Sterling College in Vermont announced it will close after the spring 2026 semester, citing sustained enrollment declines and fragile finances. The environmental‑studies college — enrolling fewer than 80 students in recent years and heavily reliant on restricted grants — said it is arranging teach‑out agreements with regional institutions and plans a final commencement in May. Sterling’s board framed the decision as responsible stewardship, but the closure underscores a wider pattern of vulnerability at small, mission‑driven colleges with limited endowments and narrow program portfolios. For regional higher‑ed networks, the move accelerates the need for transfer pathways, teach‑out planning and capacity coordination to absorb displaced students and preserve specialized programs.