The Sword Master G ij,j =0 Thoth Unveiling Higher Education Layoffs, Cut-backs, Closures

Here’s an up-to-date summary of layoffs and job cuts in U.S. higher education in 2025 — including major universities and colleges, estimated job impacts, and the driving causes (budget cuts, enrollment declines, funding changes) based on the latest reporting: (Boston University)

• WBUR
• Higher Ed Dive
• opb
• Forbes
• Bryan Alexander
•  Major Universities & Colleges with Reported Layoffs or Cuts in 2025

Major Universities & Colleges with Reported Layoffs or Cuts in 2025

Tier 1 / Major Research Universities

Stanford University

• Announced layoffs of ~363 staff and academic support roles tied to budget pressures and reduced federal research funding. (The Times of India)
• Hundreds affected across administrative and support departments.

Boston University

• Laid off ~120 employees and eliminated ~120 vacant positions as part of a broader cost-cutting plan to reduce a 5% budget gap. (Boston University)
• Total positions impacted ≈ 240.

Washington University in St. Louis

• Announced 316 staff cuts and elimination of 198 vacant roles to reduce expenses and adapt to financial shifts. (The Times of India)

Brown University

• Cut ~48 positions and removed 55 vacant roles as part of a budget balancing plan. (The Times of India)

Public Flagship & State Universities

University of Oregon

• Eliminated ~176 positions (administrative/staff/faculty support) — no tenured faculty were cut. (KLCC)

University of Florida

• Eliminated ~75 jobs (mostly administrative) and closed smaller programs to save costs. (Inside Higher Ed)

Temple University

• Budget reductions led to elimination of 190 positions, including ~50 layoffs of staff roles. (The Times of India)

Johnson & Wales University (Rhode Island)

• Cut ~91 jobs (including faculty and staff) due to a $34 million deficit. (Inside Higher Ed)

Purdue University Fort Wayne

• Cut ~45 positions to reduce budget gaps driven by enrollment and state funding challenges. (Inside Higher Ed)

Small Colleges & Program Closures

Bard College at Simon’s Rock

• Relocated campus leading to 116 layoffs tied to program restructuring. (Inside Higher Ed)

Barnard College

• Cut ~77 jobs (administrative and staff) as part of restructuring. (Inside Higher Ed)

Malone University

• Laid off 27 employees (with some re-hiring in other areas). (Inside Higher Ed)

Saint Michael’s College

• Laid off ~14 employees due to long-term financial pressures. (Inside Higher Ed)

Canisius University

• Reduced eight security positions while outsourcing functions. (Inside Higher Ed)

Martin University (Indianapolis)

• Closed entirely after prolonged funding difficulties; all staff laid off and students directed to transfer. (The Times of India)

Estimated Total Job Impacts (Approximate)

Estimated 2025 total job impacts (U.S. higher ed layoffs): ~2,000–2,500+ jobs cut or eliminated (staff and faculty combined).

Note: Many positions eliminated are administrative/support roles, but faculty (especially lecturers/adjuncts) have also been affected. (Inside Higher Ed)

Context — Why Higher Ed Layoffs Are Rising in 2025

Financial & Enrollment Pressures

Universities cite major financial stressors, including:

• Declining federal research funding and policy changes that reduce grant income. (Forbes)
• Falling student enrollment — especially international students, which shrinks tuition revenue. (YouTube)
• State budget rollbacks impacting public institutions. (The Times of India)
• Rising operational costs (benefits, compliance, technology). (Boston University)

Types of Positions and Cuts

• Staff layoffs: administrative offices, student services, research support, security, and maintenance. (Inside Higher Ed)
• Vacant positions eliminated: not all job reductions involve active layoffs; universities often choose not to refill open roles. (Boston University)
• Adjuncts and lecturers: widely reported cuts of non-tenured instructional roles, especially where enrollment has declined. (KVPR)
• Programs and departments: some institutions are discontinuing majors or consolidating programs to save costs. (Wikipedia)

Examples of Sector-Wide Trends

• Multiple universities (USC, WashU, Brown, Stanford) are engaging in broad workforce reductions tied to multi-million dollar budget deficits. (The Times of India)
• Several smaller colleges are restructuring or closing completely. (The Times of India)
• Hiring freezes are widespread, further reducing new job opportunities. (Bryan Alexander)

Takeaways

🔹 Layoffs in 2025 higher ed are real and nationwide: affecting both public and private institutions across the U.S. (Forbes)

🔹 Impact moves beyond staff to faculty and adjuncts: especially at colleges with enrollment declines or large deficits. (Inside Higher Ed)

🔹 Not all “cuts” are layoffs: many are eliminated vacant positions or program closures, but these still reduce workforce size. (Boston University)