The Growing Wave of Layoffs and Buyouts in US Higher Education

Across the United States, colleges and universities are grappling with unprecedented financial pressures, leading to a surge in layoffs and voluntary buyout programs. As of early 2026, the sector has seen thousands of positions eliminated, with monthly reports highlighting hundreds more cuts. This crisis stems from a perfect storm of declining enrollments, reduced federal and state funding, and escalating operational costs, forcing institutions to make tough decisions to stabilize their budgets.

Public and private schools alike are affected, from community colleges to flagship research universities. Administrators describe these measures as necessary for long-term sustainability, while faculty unions and staff decry the human cost. The situation underscores a broader transformation in higher education, where efficiency and adaptability are becoming survival imperatives.

Understanding the Scale: Thousands of Jobs Lost

The higher education landscape has shed over 9,000 positions in 2025 alone, with 2026 continuing the trend at an alarming pace. Monthly trackers reveal patterns: February saw more than 300 jobs cut, March hundreds additional through layoffs and unfilled vacancies, and April deepened with closures contributing to deeper reductions. Institutions like the University of Southern California (USC) have laid off over 974 employees since mid-2025 to tackle a $230 million operating deficit, while smaller schools eliminate dozens of roles.

Buyouts offer a gentler path, targeting voluntary separations to avoid forced terminations. Rowan University in New Jersey launched such a program amid a projected $16.5 million shortfall for fiscal 2026, inviting professors and staff to exit with incentives. These packages typically include severance, continued benefits, and retirement boosts, appealing to those nearing career ends.

Enrollment Decline: The Demographic Cliff Hits Hard

A primary driver is the enrollment cliff, where fewer traditional college-age students enter the system due to declining birth rates from 2008 onward. High school graduates peaked in 2025 and are projected to drop 15% by 2029, squeezing tuition revenue that funds 40-60% of budgets at many public institutions.

International students, who pay full out-of-state rates, have plummeted due to stricter visa policies and geopolitical tensions. Universities like the University of North Texas (UNT) cite this as key to their $45 million deficit, prompting consolidations of over 70 low-enrollment programs. Private schools like the New School in New York face similar woes, with enrollment down to under 9,000 from 10,400 pre-pandemic.

Federal Policy Shifts and Funding Reductions

Trump administration proposals for fiscal 2026 slash Education Department programs, NIH funding by billions, and research overhead reimbursements. Even wealthy universities feel the pinch: Princeton eliminated its Keller Center staff of nine, while Brown cut 48 positions amid a $30 million gap partly from lost NSF and DOE grants.

State legislatures, facing their own shortfalls, cut appropriations. Idaho State University attributes an $8 million deficit to such moves, leading to 45 layoffs. Community colleges like Napa Valley lost Hispanic-Serving Institution grants, deemed unconstitutional, resulting in 33 job eliminations.

Case Studies: Public Universities Under Siege

Portland State University declared a $35-45 million structural deficit, initiating retrenchment that could eliminate departments and lay off up to 216, though officials dispute the figure. Enrollment fell 23% since 2019, with Oregon's budget woes blocking aid increases.

At Central State University, an HBCU in Ohio, 16 humanities faculty positions ended under fiscal watch and state laws mandating low-enrollment program cuts. New Jersey City University laid off 151 amid a merger with Kean University, streamlining operations but displacing tenured faculty.

Ohio University dropped 16 programs, including African American studies, after flagging 36 for review. These actions reflect compliance with enrollment thresholds while preserving core offerings.

Private Institutions Feel the Pain Too

Even endowed schools aren't immune. Syracuse University axed 84 programs and paused nine more—20% of its portfolio—focusing on student demand. Officials aim to make the institution "more distinctive," targeting majors like classics with zero enrollees.

The College of Saint Scholastica cut a dozen faculty, including a beloved philosophy professor, for "budget adjustments." Boise State merged colleges and laid off two deans, ensuring no broader academic impacts.

Buyouts vs. Layoffs: Strategies to Soften the Blow

Many opt for buyouts to preserve morale. Union College offered early retirement incentives alongside 40 dining layoffs after missing enrollment targets. Greenfield Community College launched similar incentives for its shortfall.

These differ from layoffs: buyouts are voluntary, often 6-12 months' salary plus benefits, while layoffs are abrupt with WARN Act notices. Rutgers non-reappointed 38 adjuncts, avoiding tenure battles. Vacancy freezes and hybrid conversions, as at UNT, further trim costs without direct firings.

Human Impacts: Morale, Workloads, and Student Access

Faculty face heavier teaching loads—up 20-30% at some schools—eroding research time. Students lose advisors, as USC did with dozens, and programs like Buffalo State's environmental geography degree. Unions like AAUP protest, calling retrenchments union-busting.

Staff morale plummets; Wooster's 22 cuts followed enrollment woes. Diverse voices highlight equity risks: HBCUs and minority-serving institutions lose humanities hardest.

Stakeholder Perspectives: Admins, Unions, and Experts

Administrators like Princeton's Christopher Eisgruber emphasize efficiency for mission pursuit. Portland State's team clarifies no final layoff numbers, focusing on bargaining.

Unions decry rushed processes; faculty at New School react to "doge-ing" rhetoric. Experts note politics in DEI program merges at Texas schools and federal grant losses amplifying deficits.

Pathways Forward: Diversification and Innovation

Colleges pivot: Tarrant County phased out 10 CTE programs for high-transfer ones. Revenue streams expand via online/hybrid, partnerships, and auxiliary efficiencies.

Long-term: Target non-traditional students, AI efficiencies, and lobbying for funding stability. Some freeze merit pay temporarily, as USC plans to reinstate in 2027 post-deficit closure.

Outlook: A Sector in Transition

2026 may see intensified cuts if federal proposals pass, but resilience emerges through consolidations. For academics, opportunities arise elsewhere—explore openings at stable institutions via trusted platforms. This crisis could spur a leaner, more student-focused higher education model.

Photo by diana kereselidze on Unsplash