Hampshire College’s Board of Trustees voted to close the institution after the fall 2026 semester, citing “increasingly complex” financial pressure and unmet regulatory and operating requirements. The college said earlier efforts to increase enrollment, refinance debt, and generate new revenue from land sales fell short. The announcement places Hampshire among a growing list of small colleges facing viability challenges tied to demographic shifts, persistent enrollment headwinds, and accreditation and financial compliance pressures. The institution said its closing timeline is designed to let current students complete their degrees through teach-out or transfer arrangements with Hampshire or partner institutions. The closure follows multiple earlier survival attempts, including a fundraising push and efforts to support transfer pathways, underscoring how difficult it has become for under-resourced private colleges to sustain operations while meeting compliance expectations.