Temple University moved into fiscal 2027 with a smaller projected gap, but the institution is still cutting staff to close a deficit. In a Tuesday release and a community message from President John Fry, Temple said its $1.3 billion operating budget includes an average tuition increase of 3.4% for 2026–27 and $60 million in expense reductions, alongside layoffs of about 40 employees. The budget plan follows prior belt-tightening at the Philadelphia public university: Temple previously eliminated about 50 positions as it worked down an estimated $60 million hole. Over several years, the university has reduced operating expenses substantially and linked the recent financial pressure to enrollment headcount falling faster than costs. While Temple reported an uptick in first-year enrollment for the class of 2029, the staffing action underscores how quickly public universities can re-enter labor decisions when enrollment momentum stalls.