Hampshire College...what now? (Holyoke, Amherst: buying, private school, universities)

[mdovell]

I said this before and I'd say it again. I don't see full wide economic bubbles in the economy...but having said that I would argue that small private colleges are more apt now to close or merge.

https://www.masslive.com/news/2019/0...c-partner.html

Nice while it lasted I guess. I can't see them shut it down but at the same point who would take it over? UMass Amherst? Amherst? Mt. Holyoke? Smith?

[chicagoliz]

It is a real shame. The other colleges that have closed have not been as well regarded or drawn from as large of a geographic area as Hampshire has. This is a shame, but I'm not sure how this will continue to play out.

[MMS02760]

Add it to the following college closing announcements.

Mt Ida Apr-2018
Newberry College Dec-2018

The cost of private colleges in most instances is not worth the money except for elite level schools. Tough to justify paying tens of thousands more when public schools cost far less and offer comparable education. The recent trend has seen more students applying and going to publics making them harder to get into and raising their overall academic standing.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by MMS02760

The cost of private colleges in most instances is not worth the money except for elite level schools. Tough to justify paying tens of thousands more when public schools cost far less and offer comparable education. The recent trend has seen more students applying to publics making them harder to get into and raising their overall academic standing.

You wouldn't know it reading this board!

[in_newengland]

I thought it was just an experiment anyway. Experiment failed so sell the buildings to somebody. Only thing is, now it will be The Four College Area, lol.

We used to call it Hampster College.

[Shrewsburried]

This has been very public - both in the media (NPR, NYT) and by universities small and large. The pressure is declining enrollment, not because students are less likely to enroll into undergrad, but because the population of potential students drops significantly after gen-Z.

The last decade was fueled by the echo-boomers (Millenials, gen-Z) and thanks to a massive recession, student debt, challenging lifestyles, and simple timing ... we haven't seen the echo-babies of this generation. The growth of the baby product market in the past few years suggests it's coming, but for many colleges it's "too little, too late".

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

This has been very public - both in the media (NPR, NYT) and by universities small and large. The pressure is declining enrollment, not because students are less likely to enroll into undergrad, but because the population of potential students drops significantly after gen-Z.

The last decade was fueled by the echo-boomers (Millenials, gen-Z) and thanks to a massive recession, student debt, challenging lifestyles, and simple timing ... we haven't seen the echo-babies of this generation. The growth of the baby product market in the past few years suggests it's coming, but for many colleges it's "too little, too late".

Pretty much. From 2008 onward the birthrate has declined. Right now we have generations of missing 11 year old. Ironically in another five years they'd be driving and supposedly in another five years electric cars will be as cheap as gas cars.

But there's also plenty of other trends like that and blame to go around. Signet jewelers the largest retailer of diamond jewelry in the world is at a 10 year low. It dropped 24% today. Now it isn't that people aren't buying jewelry but maybe it's not their jewelry. How many handmade products are now on Etsy? How many opt for look rather than actual (cubiczarconium) Younger people aren't buying heirloom furniture either. When everything is smaller and lighter having something that's 140 years old and takes people to move frankly doesn't work.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by MMS02760

Add it to the following college closing announcements.

Mt Ida Apr-2018
Newberry College Dec-2018

The cost of private colleges in most instances is not worth the money except for elite level schools. Tough to justify paying tens of thousands more when public schools cost far less and offer comparable education. The recent trend has seen more students applying and going to publics making them harder to get into and raising their overall academic standing.

You do not get the same level of student service in any public school. That's a myth. Some students will flunk out without the extra support a private school can offer. Yes, it costs money.

[FCMA]

In memoriam, Hampshire’s grounds can be converted in to an outdoor recreational cannabis farm. They own a whole lot of fertile Amherst & Hadley river valley soils.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by FCMA

In memoriam, Hampshire’s grounds can be converted in to an outdoor recreational cannabis farm. They own a whole lot of fertile Amherst & Hadley river valley soils.

Perfect! The time is right.