Financial strain and enrollment collapses forced colleges to make rapid workforce and program decisions in 2025. DePaul University announced a reduction of nearly 8% of staff—114 positions—after an unanticipated 62% drop in new international graduate enrollment and overall undergraduate declines. University leaders cited visa issues and shrinking international pipelines as central drivers of the budget gap. Industry reporting shows at least 15 nonprofit institutions closed during 2025 as demographic shifts, dwindling revenues and rising institutional aid pressures combined. Colleges that had increased reliance on international students or single revenue streams were particularly vulnerable. Trustees and presidents face near‑term choices about consolidations, program cuts, and strategic enrollment shifts to adult learners and career education pathways. Administrators said short‑term measures—hiring freezes, executive pay reductions, and budget rebalances—were necessary but insufficient for long‑term sustainability; many campuses are accelerating mergers, program realignments, and fundraising pushes to restore operating margins.