At least 15 college campuses closed in 2025 and a string of mergers and acquisitions accelerated as small, tuition‑dependent institutions struggle with enrollment and financial viability. University Business tracked 12 consolidations in 2025, including Augustana College’s planned acquisition of Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences and a proposed merger of Pacific University and Willamette University to create a larger private research and professional university. Campus leaders framed mergers and acquisitions as strategic moves to stabilize academic programs, preserve clinical and professional pipelines, and align curricula with workforce demand. Accreditors and state regulators are engaged in many of the transactions, and higher‑ed executives say consolidation will continue to concentrate resources and programmatic capacity in regional hubs.