This Week In College Viability (TWICV)

Each week I wade through dozens and dozens of higher ed stories from either referrals from others or my own Google Alert searches.  The stories and commentary that make it onto the podcast are my best judgement of what my growing audience wants to hear.For example, there was an Ohio private college president that posted this week that “ Just as culture eats strategy for breakfast, backbone beats brand”.  Now, I don’t know what that means.  He was trying to create a perception that his college was doing well.    After a review of the 4ygr and some financial indicators. I passed on this story.  Not that it shouldn’t be told, but there are other similar stories I can use.  BTW, this Ohio private has been increasing its endowment draw above the 4-5% target and has a 15% negative net income margin from 2016 -2024.    This college is not going to close, but they are prototypical of colleges engaging in chronic lack of transparency.   Almost an industry-wide genetic predisposition to spin half-stories.But that is why I am here.  I am fully transparent. I am your higher education quality control resource.  Colleges spin.  I reverse the spin and get the true story out.This week:+  I continue to see an increasing number of layoffs and cutbacks.  I will have details.  Harvard is among those on my list this week.+ Private Colleges Are Pitching Free Tuition for Middle-Class Students. Will It Make a Difference?+ 2 N.J. universities just took a huge step toward a mega-merger+ Ending Surprise Bills in Higher Education+ Requiem For A College: At Forbes review  Jon Nichols.Sign up for regular updates on the financial health of colleges here.  Show notes and linksWWU enrollment drops, with smallest first-year class since 2020Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Lays Off 25% of HUCTW StaffNKU to eliminate some positions to address budget shortfallCMU lays off 75 staffers in Software Engineering Institute, citing federal funding changesPrivate Colleges Are Pitching Free Tuition for Middle-Class Students. Will It Make a Difference?What happens to college towns after peak 18-year-old?2 N.J. universities just took a huge step toward a mega-mergerEnding Surprise Bills in Higher EducationRequiem For A College: A Heartbreaking Tale, A Crucial Conversation

This is the podcast that talks about the financial health and viability of public and private colleges with data, details and perspectives offered nowhere else.  Forward the podcast link to your higher education friends.  No sense in just you getting latest news and commentary on the whole industry.This week’s show includes:+ Many layoff and cutback stories+ More tuition resets that focus on access but not success+ More Colleges Promise Graduates Employment, Grad School Placement.  + America’s Distorted Market for Higher Education+ and much more.   . . .Sign up for regular updates on the financial health of colleges here. Show notes:Layoffs, spending cuts hit Washington University in St. LouisBerklee College of Music lays off 70 employees, no facultyAt least 55 more employees let go, USC reports 692 total layoffs as deficit reductions continueDePaul University to cut spending after 30% drop in international studentsEmory & Henry University Lowers Tuition by 50% for Upcoming YearBluffton University announces new affordability initiatives for incoming studentsLocal university launches new program offering minimum of $30K; here's what to knowMore Colleges Promise Graduates Employment, Grad School Placement‘A perfect storm’ — more colleges at risk as enrollment falls and financial pressures mountAmerica’s Distorted Market for Higher Education

In my many years on this earth, I have coached youth sports, served as a basketball referee and baseball umpire for many of those years.As I watch the NIL and transfer portal news, I have been pondering the medium and longer-term fate of the youth sports industry.  Steve Dittmore caught my attention recently with his 'Glory Days' Substack site.  I reached out to him and what resulted is a novel look at college sports and some informed speculation on its impact on the youth sports industry.Here are some of the questions I asked Steve.When we first chatted, you shared that the US has an education-based model for training Olympics athletes.   Your point was that colleges subsidize Olympic athletes.  As you have also shared, other nations have dedicated Olympics sports organizations.  How reasonable is it that dedicated sports organizations end up replacing the education-based model in our country? You have suggested that a college with a student-athlete rate of 44% or higher is financially risky.  What is the story behind that 44% number? Talk about your Substack site.  What are your reasons for posting and hosting that site?  One of the many interesting thoughts that came out of our first discussion was about a scenario where the Power 4 football leaves the NCAA.  Share your thoughts on what could happen to non-Power 4 sports and the Olympic sports at Power 4 conferences. My fascination with all of the NIL and House settlement changes is their down-the-road impact on youth sports.  I have been intimately involved in youth sports for decades - as a coach, basketball referee, and baseball umpire.  I watched many parents invest considerable sums in youth sports teams.  In almost all cases, my perception was this was in investment that would be returned with a college scholarship.  As you and I know, that scenario is successful for only a few.There is a massive market for youth sports that includes coaching, training, and community investments in youth sports (defined as 10–18-year-olds) facilities.  If colleges end up cutting back on sports for financial reasons, speculate for us what impact that might have on the youth sports industry.Finally, I want to talk about a model of single-sport conferences.  We talked previously about some of the ugly travel for college sports teams.  A single-sport conference would be more geographically concise.  Talk us through the benefits and drawbacks of that model.

Access does not equal success:  You have heard me say many times that too many colleges focus on enrollment and not nearly enough on graduation rates.  This phrase captures the essence of that.  Getting into college does not mean a student will be successful and graduate – yet enrollment is the focus we read and hear about for almost all colleges.Sign up for regular updates on the financial health of colleges here. This week:+ A college leader at Bethel U (MN) reached out with clarifying information from a recent story I had on his college. I was both impressed and touched.+ E-town (PA) doing well but tuition and fees per student keeps shrinking+ The Ed Department Hasn’t Even Begun to Fight+ Vanderbilt Eyes National ExpansionShow notes and links:Brown University to lay off 48 employees and eliminate 55 vacant rolesSouthern Oregon University to cut 23 programs and lay off 18 employeesChamplain College closing Ireland and Montreal campuses in 2026Bradley University continues to see decline in freshman enrollment. Bethel University (MN) responds (No link.)Elizabethtown College Ranks Amongst the Nation’s Best in 2026 U.S. News & World Report ListsThe Ed Department Hasn’t Even Begun to FightVanderbilt Eyes National Expansion

This week’s theme:  “challenging the enrollment spin”.  I have a set of colleges on today’s show that would like us to believe that they are winning the higher education enrollment game.  Yet, in every case their enrollment data is selective and short-term.  They ignore mostly pathetic graduation rates and don’t even begin to share their troublesome financial picture.  All the while trying to paint a rosy picture that their college is not like all of the other colleges in dire financial straights.  Financial truths are more valuable than spin and other narratives. Each of these colleges have substantive financial challenges that they are hiding from their students, their faculty, their communities and probably more.Show notes:  (links to stories in this podcast+Budget cuts: What schools have announced them—and who may be nextOverall enrollment up at Missouri Southern State UniversityUniversity of Illinois announces plans for new 400-bed residence hallMcNeese State University (LA) sees largest enrollment increase in two decadesUNO enrollment is down again. What does that mean for the university?Bethel University (MN) LI post YSU digs into fall enrollment numbers (Youngstown State)

'Wicked' college experience at Ann Arbor MI football game shows what the value of college could be.  One of the ways I unwind during the last part of each day is to watch YouTube videos.  I like to watch talented entertainers and comedy clips from TV shows. One of them that came across my feed over the weekend was the UMich Band and Students recently performing a medley of songs from the musical Wicked.  It was just stunningly good.I bring this up as an opportunity to again say that college is good.  Go if you can. Not all colleges are going to get you where you want to be.Watching those students in the band and the few dozen student singers was just plain mesmerizing.  These students exemplified an important part of the college experience.  It was a quality experience at a Power 4 Big Boy college.  While I mostly talk about colleges with troubled colleges and poor outcomes (graduation rates), the college experience for millions of students is positive and will continue.It is those colleges, public and private, that clearly don’t have the financial resources to provide a comprehensive, quality college experience that need to be called out.  Those are the ones that I point out – and will continue to do so.Here are the news stories and commentary for this week.+ Fall 2025’s Unexpected Enrollment Successes+ Colleges as commodities from the Education Alliance Groun and Dr. Chet Haskell+ My first-ever public college ‘not worthy of consideration’ call for WIU+ Wrap with Selling Dreams, Not Reality+ and a couple of individual college stories as well.

The 2nd edition of Requiem for a College 2nd edition by Jonathan Nichols is a deeply personal and cautionary tale that explores the growing trend of college closures in the United States. It's a gripping account that reads like a mystery, but it's based on a true story. The book centers on the closure of Saint Joseph's College in Indiana, a school with a 128-year history that came to a heartbreaking end in 2017. Nichols, a former English professor and alumnus of the college, uses hundreds of hours of interviews and documentation to offer an insider's view, transporting readers to the school's final days and seeking to understand what went wrong. The second edition expands on the original work by including updated insights on the increasing rate of college closures and their profound impact on communities across the nation. It's an essential read for anyone involved in higher education. It validates the experiences of those who have faced the loss of a beloved institution while also serving as a compelling analysis and warning for others. 

A long start to this week's podcast.  I take a detailed look at how colleges spin their enrollment and focus on the financial health data of one college in PA as an example.Sign up for regular updates on the financial health of colleges here. Other stories include:+ Higher ed spending up as enrollment plummets at Illinois universities+ Impact of Federal Policy Shifts: Higher Education Enrollment Cliff or Moderate Decline?+ SB 1 is forcing Ohio universities to cut dozens of degree programs+ Hundreds Of U.S. Colleges Poised To Close In Next Decade, Expert Says+ The Great Inadvertent American Shakedown

I talk about college finances and colleges spinning their numbers regularly.  This is the first time I have had a CFO (interim) come onto the podcast to share the stark reality of the financial challenges at a specfic college - Albright College (PA).Larry Bomback has been the interim CFO since late 2024.  Albright College has been in the news about its financial plight for many months.In this special podcast episode, Larry addresses the challenges and adds details of the recovery plan put in place by the new leadership team at Albright.Some will question the logic and likelihood of the recovery plan, but Larry addresses the challenges head-on and without apology.His approach is rare in today's higher education market.

I am releasing my first 'Best Of' This Week in College Viability podcast.  You will here from 2 short clips during the podcast from former college presidents.Dr. Paula Langteau will discuss 3 key metrics for college closure and than add more on why colleges don't announce their closures sooner.Dr. Ricardo Azziz discusses 3 topics on mergers and acquisistions.The first clip will be the reasons why college leaders need to start the merger discussions early.The second shares some perspective on why this is the consolidation era for higher education.Finally, Dr. Azziz shares his logic behind the philosophy of starting M&A discussions in a 1:1 format inside of organizations.

Lots and lots and lots of enrollment announcements last week.  So, I decided to do a little tally exercise.  You will be interested to see how many of these greate enrollment announcements were carefully qualified announcements and how many were clearly legitimate.   I had 4 brave colleges that announced decreased enrollment last weekStories and commentary for August 25th:+  What does it mean when a college announces a ‘record enrollment’?  We will use the College Viability 7-second check to find out.+ Strange happenings at Our Lady of the Lake University in TX+ An IU professor whines about cutbacks on low enrollment majors+ How about yet another college getting HLC accreditation while graduating less than 30% of its students in 4 years.+ In this week’s wrap, an update on the FREE college viability report at MyCollegeViability.com   (Here is the link to get the FREE report for the private college of your choice. Show Notes and today's story links:Bennington College announces layoffs of 15 staff membersAt DePaul, we major in you  As Fall Semester Opens, Several Major Universities Tout Record EnrollmentsOur Lady of the Lake students say OLLU gave them no viable options to complete their degreeUniversity of Oregon faculty speak out against looming layoffs next monthIndiana's attack on IU is gutting academic programs | OpinionSome Emerson faculty have lost trust in their college presidentGen Z men with college degrees now have the same unemployment rate as non-grads—a sign that the higher education payoff is deadATU (Arkansas Tech) Passes HLC Assurance Review With Flying Colors

Here are the questions Dr. Azziz answered during the podcast 1. You are in the middle of a research project to determine the seating capacity of the entire higher education market.  Talk about that project.2.  When we look at higher education, it is clear that there are too many colleges and too many colleges seats.  How did we get to this point?3.  Is it fair to say that higher educationis is in a consolidation era?4.  You have two books on mergers in higher education.  The second one is coming out soon.  Talk about a few of the themes you cover in your books.5.  I have heard you talk about colleges waiting too long to look at merger options. What do you mean by that?6.  Let's address this from a faculty perspective.  What signs should college faculty look for to determine if their college is in financial distress.7.  You have been a college president a few times.  Make me a college president for a day.  Give me guidance on what my first steps should be if I need to introduce the possibility of a merger with my board.8.  Let's talk about students and families and their college decision process.  As they listen to this podcast, what guidance would you give them as they create their college list?Contact SPH Consulting Group

TWICV News and Commentary for August 18 2024    I had a higher ed friend send me a story on Sunday about an Iowa private college.  The spin was silly and obvious.  A look at their financials suggests this college is a likely closure candidate when the Higher Education tipping point hits.   I could have pulled a half-dozen of these type of stories in just the past week.This is an industry living on spin.  They couch their press releases in carefully worded avoidance of hardly any details.  Graduation rates are hidden.  Reinforcing my view that too many colleges are all about enrollment and not outcomes.This will not end well for individual colleges, this nation, or hundreds of thousands of students that have been or will be negatively impacted by the abysmal financial health of hundreds of public and private colleges.Top news and commentary this week:+  Lots of closures and cutbacks+ It is spin season as colleges take data for a fictional ride from reality+ A college hid a June layoff announcement+ St. Augustine won an temporary injunction against its accreditor.+ Goodbye, $165,000 Tech Jobs. Student Coders Seek Work at Chipotle.Show notes:UConn closes 7 academic programs after low-enrollment reviewUniversity of Utah details course cutsMonmouth College phasing out ten majors, enhancing other programs following academic prioritization processAvila University Announces Leadership TransitionLocal colleges navigate uncertain times with international students Aquinas College is growing, but still provides the ‘sanctuary’ of a smaller schoolSuffolk University laid off 35 people earlier this summerSaint Augustine's University announces Sept. 2 start for fall semester, new board chair appointedNew Illinois law set to shake college admissionsA Better Model for College AccreditationGoodbye, $165,000 Tech Jobs. Student Coders Seek Work at Chipotle.

Shellee Howard is the founder and CEO of College Ready, a college graduate, and a Certified Educational Planner. Her son graduated from Harvard in the spring of 2016 debt free! Her daughter attended the University of Alabama and completed the Nursing program at CBU, also debt free! Her passion is helping students all over the world get into the best possible college for them. Shellee has traveled around the world helping students plan for their “perfect match” college. She believes that no two students are the same and that each student must have their own strategy and plan to be successful. Each student has gifts and talents that will set him or her apart from their competition. Shellee has appeared on television and is frequently interviewed by newspapers and magazines. She has spoken on the topic of successful college admissions to audiences all over the world.Recommended Podcast AudienceProfessional Moms: Busy mothers with demanding careers—doctors, lawyers, engineers, CPAs—who are juggling work and parenting. They value education deeply, want their kids to succeed, and are seeking expert guidance to avoid costly college mistakes without spending hours on research.Families with Teens: Parents navigating the middle and high school years, especially those with blended families or multiple children. They want to plan early and make strategic choices that optimize college outcomes and minimize debt.Parents of Scholar-Athletes: Families investing heavily in private coaching and sports programs, hoping for athletic scholarships. They need clarity on the actual odds, how to balance academics with athletics, and where to redirect their resources effectively.Personal Finance–Savvy Parents : Financially literate or financially curious parents looking for ROI on college education. They may already follow finance podcasts or work with advisors and are eager to understand scholarships, aid strategies, and how college fits into their bigger financial picture.Faith-Guided Families Seeking Purposeful Education: Parents who value faith, service, and purpose-driven paths. They resonate with values like community impact, giving back, and raising resilient, intentional young adults. This audience is open to stories that blend personal conviction with educational success.Here are some of the questions Shelle answered during our podcast.You helped your son get into Harvard—and graduate debt-free. What was the very first step you took when he said he wanted to go Ivy League?What are the biggest misconceptions high-earning parents have about financial aid—and how can they avoid missing out on money they do qualify for?You often say that getting into college is about “standing out”—but what does that actually look like on an application?When is the right time to start planning for college—and what should parents do if they feel like they’re already behind?What role does storytelling play in a strong college application—and how do you help students uncover theirs?What’s the Student Aid Index—and why should every parent of a teen know theirs?What do you wish every professional mom knew about navigating the college journey with her teen—before senior year hits?

This is the podcast that talks about the financial health and viability of public and private colleges with data, details and perspectives offered nowhere else.  This podcast is the alternative media source for colleges, students, families, and communities.  I work every week to expose the spin, the stalls, and the silliness that pervades Higher Education in America.This week:+ Bellwether warns of school closures, consolidations ahead.  You will be surprised when I share what part of the market this headline addresses.+  Peter Khoury:  The Manufactured Crisis: College Closures Are Not Abrupt. They're Allowed.+  Why Elite Colleges Are Still Accepting Students From Their Waitlists+ A day late and a dollar short story on a public college in Illinois.+  And more . . . . . .Show Notes:Private College Advanced Financial Compass2025 College Viability App for Executive Analysis2025 College Majors Completion App  (Retails at $799.  Now at $199 through August 29th)Students & Families:  FREE College Viability report on the college of your choice.News story links:Academic Program Cuts Looming At University Of NebraskaStanford University to eliminate 363 workers as federal funding cuts, tax hikes hit homeUNH to lay off 23 employees, cut 13 unfilled positions, school president saysThe Manufactured Crisis: College Closures Are Not Abrupt. They're Allowed.Clarks Summit University One Year LaterBellwether warns of school closures, consolidations aheadWhy Elite Colleges Are Still Accepting Students From Their WaitlistsDuke reopens waitlist, enrolls roughly 50 more students to Class of 2029SIU Carbondale enhances efforts to recruit and support international students

This Week in College Viability is the alternative higher education media source for college stakeholders.This was a big weekend here at College Viability.  We released our first fully automated College Viability report for student and familiesThe free and paid versions are similar to the Kelly Blue Book for cars.  KBB kicks the tires on cares.  Our apps kick the financial health of colleges.The app for students & families also serves as a 'REVERSE FAFSA".  Since families submit their financial data to FAFSA, it is only fair that there is a resource for students & families to see a colleges financial data.  Of course, we have explanations and comparisons in our apps. Shortly, we will have a custom pdf that students can use to ask specific questions about the financial health of the colleges they are considering.  Similar products will also be out soon for High School counselors, and then college faculty and staff.News stories and commentary this week:+ Too many closure and cutback announcements.  I have never seen this many in the 3 plus years I have been doing this podcast.+  The American Bar Association Needn’t Accredit Law Schools – I will share how this applies to college accreditors+  Forbes warns:  International College Students Could Drop By 150,000 This Fall, Report Warns+  Students in neighboring states can get the Iowa tuition rate at UNI this fall+  The Enemy Within: Former College Presidents Offer WarningsShow notes:Northwestern, Barnard announce staff layoffs linked to federal funding cuts, debtMoody Bible Institute lays off roughly 9% of staff, as small religious schools nationwide struggle with enrollmentMeredith College laying off 6% of workforce: 'A gut punch'Elon University announces pause on hiring vacant faculty, staff positions for 2025-26SOU President: ‘Today we are declaring exigency,’ ‘building’ to a $60 million university, 15% off current budget University of Houston language programs shrink as students choose other fieldsInternational College Students Could Drop By 150,000 This Fall, Report WarnsStudents in neighboring states can get the Iowa tuition rate at UNI this fallThe Enemy Within: Former College Presidents Offer WarningsThe American Bar Association Needn’t Accredit Law Schools

For the July 28th This Week in College Viability podcast, I have: + A college president who must be dizzy with the spin she is trying to impart on a very difficult financial situation.+ Technical and trade schools are not sitting waiting for students.  They are marketing to them aggressively.  I have a story and a point to make on that.+ College business officers are still a generally delusional group.  This is my observation from an IHD story on its annual survey,+ And I have another college ambulance chaser story from MichiganStory links:Accreditation Agency Flags Wheeling University For Financial ConcernsWith UNO enrollment in decline, officials plan to cut courses and adjunct professorsDuke Announces Layoffs Amid Federal Funding UncertaintySpring Hill College president discusses school's future, debunks rumorsGrowing enrollment at trade schools in MinnesotaRisk and Resilience (from college chief business officers)These Michigan colleges are lining up to take students after university closure

Here are the headlines from today's podcast+ Vague layoffs and a merger+ Maine university system approves accelerated degree programs to address workforce gaps+ Are  there really positive perceptions developing around higher education.

This is the podcast that talks about the financial health and viability of public and private colleges with data, details and perspectives offered nowhere else.+ More layoffs and cutbacks.+ Look at 2 colleges with accreditation updates.+ Pennsylvania’s 14-campus higher education system is piloting plans to allow students to access courses beyond their home institution+ TUITION DISCOUNT RATE hits another high.+ Ryan Craig at Achieve Partners talks about the bad day that graduate programs had earlier this month.Make sure to share the podcast link with others.  No sense in keeping this news and perspective commentary all to yourself.Show notes / linksSt. John’s College reduces staffing by 5% amid enrollment decline ( behind paywall)Utica University Will Cut $5 Million From Annual Faculty BudgetDefiance College says Higher Learning Commission has placed it on Standard Pathway in accreditation cycleHoughton University’s accreditation reaffirmed by Middle States Commission on Higher EducationGonzaga U makes adjustments in light of unusually small freshman classPacific in strong financial shapeTo Avoid Program Closures, PASSHE Explores Course SharingStop Confusing a Zip Code with a Quality EducationTuition Discounting Hits Another High