Higher education’s financial strain persisted through 2025 as at least 15 college campuses closed and a dozen institutions pursued mergers, consolidations, or acquisitions to stabilize operations. Small private regional colleges reliant on tuition revenue remain the most vulnerable, while public system rationalizations accounted for several closures. Leaders cited declining enrollments, shifting workforce demands, and the need to align programs with employer needs as drivers. Several announced mergers—such as Pacific University with Willamette and augmentations like Augustana’s acquisition of a nursing college—aim to preserve programmatic capacity while trimming overhead.