Which top colleges have a significant budget deficit? Which ones are red flags?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did a tiny school like Middlebury run up such a large deficit?

A $4.49 million budget deficit against an overall budget of $344 million isn't that significant (1.3% of overall budget). Reasons mentioned are rising healthcare costs, staff and faculty pay increases, and debt servicing.

As far as I can tell, Middlebury had a $14.1 deficit in FY 2025 and has a projected budget deficit of $8.6 million for FY 2026, along with about 15 years of perennial deficits prior to these most recent years.

https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2025/05/board-trustees-approves-fiscal-year-2026-budget-tenure

You are just a glutton for punishment. Why do you post this stuff when you know that it is wrong?

Why post something a year old when you know that there was a fall update with a lower number and then the Feb update with the current $4.49M number?

Let me remind you:

Middlebury has a larger endowment than Colby.

Middlebury has less debt than Colby.

Middlebury draws from their endowment at a lower rate than Colby draws from theirs and could close their deficit and go to a surplus simply by raising their draw rate to equal Colby's.

Middlebury has raised their fees at below average rates among the NESCAC schools for many years.

Middlebury has fixed the root causes of their deficit while Colby has run a deficit for the last three years running.

Neither school has any significant financial issues but Middlebury is without question in stronger financial shape.

My research was incomplete. I apologize to those reading through. However, your comments, which appear to be reasonable and accurate with respect to Middlebury itself, seem to have conflated my post with those of one or more other people.

Your research wasn’t really incomplete, the latest number wasn’t published anywhere, just stated.

PP is a well-known unwell person who thinks anyone that says anything even slightly negative about Middlebury is the same poster and flies off the handle every time in response (usually gaslighting everyone in the process). But it isn’t the same poster, it’s been multiple people all pointing out the same things the college’s own leadership points out. This has been explained to PP multiple times but to no avail, because for some reason she is incapable of understanding basic and simple information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did a tiny school like Middlebury run up such a large deficit?

A $4.49 million budget deficit against an overall budget of $344 million isn't that significant (1.3% of overall budget). Reasons mentioned are rising healthcare costs, staff and faculty pay increases, and debt servicing.

As far as I can tell, Middlebury had a $14.1 deficit in FY 2025 and has a projected budget deficit of $8.6 million for FY 2026, along with about 15 years of perennial deficits prior to these most recent years.

https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2025/05/board-trustees-approves-fiscal-year-2026-budget-tenure

You are just a glutton for punishment. Why do you post this stuff when you know that it is wrong?

Why post something a year old when you know that there was a fall update with a lower number and then the Feb update with the current $4.49M number?

Let me remind you:

Middlebury has a larger endowment than Colby.

Middlebury has less debt than Colby.

Middlebury draws from their endowment at a lower rate than Colby draws from theirs and could close their deficit and go to a surplus simply by raising their draw rate to equal Colby's.

Middlebury has raised their fees at below average rates among the NESCAC schools for many years.

Middlebury has fixed the root causes of their deficit while Colby has run a deficit for the last three years running.

Neither school has any significant financial issues but Middlebury is without question in stronger financial shape.

My research was incomplete. I apologize to those reading through. However, your comments, which appear to be reasonable and accurate with respect to Middlebury itself, seem to have conflated my post with those of one or more other people.

Your research wasn’t really incomplete, the latest number wasn’t published anywhere, just stated.

PP is a well-known unwell person who thinks anyone that says anything even slightly negative about Middlebury is the same poster and flies off the handle every time in response (usually gaslighting everyone in the process). But it isn’t the same poster, it’s been multiple people all pointing out the same things the college’s own leadership points out. This has been explained to PP multiple times but to no avail, because for some reason she is incapable of understanding basic and simple information.

You are sock puppeting again. Here is your update link.

https://www.middleburycampus.com/article/2026/02/board-of-trustees-talk-tuition-increase-and-improved-budget-deficit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did a tiny school like Middlebury run up such a large deficit?

A $4.49 million budget deficit against an overall budget of $344 million isn't that significant (1.3% of overall budget). Reasons mentioned are rising healthcare costs, staff and faculty pay increases, and debt servicing.

As far as I can tell, Middlebury had a $14.1 deficit in FY 2025 and has a projected budget deficit of $8.6 million for FY 2026, along with about 15 years of perennial deficits prior to these most recent years.

https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2025/05/board-trustees-approves-fiscal-year-2026-budget-tenure

You are just a glutton for punishment. Why do you post this stuff when you know that it is wrong?

Why post something a year old when you know that there was a fall update with a lower number and then the Feb update with the current $4.49M number?

Let me remind you:

Middlebury has a larger endowment than Colby.

Middlebury has less debt than Colby.

Middlebury draws from their endowment at a lower rate than Colby draws from theirs and could close their deficit and go to a surplus simply by raising their draw rate to equal Colby's.

Middlebury has raised their fees at below average rates among the NESCAC schools for many years.

Middlebury has fixed the root causes of their deficit while Colby has run a deficit for the last three years running.

Neither school has any significant financial issues but Middlebury is without question in stronger financial shape.

My research was incomplete. I apologize to those reading through. However, your comments, which appear to be reasonable and accurate with respect to Middlebury itself, seem to have conflated my post with those of one or more other people.

Your research wasn’t really incomplete, the latest number wasn’t published anywhere, just stated.

Actually, it was published here:
https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2026/02/trustees-accept-major-gift-art-museum-discuss-strategic-plan-and-approve-tuition

and here:
https://www.middleburycampus.com/article/2026/02/board-of-trustees-talk-tuition-increase-and-improved-budget-deficit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did a tiny school like Middlebury run up such a large deficit?

A $4.49 million budget deficit against an overall budget of $344 million isn't that significant (1.3% of overall budget). Reasons mentioned are rising healthcare costs, staff and faculty pay increases, and debt servicing.

As far as I can tell, Middlebury had a $14.1 deficit in FY 2025 and has a projected budget deficit of $8.6 million for FY 2026, along with about 15 years of perennial deficits prior to these most recent years.

https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2025/05/board-trustees-approves-fiscal-year-2026-budget-tenure

You are just a glutton for punishment. Why do you post this stuff when you know that it is wrong?

Why post something a year old when you know that there was a fall update with a lower number and then the Feb update with the current $4.49M number?

Let me remind you:

Middlebury has a larger endowment than Colby.

Middlebury has less debt than Colby.

Middlebury draws from their endowment at a lower rate than Colby draws from theirs and could close their deficit and go to a surplus simply by raising their draw rate to equal Colby's.

Middlebury has raised their fees at below average rates among the NESCAC schools for many years.

Middlebury has fixed the root causes of their deficit while Colby has run a deficit for the last three years running.

Neither school has any significant financial issues but Middlebury is without question in stronger financial shape.

My research was incomplete. I apologize to those reading through. However, your comments, which appear to be reasonable and accurate with respect to Middlebury itself, seem to have conflated my post with those of one or more other people.

Your research wasn’t really incomplete, the latest number wasn’t published anywhere, just stated.

Actually, it was published here:
https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2026/02/trustees-accept-major-gift-art-museum-discuss-strategic-plan-and-approve-tuition

and here:
https://www.middleburycampus.com/article/2026/02/board-of-trustees-talk-tuition-increase-and-improved-budget-deficit

Right, they “stated” it but you wouldn’t find it in any document. That’s what I meant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did a tiny school like Middlebury run up such a large deficit?

A $4.49 million budget deficit against an overall budget of $344 million isn't that significant (1.3% of overall budget). Reasons mentioned are rising healthcare costs, staff and faculty pay increases, and debt servicing.

As far as I can tell, Middlebury had a $14.1 deficit in FY 2025 and has a projected budget deficit of $8.6 million for FY 2026, along with about 15 years of perennial deficits prior to these most recent years.

https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2025/05/board-trustees-approves-fiscal-year-2026-budget-tenure

You are just a glutton for punishment. Why do you post this stuff when you know that it is wrong?

Why post something a year old when you know that there was a fall update with a lower number and then the Feb update with the current $4.49M number?

Let me remind you:

Middlebury has a larger endowment than Colby.

Middlebury has less debt than Colby.

Middlebury draws from their endowment at a lower rate than Colby draws from theirs and could close their deficit and go to a surplus simply by raising their draw rate to equal Colby's.

Middlebury has raised their fees at below average rates among the NESCAC schools for many years.

Middlebury has fixed the root causes of their deficit while Colby has run a deficit for the last three years running.

Neither school has any significant financial issues but Middlebury is without question in stronger financial shape.

My research was incomplete. I apologize to those reading through. However, your comments, which appear to be reasonable and accurate with respect to Middlebury itself, seem to have conflated my post with those of one or more other people.

Your research wasn’t really incomplete, the latest number wasn’t published anywhere, just stated.

PP is a well-known unwell person who thinks anyone that says anything even slightly negative about Middlebury is the same poster and flies off the handle every time in response (usually gaslighting everyone in the process). But it isn’t the same poster, it’s been multiple people all pointing out the same things the college’s own leadership points out. This has been explained to PP multiple times but to no avail, because for some reason she is incapable of understanding basic and simple information.

You are sock puppeting again. Here is your update link.

https://www.middleburycampus.com/article/2026/02/board-of-trustees-talk-tuition-increase-and-improved-budget-deficit

Lol absolutely insane behavior from you as usual. We’ve told you previously that you can easily get Jeff to confirm that this isn’t sock puppeting and it is different people. Get help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did a tiny school like Middlebury run up such a large deficit?

A $4.49 million budget deficit against an overall budget of $344 million isn't that significant (1.3% of overall budget). Reasons mentioned are rising healthcare costs, staff and faculty pay increases, and debt servicing.

As far as I can tell, Middlebury had a $14.1 deficit in FY 2025 and has a projected budget deficit of $8.6 million for FY 2026, along with about 15 years of perennial deficits prior to these most recent years.

https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2025/05/board-trustees-approves-fiscal-year-2026-budget-tenure

You are just a glutton for punishment. Why do you post this stuff when you know that it is wrong?

Why post something a year old when you know that there was a fall update with a lower number and then the Feb update with the current $4.49M number?

Let me remind you:

Middlebury has a larger endowment than Colby.

Middlebury has less debt than Colby.

Middlebury draws from their endowment at a lower rate than Colby draws from theirs and could close their deficit and go to a surplus simply by raising their draw rate to equal Colby's.

Middlebury has raised their fees at below average rates among the NESCAC schools for many years.

Middlebury has fixed the root causes of their deficit while Colby has run a deficit for the last three years running.

Neither school has any significant financial issues but Middlebury is without question in stronger financial shape.

My research was incomplete. I apologize to those reading through. However, your comments, which appear to be reasonable and accurate with respect to Middlebury itself, seem to have conflated my post with those of one or more other people.

Your research wasn’t really incomplete, the latest number wasn’t published anywhere, just stated.

Actually, it was published here:
https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2026/02/trustees-accept-major-gift-art-museum-discuss-strategic-plan-and-approve-tuition

and here:
https://www.middleburycampus.com/article/2026/02/board-of-trustees-talk-tuition-increase-and-improved-budget-deficit

Right, they “stated” it but you wouldn’t find it in any document. That’s what I meant.

Seems like it might be prudent to wait for settled information, then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't Barnard facing major financial issues too?

I recently read they are being enveloped completely by Columbia.

Wasnt that an April Fools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did a tiny school like Middlebury run up such a large deficit?

A $4.49 million budget deficit against an overall budget of $344 million isn't that significant (1.3% of overall budget). Reasons mentioned are rising healthcare costs, staff and faculty pay increases, and debt servicing.

As far as I can tell, Middlebury had a $14.1 deficit in FY 2025 and has a projected budget deficit of $8.6 million for FY 2026, along with about 15 years of perennial deficits prior to these most recent years.

https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2025/05/board-trustees-approves-fiscal-year-2026-budget-tenure

You are just a glutton for punishment. Why do you post this stuff when you know that it is wrong?

Why post something a year old when you know that there was a fall update with a lower number and then the Feb update with the current $4.49M number?

Let me remind you:

Middlebury has a larger endowment than Colby.

Middlebury has less debt than Colby.

Middlebury draws from their endowment at a lower rate than Colby draws from theirs and could close their deficit and go to a surplus simply by raising their draw rate to equal Colby's.

Middlebury has raised their fees at below average rates among the NESCAC schools for many years.

Middlebury has fixed the root causes of their deficit while Colby has run a deficit for the last three years running.

Neither school has any significant financial issues but Middlebury is without question in stronger financial shape.

My research was incomplete. I apologize to those reading through. However, your comments, which appear to be reasonable and accurate with respect to Middlebury itself, seem to have conflated my post with those of one or more other people.

Your research wasn’t really incomplete, the latest number wasn’t published anywhere, just stated.

PP is a well-known unwell person who thinks anyone that says anything even slightly negative about Middlebury is the same poster and flies off the handle every time in response (usually gaslighting everyone in the process). But it isn’t the same poster, it’s been multiple people all pointing out the same things the college’s own leadership points out. This has been explained to PP multiple times but to no avail, because for some reason she is incapable of understanding basic and simple information.

You are sock puppeting again. Here is your update link.

https://www.middleburycampus.com/article/2026/02/board-of-trustees-talk-tuition-increase-and-improved-budget-deficit

Lol absolutely insane behavior from you as usual. We’ve told you previously that you can easily get Jeff to confirm that this isn’t sock puppeting and it is different people. Get help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're compiling a college list now with our junior. Some colleges we've come across and researched have significant budget deficits. We are trying to figure out which ones to worry about.

We know that a college budget deficit can be a significant red flag, particularly if the uni is a small, private, or regional college with a low endowment. And a structural, long-term deficit often leads to reduced academic quality, fewer student services, etc.

Here are the colleges with budget deficits that we are aware of (see below). Are we missing any others we should know about? Which ones to truly worry about (I'm assuming some big ones will figure it out with its endowment but not sure if that's smart thinking)?

Colleges with Budget Deficits (rough amounts reported from the past year):

USC: $200 million
UChicago: $160 million
Stanford $140 million
Penn State: $140 million
Harvard: $113 million
American U: $80 million
GW: $76 million
NYU: $71 million
Boston U: $30 million
Middlebury: $14 million
WashU (St. Louis): $7 million
Brandeis: $2 million
Pitzer: $1.3 million

It’s reported Chicago is $6 billion in debt

All schools have debt. New buildings are largely built on debt but they can be paid for through revenue streams like patient fees, room and board, etc.

[Anonymous]

all schools are cutting costs due to post-pandemic issues, Trump cuts, etc.