitment to supporting the best interests of students, faculty and staff. We recognize how deeply impactful this closure is for the entire Hampshire community, especially for students who must now determine their path forward. We urge students to make full use of the supports that Hampshire is offering to guide those decisions and find the best path to completing their academic journey. We appreciate Hampshire’s student-centered approach to date on contingency planning, and we encourage their continued partnership with DHE, aimed at ensuring students receive the benefits of completing their education in a timely manner.”

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5857059&forum_id=2Reputation#49817419)