Hampshire College’s Board of Trustees voted to close the institution after the fall 2026 semester, citing an inability to sustain full operations and meet regulatory responsibilities. The decision follows years of enrollment shortfalls and accreditation pressure as leaders attempted to refinance debt, sell land, and raise new revenue. The shutdown is part of a broader small-college exit wave driven by declining enrollment and financial strain. Hampshire said it will enable current students to complete their degrees through arrangements with Hampshire or partner institutions, while faculty and staff transition planning begins immediately. Separately, Massachusetts state regulators issued a closure-risk notice to Anna Maria College, telling the institution it cannot demonstrate sufficient resources to sustain operations for the current and next academic year. Anna Maria reported multimillion-dollar losses, enrollment declines, and $18.4 million in debt, while citing near-term liquidity improvements from an anonymous $5.3 million gift.