Hampshire College said it will close after the fall semester, ending a 56-year experiment as persistent enrollment declines, deficits, and accreditation pressure overwhelmed a long-running turnaround effort. President Jennifer Chrisler and trustees cited insufficient resources to sustain full operations and meet regulatory responsibilities. The announcement followed a warning from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) last month that Hampshire must demonstrate sufficient resources or face potential probation. Enrollment fell from 745 students in fall 2019 to 472 in fall 2021, with a rebound to 844 by fall 2024 before another unexpected drop for the 2025 cohort. NECHE’s concerns also included Hampshire’s failure to sell land to raise funds, difficulties restructuring $21 million in debt, and reliance on endowment support. The endowment reportedly fell from about $54 million in 2019 to about $24 million in fiscal year 2025, according to the college’s 2025 financial statement.