University leaders are cutting programs and redesigning operations to close structural budget gaps amid declines in state funding and international enrollment volatility. In an interview, University of North Texas President Harrison Keller said the institution projected a $45 million structural deficit, driven by a roughly $16 million reduction in instruction and operations formula appropriations and a steep drop in international graduate student enrollment. Keller said UNT faced visa-related disruptions that reduced attendance for thousands of admitted students, with each student representing significant tuition revenue exposure. The university responded by cutting more than 70 low-enrolling academic programs and slowing hiring, with leaders projecting the deficit could narrow to about $35 million and be resolved by fiscal year 2028. The update matters for higher ed decision-making because international enrollment shocks can quickly move “enrollment planning” into “budget survivability,” forcing campuses to realign academic portfolios, staffing models, and resource allocation before the next legislative or fiscal cycle.