Brandeis University’s new president told an AEI event that 20–25% of U.S. colleges may close in coming years, citing structural challenges and a shifting market. The warning joins an industry‑wide chorus about financial pressures at regional and small private institutions. An accompanying analysis warned colleges are still grappling with the financial fallout of policy shifts in 2025—research funding interruptions, canceled grants, legal settlements and new federal reporting burdens—that together have strained endowments, operating budgets and enrollment models. Leaders stressed the need for more aggressive consolidation, program realignment, digital strategy and board‑level financial planning to avoid widespread closures and preserve access in underserved regions.