Small Private Colleges Struggle in a Winner-Take-All Higher Education Market
The article highlights the severe financial crisis facing small private colleges in the United States as the higher education sector shifts toward a 'winner-take-all' model. While prestigious institutions like Ivy League schools and flagship public universities enjoy high demand and surplus funding, lesser-known campuses face declining enrollment and budget cuts. The situation is exemplified by St. Michael's College in Vermont, where tenured professors are forced to perform manual labor, such as clearing invasive shrubs, due to staff layoffs. This consolidation benefits elite schools with high-profile sports or research programs, leaving smaller institutions to rely on steep tuition discounts just to fill seats. The piece portrays this as the bleakest era for these smaller schools, signaling a major structural change in American higher education.
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Small Private Colleges Struggle in a Winner-Take-All Higher Education Market
The article highlights the severe financial crisis facing small private colleges in the United States as the higher education sector shifts toward a 'winner-take-all' model. While prestigious institutions like Ivy League schools and flagship public universities enjoy high demand and surplus funding, lesser-known campuses face declining enrollment and budget cuts. The situation is exemplified by St. Michael's College in Vermont, where tenured professors are forced to perform manual labor, such as clearing invasive shrubs, due to staff layoffs. This consolidation benefits elite schools with high-profile sports or research programs, leaving smaller institutions to rely on steep tuition discounts just to fill seats. The piece portrays this as the bleakest era for these smaller schools, signaling a major structural change in American higher education.
WSJ.com : U.S. News