Bowie State University said it plans to cut nearly 80 jobs as it forecasts an $18 million deficit for fiscal 2027, citing declining enrollment, rising costs, and reductions in state and federal funding. The Maryland public, historically Black institution expects headcount to fall to 5,320 in fiscal 2027 from 5,970 in 2026, projecting a $5.8 million decline in tuition and fee revenue. University leaders said prior budget gaps for fiscal 2026 were closed without layoffs, but the FY27 pressures are now structural. Bowie State attributed new strain to expenses including employee benefits, infrastructure, utilities, and “essential technology investments,” while state funding for the institution is expected to drop further, including a decline in HBCU-designated allocations. The move reflects a broader higher-ed finance squeeze in Maryland as legislators plug a projected state budget hole, including impacts already noted in appropriations changes across the University System of Maryland.