Anna Maria College in Massachusetts announced it will close at the end of the spring term after years of financial pressure. The governing board said the decision reflects “years of financial pressure” the institution could not overcome, and that continuing would not be responsible to students, faculty, and staff. Accreditation and state oversight preceded the closure: the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) warned the college risked violating standards related to institutional resources and raised concern about financial stability and debt. Separately, the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education warned officials could not verify the institution had sufficient resources to sustain operations. The college plans to lay off employees in waves and cited transfer agreements for students who cannot complete their degrees before closure. Enrollment declined significantly over the past decade—federal data cited fall headcount down 16.6% from 2019 to 2024—while the school carried long-term debt of $18.4 million as of last June, with a shrinking endowment cushion.