This Week In College Viability (TWICV)

This Week In College Viability (TWICV) for Aug 17, 2026

In this week's episode of This Week in College Viability News and Commentary , I start with a personal observation—watching parents take their children to the first day of elementary school. It reminded me how much time families spend preparing children for college, but how little time we spend asking whether the college is ready for our children . That question frames this week's stories, including degree cuts at the University of Nebraska, reduced Washington State financial aid for students attending private colleges, budget reallocations at Clemson University, and William Jewell College's declaration that it has exited financial exigency. At William Jewell, I compare that optimistic announcement with independent financial data that continues to raise concerns. My message to families is straightforward: inspect before you invest, trust verified data, compare colleges, judge outcomes, ask informed questions, demand transparency, and evaluate today's college—not yesterday's reputation. I also examine the University of Tulsa's decision to cut its published tuition by more than half, Saint Michael's College receiving court approval to access restricted endowment funds, concerns about students arriving at college academically unprepared, and the federal government's growing emphasis on whether college programs actually produce adequate earnings for graduates. Together, these stories point to the same fundamental pressure: colleges need revenue while families, governments, and employers are increasingly demanding evidence of value. I believe families should evaluate not only whether a degree will deliver an acceptable return, but whether the institution delivering that degree is financially viable enough to fulfill its promises. Higher education still offers tremendous value to millions of students, but the economics are changing. There are too many colleges competing for too few academically prepared and financially capable students , and that imbalance will continue to drive program cuts, restructuring, closures, mergers, and consolidation.

This Week In College Viability (TWICV) for Aug 10, 2026

In the August 10th episode, I continue to examine the financial health of higher education and argue that the warning signs facing many colleges are becoming impossible to ignore. I discuss layoffs and budget cuts at institutions including Minnesota State Mankato, St. John's University, Illinois Institute of Technology, St. Louis University, Temple University, Harvard University, and others, pointing out that these announcements all share a common theme: financial pressure. I challenge the way colleges and the media celebrate enrollment gains without discussing the far more important metric of net tuition revenue, arguing that enrollment alone does not pay the bills. I also note the continued use of generic institutional messaging and strategic plans that sound nearly identical from one campus to the next, reinforcing my belief that too many colleges have become commodities competing for a shrinking pool of students. I also explore several broader trends reshaping higher education. I compare direct admissions programs—where colleges admit students who never applied—to unsolicited credit card offers, arguing that they are primarily marketing tools designed to fill enrollment gaps. I revisit Howard University, defending its long-term financial strength despite recent enrollment management mistakes, and explain why its employee buyout program appears to be a proactive financial decision rather than a sign of institutional distress. Finally, I encourage students and families to use my upcoming My College Decision Lens to evaluate colleges based on independent financial data rather than marketing claims, because I believe better information leads to better college decisions.

This Week In College Viability (TWICV) for August 3, 2026

This Week In College Viability (TWICV)for July 27, 2026

This week we look at: + Summer ‘Spin’ Award Winner - so far + Howard University can’t catch a break + Perfect finances and a WASC Warning? + The market will dictate accreditation changes Show Notes: 2026 College Majors Completion App for Academic Leaders 2026 College Viability App for Research and Media Chatham University Prepares to Welcome Largest Undergraduate Class Ever 502 students lose spots at Howard University over tuition payments just weeks before classes start Under pressure from its accreditor, University of Valley Forge offers students information on transferring Albright College gets OK for tax-exempt bonds as it moves to restructure $42M in debt 3 Programmatic Accreditors Withdraw From Federal Recognition A Perfect Federal Score, a Top-Tier Forbes Grade, and a WASC Warning Lawmakers Seek Stronger College Accreditation Standards to Protect Student Loan Borrowers

This Week In College Viability (TWICV) for July 20, 2026

In this podcast episode, I examine several important developments that illustrate the growing financial pressures facing higher education. I begin by discussing three San Francisco Bay Area colleges that have received serious warnings from their accreditor to improve both their financial performance and student outcomes. I also explore the story of Northland College in Wisconsin, where donor-restricted endowment funds were used to help keep the institution operating before it ultimately closed. While the actions may have been legal, I question the ethical implications and argue that financially distressed colleges often find themselves making increasingly difficult decisions simply to survive. I also discuss several national issues that I believe will shape the future of higher education. I review proposed federal changes to accreditation and explain why I believe today's accreditation system already does too little to evaluate either academic quality or financial health. I highlight Moody's decision to downgrade Brown University's outlook to negative as evidence that even well-resourced institutions face significant financial challenges, and I review new research from Dr. Robert Kelchen that demonstrates how long-term operating losses, enrollment declines, and weakening financial trends can help identify colleges at greater risk.

This Week In College Viability (TWICV) Michael Hromadka from Tenonprep.com

Michael Hromadka is deeply interested in the connections between work, education, opportunities, and options - and the systems that control those things. He says: "At the end of the day, it'd be nice if those systems made our lives easier and better, instead of harder and worse." We explore his unique perspective on college with questions like: What is the purpose of college? How do you de-risk the college decision? How can college improve career preparation? And more . . . . Hromadka's website, Tenonprep.com, provides a series of video clips on improving higher education.

This Week In College Viability (TWICV) for July 13, 2026

In this episode, I discuss the growing financial pressures facing colleges and universities across the country, highlighting another week filled with layoffs, hiring freezes, budget cuts, and program reductions. I examine institutions including LSU, UCLA, Rutgers, Temple, the University of Texas at Tyler, Albertus Magnus College, the University of Vermont, Defiance College, and Albright College, arguing that these stories are no longer isolated incidents but evidence of a higher education sector facing long-term structural decline. I also explain why accreditation warnings—particularly those related to financial stability—should be viewed seriously by students and families, even if colleges insist they have turnaround plans in place. Throughout the episode, I encourage listeners to look beyond institutional messaging and focus instead on publicly available financial data, graduation rates, endowment strength, and long-term financial sustainability when evaluating colleges. I also explore several broader trends that I believe will shape the future of higher education. I discuss a new U.S. Department of Education rule requiring specialized accreditors to justify degree inflation in fields such as pharmacy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy by proving additional educational requirements provide meaningful public benefit. I close by reinforcing one of my core messages: too many colleges are enrolling students they know are unlikely to graduate simply to generate tuition revenue. I argue that colleges with persistently low four-year graduation rates are failing both students and families, and I preview two upcoming initiatives—My College Decision Lens and The College Outlook Letter—which are designed to help students, families, and higher education stakeholders make more informed, data-driven decisions about the future of colleges.

This Week In College Viability (TWICV) for July 6, 2026

As a tie-in to the World Cup, if you want to appeal anything in today’s podcast show, send me 2 red cards and a yellow card. + Mary Baldwin University on probation for allegedly not meeting financial responsibility standards + Professional associations may be driving accreditation requirements too far. + Finally, Threats of more closings have colleges and students worrying about how to save themselves + Lead with price. Just like Walmart, Target, Costco and use car salesmen + Plus stories added just this morning. Show notes and App links College Viability Inspection Report 2026 College Viability Majors Completion App Mary Baldwin University on probation for allegedly not meeting financial responsibility standards U.S. Department of Education Issues Final Rule to Hold All Colleges and Universities Accountable for Low-Earning Programs Trump Aims to Limit Outside Influence on College Accreditors Threats of more closings have colleges and students worrying about how to save themselves Virginia and Ohio join effort to design 3-year bachelor’s degrees Can Price-First Admissions Improve College Access?

This Week In College Viability (TWICV) with Beth Wilner College Counselor

This episode of This Week in College Viability features a conversation between Gary Stocker and college admissions consultant Beth Wilner , founder of Rose Cliff College Consulting, about how families can make more informed college decisions in an increasingly uncertain higher education environment. Wilner explains that her consulting process centers on three questions: What matters to the student and family? What information do they need to gather? And how should they respond? She emphasizes that successful college planning isn't about gaming admissions but about identifying a student's priorities, gathering meaningful information, and making decisions that align with both personal goals and long-term outcomes. Throughout the discussion, she argues that colleges are living, evolving organizations rather than static institutions, making it essential for families to look beyond brochures, rankings, and campus appearances when evaluating schools. A major focus of the interview is the growing importance of college financial health as part of the admissions process. Stocker and Wilner discuss warning signs such as declining enrollment, deferred campus maintenance, aggressive tuition discounting, and heavy marketing campaigns that may indicate institutional financial stress. They encourage parents to ask more probing questions during campus visits, including what has changed most dramatically at the college over the past year, while recognizing that many first-generation families may need guidance navigating those conversations. The interview also examines the confusion surrounding financial aid offers, the limitations of college rankings, and the idea that families should evaluate a college's financial stability before considering other factors. Wilner concludes by encouraging families to focus first on what truly matters to them, recognize that colleges are businesses operating in a changing market, and seek information that helps them choose a college that will remain financially healthy throughout a student's education

This Week In College Viability (TWICV) for June 29, 2026

This week on ‘This week’. + Johns Hopkins University laying off 110 workers + Massachusetts higher education is a mess. Same story different year. + Someone new to the College Viability party: Today’s college search requires a new kind of due diligence James Birge pres at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts + Brooke Hauser at Boston Globe: Back-to-back college closures prompt demand for stronger consumer protection Show links and notes: College Viability Inspection Report Johns Hopkins University laying off 110 workers as it deals with loss of federal funding Unpaid stipends, missing state scholarships: Questions mount as Anna Maria College closes NAU developing 2027 budget to respond to big decreases in enrollment and revenue La Salle eyes largest capital campaign yet after record fundraising year Today’s college search requires a new kind of due diligence Back-to-back college closures prompt demand for stronger consumer protection How Bad Is American Higher Education?