Multiple colleges and universities across the U.S. announced job and program cuts in May 2026 to address projected budget deficits ahead of the new fiscal year. Institutions cited declining state funding, falling enrollment, and rising operational costs as primary drivers of the financial strain.

Bowie State University plans to cut 79 jobs, leave vacant positions unfilled, and reorganize departments due to an $18 million deficit. University officials told the campus community, “Please know that these decisions are not a reflection of the dedication and excellence you bring to Bowie State each day but rather the result of financial challenges that we must address to ensure the university’s long-term viability.”

Loyola University Maryland eliminated 66 positions—29 through layoffs and 37 by closing vacant roles—due to a $20 million structural deficit. Kent State University plans to lay off up to 45 employees to cut $18 million in expenses. University officials attributed the shortfall to reduced state funding, inflation, anticipated enrollment declines, and loss of international students linked to Trump administration immigration restrictions.

Santa Monica College trustees approved 45 staff layoffs by a 6-to-2 vote due to a $14.7 million deficit. The layoffs affect custodians, administrative assistants, tutors, and other support staff.

Indiana University laid off 13 employees in Information Technology Services and 6 in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering. University officials cited the need “to align our resources with the university’s priorities, support IU’s research and academic enterprise, and ensure the long-term financial sustainability of our work.” Naropa University is cutting 11 faculty and numerous adjunct positions to address a $2 million structural deficit that has persisted since 2020. President Paul Burkhardt said, “We must now begin to live within our means by eliminating the structural operating deficit.”

Other institutions took varied approaches: Baldwin Wallace University approved layoffs of 10 faculty and the elimination of 35 academic programs. Peninsula College plans to cut 12 jobs and implement furloughs for higher-paid staff. Western Michigan University offered buyouts to older faculty to save $5 million, while the University of Texas at Arlington suspended admissions in five programs. The University of Oregon enacted a hiring freeze and travel restrictions. Several schools linked budget pressures to federal policy uncertainty and enrollment shifts.