The Board of Trustees at Hampshire College, a private liberal arts institution in Amherst, Massachusetts, has decided to permanently close the college following the conclusion of the Fall 2026 semester. This resolution marks the end of years of financial difficulties and unsuccessful attempts to secure the college’s long-term viability.
Since 2019, Hampshire College has faced significant financial challenges, including declining student enrollment, escalating operational costs, and an unpredictable funding landscape that has particularly impacted small liberal arts colleges. Despite implementing a financial sustainability plan and raising over $55 million through its Change in the Making campaign, efforts to boost enrollment, refinance debt, and develop campus land failed to establish a sustainable future.
In a significant development, the college will continue to offer academic programs, student life activities, and transitional support to currently enrolled students until the end of the Fall 2026 semester. Notably, Hampshire College will not admit any new students for the Fall 2026 term, and deposits from admitted students will be fully refunded.
Students in their final year (Division III) will be allowed to complete their degrees at Hampshire College through the closure date, with campus housing and support services remaining accessible to them. Meanwhile, students in their first through third years (Divisions I and II) will receive personalized advising and assistance with transfer options at several partner institutions. These include Amherst College, Bennington College, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Massachusetts College of the Liberal Arts, Mount Holyoke College, Prescott College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
