Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Kent Barnds, Executive Vice President of Augustana College, and I’m joined by my co-host Dean Hoke, Co-Founder of Edu Alliance Group. Today, we’re joined by Jon Marcus, a senior higher education reporter at The Hechinger Report, whose recent reporting has helped bring national attention to a sobering reality: hundreds of small private colleges may be at risk of closure or merger in the years ahead. His reporting has appeared widely, including on NPR, The Washington Post, and The New York Times, and he co-hosts the higher education podcast College Uncovered. In addition to his reporting, Jon teaches journalism at Boston College and holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. Jon, welcome to Small College America, and by the way, if you are not aware, The Report is an outstanding independent nonprofit news organization based at Columbia University. Question 1: Kent: Jon, let’s start with your April 13 reporting on the projection that 442 private colleges are at risk of closing or merging over the next decade. That’s a striking number. When you reported that, did it surprise you, and what does it really tell us about where higher education is right now? Question 2: Dean: Jon you started that article with Sterling College, which is closing this year. Taken on its own, Sterling—with enrollment falling from about 150 students to around 40 may not be entirely surprising. But it’s now the seventh private college in Vermont to close since 2016. When you zoom out and looking at the bigger picture, how should we be thinking about the broader impact of these closures, not just on students, but on the communities that rely on these institutions? Question 3: Kent: You’ve noted that about 20% of college leaders have had serious merger discussions. From what you’ve seen, are institutions still too hesitant to pursue partnerships or mergers early enough, and what gets in the way of acting sooner? Question 4: Dean: Jon, let me put you in a different seat. Suppose you’re invited to speak at a board retreat for a small private college. Based on everything you’ve reported, what would you want those trustees and that president to understand, and what would you urge them to do? Question 5: Kent: At some point, this becomes a consumer decision. From your reporting, are parents still convinced small colleges are worth it, or is the conversation now primarily about price? Question 6: Dean: Looking out five to ten years, with the demographic cliff, declining college-going rates, and growing skepticism about value, how do you see the landscape for small private colleges evolving? Are we headed toward continued contraction—or something more transformative? Closing Kent: Jon, this conversation is a reminder that beyond the data and projections are real people navigating uncertainty and difficult choices. Your reporting helps us better understand those realities. Thank you for your perspective, your clarity, and for the important work you do. For those listening or viewing, if you'd like to learn more about Small College America, go to our web page at www.smallcollegeamerica.net, where you can find details on upcoming episodes, contact us, and suggest topics you’d like us to cover. Also, I encourage you to subscribe to our series on your favorite podcast network, This episode of Small College America is made possible with underwriting support from Edu Alliance Group — a higher education consulting firm that champions small colleges and the communities they serve.And if your college or university is involved in podcasting, be sure to check out HigherEd PodCon, coming to Cleveland, Ohio, on July 16th and 17th. It's a wonderful opportunity for professional development and networking with others doing this work in higher education. Visit www.higheredpodcon.com for details. On behalf of our guest, Jon Marcus, my co-host Dean Hoke, and I, thank you for joining us.
