The February 2026 Layoff Surge in US Higher Education

In February 2026, US colleges and universities announced over 300 layoffs and numerous program cuts, continuing a troubling trend from late 2025. This flurry of cost-cutting measures was largely driven by persistent budget shortfalls, exacerbated by declining enrollments and funding uncertainties. Institutions from community colleges to public universities felt the pinch, with actions ranging from staff reductions to the elimination of low-enrollment academic programs.

The higher education layoffs February 2026 marked a concentrated wave, following 9,000 job losses across 2025 and more than 100 cuts in January alone. As administrators grappled with structural deficits, the decisions rippled through campuses, affecting tenured faculty, support staff, and students alike. This overview sets the stage for understanding the scale, causes, and consequences of these changes.

Major Layoff Announcements Across Campuses

New Jersey City University led the headlines with layoffs of at least 151 employees, including 33 faculty members—24 of them tenured—as it prepares for a merger with Kean University by July 2026. Entire staff offices were eliminated, with functions shifting to the partner institution, now to be rebranded as Kean Jersey City.

Idaho State University cut 45 positions—12 faculty, 21 staff, and 11 administrative roles—while closing 40% of vacancies and merging departments. The moves address an $8 million deficit from state budget reductions.

• Union College (New York): Roughly 40 dining staff laid off, with early-retirement incentives offered; blamed on two years of missed enrollment targets.
• Napa Valley College (California): 33 jobs cut (16 layoffs, 17 vacancies eliminated), no faculty affected; triggered by lost federal Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) grants after Trump administration changes deemed them unconstitutional.
• College of Wooster (Ohio): 22 staff positions eliminated amid enrollment declines; President Anne McCall emphasized it was due to 'financial realities' and smaller classes, not individual performance.
• Central State University (Ohio HBCU): 16 faculty jobs, mostly in humanities, not renewed; part of 38 faculty losses over three years (25% of total), amid fiscal watch status and Ohio Senate Bill 1 requiring cuts to low-enrollment programs.

These higher education layoffs February 2026 highlight a pattern: targeted reductions in non-essential or understaffed areas to stem bleeding budgets.

Program Cuts and Academic Restructuring

Beyond personnel, February saw aggressive program eliminations. The University of Montevallo (Alabama) axed 16 minors and concentrations, including African American studies (10 students) and Latin American studies (zero students), to save $400,000 from an $8 million shortfall.

Buffalo State University discontinued eight programs—such as an undergraduate environmental geography degree, two master’s in conflict resolution and higher education administration, plus minors and certificates—with only 48 students total (less than 1% of enrollment). The University of Iowa proposed cutting seven low-enrollment degrees: bachelor’s in women’s studies, applied physics, three languages, and African American studies (BA and MS), all below state thresholds (under 25 undergrads, 10 grads).

Political winds influenced others: University of Texas at Austin folded gender and ethnic studies into a new Department of Social and Cultural Analysis, aligning with state restrictions on race/gender topics; UT San Antonio dissolved its Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department, merging with bicultural studies. These college program cuts US 2026 reflect compliance with enrollment mandates and ideological shifts.

Demographic Cliff and Enrollment Declines Fueling the Crisis

The 'enrollment cliff'—a sharp drop in traditional college-age high school graduates starting 2026—looms large, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast. Institutions like Union College and Wooster cited consecutive years of smaller classes, while University of North Texas (UNT) saw a 5.7% enrollment drop (2,600 fewer students), slashing tuition revenue by $47 million, mostly from international graduates.

Central State University's online enrollment plummeted from 4,048 (67% of total) in 2021 to 875 in 2025 due to partnership changes and federal scrutiny. Deloitte's 2026 trends report warns of reinvention amid declining numbers, with projections of 8-15% more closures if trends persist. For those eyeing higher ed career advice, understanding these dynamics is crucial.

Funding Pressures: State Cuts, Federal Shifts, and Policy Changes

State funding varies: Idaho and Alabama slashed budgets, leaving $8 million holes; Ohio's SB1 mandates low-enroll cuts. Federally, Trump administration moves—like ED layoffs halving staff—affect aid processing, HSI grants, and research (NSF/DOE declines at Brown University). Visa tightenings crushed international revenue at UNT and elsewhere.

Brown faced a $30 million gap (down from $100M feared), prompting 48 layoffs and 55 vacant cuts. Pentagon fellowship cancellations at elites (MIT, Yale, Harvard) signal further strains. Read the full Inside Higher Ed analysis.

Case Studies: Deep Dives into Affected Institutions

At Central State University, fiscal watch since 2024 revealed mismanagement—unapproved tuition waivers, outdated systems—compounded by SB1 affecting 10 majors like political science. Remaining faculty face heavier loads.

UNT's $45M FY2026 deficit spurred retention pushes (77% to 90% first-year) via advising and transfers. Napa Valley lost HSI funds post-Trump policy, highlighting vulnerabilities for minority-serving institutions.

These cases illustrate how budget shortfalls higher ed faces intersect local mismanagement and macro shifts.

Impacts on Stakeholders: Faculty, Staff, Students, and Communities

Tenured faculty losses at NJ City U and Central State erode academic freedom and expertise, especially in humanities. Students at Buffalo State protested program cuts, fearing limited options; Iowa retains minors in cut areas for access.

Unions decry incremental cuts; Wooster's president stressed support for affected staff. Communities worry about HBCUs/HSIs like Central State, where 25% faculty gone strains diversity efforts. For displaced educators, sites like higher ed faculty jobs offer paths forward.

Emerging Strategies and Potential Solutions

Universities deploy early-retirement incentives (Union, Greenfield CC), hiring freezes (63% elites), and consolidations (Idaho State, UT). Brown consolidated health plans, sold assets, boosted fundraising. Others target non-trads, transfers, online growth.

• Retention initiatives: Advising, mental health (UNT).
• Partnerships/mergers: NJ City-Kean.
• Efficiencies: Vacancy closures, dept merges.
• Revenue diversification: Fundraising, auxiliaries.

Deloitte urges AI reinvention and policy adaptation. Explore academic CV tips for resilience.

Future Outlook: What Lies Ahead for 2026

With the enrollment cliff underway, S&P predicts lower stability ratings; more closures/mergers loom (e.g., 8% rise per WICHE). Federal aid delays from ED cuts and visa policies persist; states may tighten accountability.

Optimism in adaptation: Growth in workforce-aligned programs (nursing, tech), non-trad focus. Institutions prioritizing professor ratings and student outcomes may thrive.

Photo by Everest Louis on Unsplash

Navigating Change: Resources for Higher Ed Professionals

As higher education layoffs February 2026 underscore vulnerabilities, proactive steps matter. Job seekers, check higher ed jobs, university jobs, and faculty openings. Use free resume templates and rate my professor for insights.

Administrators: Focus on retention, partnerships. Students: Explore alternatives amid cuts. AcademicJobs.com positions you for success—career advice awaits.