Fidelity Sees 16 College Closures in 2025 as Enrollment Falls

fidelity in higher education is under pressure as at least 16 colleges and campuses announced closures in 2025. The closures hit students while enrollment has been declining over the past decade and many institutions are struggling financially.

Roland Fryer On Students

Roland Fryer, a CBS News contributor, explains what the closures mean for students. That puts the focus on transfers, unfinished coursework, and the practical disruption that follows when a campus shuts down.

Sixteen Closures In 2025

The number matters because it shows this is not a single-campus problem. At least 16 colleges and campuses announced closures in 2025, which suggests the strain is spreading across institutions rather than staying isolated to one school type.

Enrollment And Money

College enrollment has been declining over the past decade. Many institutions are also struggling financially. Together, those two pressures leave fewer ways for colleges to absorb losses without cutting deeper into programs, staffing, or campus operations.

For students, the immediate next step is to track their own school’s closure timeline and academic transition plan, because the consequences depend on whether a college shuts its doors quickly or tries to move students elsewhere first.