Why Small Colleges Are Closing: The Toll on Students and Communities

Across the nation, scores of small private colleges and universities are either closing or under threat. As each school shutters, students, faculty, and the surrounding community struggle to find a way forward. Paul Solman reports on one such school and the effects of its demise. It's part of our higher education series, Rethinking College, and produced in collaboration with the Hechinger Report. The segment examines the financial pressures, demographic shifts, and changing educational landscape that are driving these closures. It also highlights the personal stories of students whose educations are disrupted and the economic impact on towns that lose a major employer. This report offers a comprehensive look at a growing crisis in higher education. PBS News Hour provides in-depth analysis and human perspectives on the challenges facing small colleges and their communities.