Before the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, many colleges are cutting back on work and programs.
Institutions making the cuts range from large research universities overwhelmed by state funding challenges to medium- and small-sized colleges working to deal with stubborn budget shortfalls.
Here’s a look at the job and program cuts announced last month.
University of Minnesota
Regents at the state flagship approved an operating budget last month that included a plan to eliminate 230 jobs through a mix of layoffs and layoffs, Minnesota Star Tribune report.
At the same time, the university is increasing undergraduate tuition by 3.8 percent.
The regents ended up cutting about $44 million from the budget. Officials said the cuts were necessary to balance the budget amid state funding challenges and rising operating costs.
Johns Hopkins University
One of the country’s top research universities is laying off around 110 staff, due to ongoing problems with government funding, Baltimore banner report.
The employees who were laid off late last month are focused on JHU’s Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Carey Business School and administrative areas, media reports said. Officials said in a statement that as Johns Hopkins’ “consolidated research portfolio shrinks, the surrounding infrastructure must change accordingly” and called the move “a last resort.” I Banner reported that the university has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding since President Trump took office in January 2025.
Last year JHU laid off more than 2,000 employees amid the organization’s massive financial losses.
The New School
The private university in New York City laid off 87 employees—19 professors and 68 staff—last month as it faces a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall, Hyperallergic report.
In a public statement, President Joel Towers wrote that enrollment dropped from a peak in 2021 to 8,300 students, a nearly 21 percent decrease. Federal data shows that the New School has about 10,493 students in 2021.
Towers noted that previous purchases have helped the New School deal with a budget gap.
“While the number of layoffs is not as great as it would have been without voluntary programs and other savings measures, that does not diminish the impact of the layoffs on the people affected, their families, and those who will remain and feel their absence,” Towers wrote.
The New School aims to balance its budget in the 2028 fiscal year.
Southern Oregon University
Facing an estimated $12.5 million budget shortfall and the State Legislature’s mandate to balance its books, the state’s public university unveiled a plan last month to cut 66 jobs.
SOU will also close three academic programs, Oregon Public Media report.
The plan reportedly cuts 23 faculty positions and 43 staff positions and—along with savings efforts already underway—is expected to eliminate deficits and position the university for the future.
Ursinus College
The private college cut 36 staff jobs last month in an effort to cut $10 million from its budget and deal with the deficit, a move that follows enrollment cuts in April. The Philadelphia Inquirer report.
The staff reduction is expected to save the college an estimated $3.5 million. Officials told the newspaper that Ursinus still needs to cut $2 million in operating expenses, but no further layoffs are expected.
Life University
The private university in Marietta, Ga., is laying off more than 30 employees, including 14 faculty members, and freezing 401(k) matching contributions amid a $5 million budget shortfall, I Atlanta Constitution-Journal report.
The cuts will save the university an estimated $4.4 million.
Life University, which has a major chiropractic school, has struggled with enrollment recently after it was put on probation by its planned accreditor due to poor licensure exam passing rates. That test was completed in January as pass rates improved.
University of Arizona
The shake-up at the public university will reportedly eliminate more than a dozen jobs as Arizona consolidates its Health Sciences research centers into other parts of the university.
University officials did not specify how many positions would be cut, but the sources said Arizona Daily Star that 28 employees will be laid off, effective August 7. The planned layoffs will reportedly affect employees working in finance, administration and communications.
Colorado School of Mines
The public university cut 1% of its workforce last month, a move that affects about 16 employees, The Denver Post report.
Officials told the newspaper that while the university “remains financially sound,” the decline was due to “changing enrollment patterns, changing administrative needs and increasing complexity in higher education.” They added that “Mines reallocated other resources to support activities that are more relevant to the university’s operations and future strategies.”
Doane University
A small private university in Nebraska has given 15 staff buyouts and announced plans to cut nine academic programs as it struggles to restore enrollment to pre-pandemic levels. The Lincoln Journal Star report.
Officials told the newspaper that the university is trying to “reconfigure our facilities to ensure we offer the best possible product” amid growing competition for undergraduates.
University of Denver
A restructuring effort is underway at the private university, I The Denver Post report.
University of Denver officials announced plans last month to close several academic departments and consolidate some schools as part of a restructuring plan. Officials declined to tell the newspaper how many employees will lose their jobs during the renovations or the cost savings. While the university revealed a budget shortfall of $20 million to $30 million, officials said the changes are “not part” of an effort to solve that gap but are about making the institution “faster and faster to the size it is and to the demand of students.”
South Puget Sound Community College
A small number of jobs and programs are being cut at Washington State’s community college, Olympian report.
The College’s Board of Trustees voted last month to end three programs and cut three faculty positions. One professor in a program targeted for cuts has chosen to withdraw. This move is part of a plan to address a budget deficit of approximately $4 million.
Pennsylvania Western University
PennWest officials are moving forward with a proposal to eliminate 43 academic programs, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report.
Under this program that has been discussed for months, this public university has released six majors, three degrees and 34 minors. However, PennWest also plans to add new programs and reclassify some of the removed minors as certificates. Officials told this newspaper that the demand of the students, the needs of the employers and the habits of the workers are what led to the reorganization of the courses.
Eastern Washington University
The regional public university offers nine degree programs.
The Board of Trustees voted last month to discontinue a series of undergraduate and graduate programs—including bachelor’s degrees in gender, women’s and sexuality studies—based on recommendations from college administrators, Spokesman-Review report. Last month’s vote, reportedly spurred by the program’s low enrollment, passed despite opposition from local officials, including Spokane’s mayor, who expressed support for the gender, women’s and sexuality education program.
Marshall University
Seven academic programs will be discontinued at a public university in West Virginia.
Marshall’s Board of Trustees voted last month to eliminate two master’s degrees, one undergraduate major and four graduate-level certificate programs, West Virginia Public Broadcasting reported. Some programs were already being completed. While the newspaper reported that the cuts followed a planned program review, Marshall is facing a $10 million budget shortfall.
