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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middlebury has expressed at least some concern over its history of annual deficits, particularly in relation to the balance sheets of some of its peers:

"Our deficits are continually an outlier among our NESCAC peers, which all operate profitably, experiencing only occasional downturns."

https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2025/04/budget-our-way-forward

I guess the real question here is this: does a $5 million budget deficit substantially impact the college experience? I would say with an endowment of $1.7B+, the answer is no. I don’t have a dog in this fight. Others can interpret as they see fit.

The operative question is $5 million deficit on what total budget number.

Endowment doesn't help with an annual budget deficit. The endowment has to last forever; a university spends a very small percentage of the earnings each year, and that amount generally stays consistent. It's projected out over decades. If a university has to suddenly increase their dependence on endowment earnings to make up a budget deficit, that's a very bad sign.

The univ does spent the interest on the endowment. So the larger the endowment, the better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middlebury has expressed at least some concern over its history of annual deficits, particularly in relation to the balance sheets of some of its peers:

"Our deficits are continually an outlier among our NESCAC peers, which all operate profitably, experiencing only occasional downturns."

https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2025/04/budget-our-way-forward

You are replying to your own post again....

Why didn't you include the entire sentence?

"In addition, the Board accepted a $20 million gift for the construction of a new arts museum scheduled to open in fall 2028, and trustees learned that as of Dec. 31, the projected budget deficit had been reduced to $4.49 million from $8.61 million in October, a savings of $4.12 million."

Or the actual title of the article:

"Board of Trustees talk tuition increase and improved budget deficit"

Or maybe this one:

"Provost was confident that Middlebury is on a path now to balancing the budget for the college and schools, and also emphasized its commitment to its people."

Why are you are selectively quoting from a letter to the Faculty that was crafted to break the news that their benefits were being reduced but leaving out this piece from the Feb letter?

“Our retirement plan was one of the best in higher education, better than some of the wealthiest schools,” he said. “We made some structural changes to our healthcare plan because we had one of the richest healthcare plans in American higher education, so it was really just recalibrating to live within our means."

Why did you quote pieces from before MIIS was closed? It's old news but if you want to use that material why didn't you include:

"For our workforce, we’ve been able to increase salaries each of the last three years—7 percent, 5 percent, and 4 percent respectively—resulting in a $22 million increase overall."

While the persistence is admirable/annoying the gaslighting skills are weak. You try hard but you just aren't capable of crafting a narrative than anyone believes.

Responding to your own posts for engagement is not a good look.

There’s more than one person posting here because I posted earlier but haven’t posted these last few.

You sound bonkers.

Sorry, that dog doesn’t hunt. We are on to you from your past behavior on what seems like countless threads of you spouting the same nonsense over and over again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middlebury has expressed at least some concern over its history of annual deficits, particularly in relation to the balance sheets of some of its peers:

"Our deficits are continually an outlier among our NESCAC peers, which all operate profitably, experiencing only occasional downturns."

https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2025/04/budget-our-way-forward

You are replying to your own post again....

Why didn't you include the entire sentence?

"In addition, the Board accepted a $20 million gift for the construction of a new arts museum scheduled to open in fall 2028, and trustees learned that as of Dec. 31, the projected budget deficit had been reduced to $4.49 million from $8.61 million in October, a savings of $4.12 million."

Or the actual title of the article:

"Board of Trustees talk tuition increase and improved budget deficit"

Or maybe this one:

"Provost was confident that Middlebury is on a path now to balancing the budget for the college and schools, and also emphasized its commitment to its people."

Why are you are selectively quoting from a letter to the Faculty that was crafted to break the news that their benefits were being reduced but leaving out this piece from the Feb letter?

“Our retirement plan was one of the best in higher education, better than some of the wealthiest schools,” he said. “We made some structural changes to our healthcare plan because we had one of the richest healthcare plans in American higher education, so it was really just recalibrating to live within our means."

Why did you quote pieces from before MIIS was closed? It's old news but if you want to use that material why didn't you include:

"For our workforce, we’ve been able to increase salaries each of the last three years—7 percent, 5 percent, and 4 percent respectively—resulting in a $22 million increase overall."

While the persistence is admirable/annoying the gaslighting skills are weak. You try hard but you just aren't capable of crafting a narrative than anyone believes.

Responding to your own posts for engagement is not a good look.

There’s more than one person posting here because I posted earlier but haven’t posted these last few.

You sound bonkers.

This is true. I posted briefly on Middlebury and received "You are replying to your own post again" in reply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middlebury has expressed at least some concern over its history of annual deficits, particularly in relation to the balance sheets of some of its peers:

"Our deficits are continually an outlier among our NESCAC peers, which all operate profitably, experiencing only occasional downturns."

https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2025/04/budget-our-way-forward

You are replying to your own post again....

Why didn't you include the entire sentence?

"In addition, the Board accepted a $20 million gift for the construction of a new arts museum scheduled to open in fall 2028, and trustees learned that as of Dec. 31, the projected budget deficit had been reduced to $4.49 million from $8.61 million in October, a savings of $4.12 million."

Or the actual title of the article:

"Board of Trustees talk tuition increase and improved budget deficit"

Or maybe this one:

"Provost was confident that Middlebury is on a path now to balancing the budget for the college and schools, and also emphasized its commitment to its people."

Why are you are selectively quoting from a letter to the Faculty that was crafted to break the news that their benefits were being reduced but leaving out this piece from the Feb letter?

“Our retirement plan was one of the best in higher education, better than some of the wealthiest schools,” he said. “We made some structural changes to our healthcare plan because we had one of the richest healthcare plans in American higher education, so it was really just recalibrating to live within our means."

Why did you quote pieces from before MIIS was closed? It's old news but if you want to use that material why didn't you include:

"For our workforce, we’ve been able to increase salaries each of the last three years—7 percent, 5 percent, and 4 percent respectively—resulting in a $22 million increase overall."

While the persistence is admirable/annoying the gaslighting skills are weak. You try hard but you just aren't capable of crafting a narrative than anyone believes.

Responding to your own posts for engagement is not a good look.

There’s more than one person posting here because I posted earlier but haven’t posted these last few.

You sound bonkers.

This is true. I posted briefly on Middlebury and received "You are replying to your own post again" in reply.

Still doing it…..we see you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middlebury has expressed at least some concern over its history of annual deficits, particularly in relation to the balance sheets of some of its peers:

"Our deficits are continually an outlier among our NESCAC peers, which all operate profitably, experiencing only occasional downturns."

https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2025/04/budget-our-way-forward

You are replying to your own post again....

Why didn't you include the entire sentence?

"In addition, the Board accepted a $20 million gift for the construction of a new arts museum scheduled to open in fall 2028, and trustees learned that as of Dec. 31, the projected budget deficit had been reduced to $4.49 million from $8.61 million in October, a savings of $4.12 million."

Or the actual title of the article:

"Board of Trustees talk tuition increase and improved budget deficit"

Or maybe this one:

"Provost was confident that Middlebury is on a path now to balancing the budget for the college and schools, and also emphasized its commitment to its people."

Why are you are selectively quoting from a letter to the Faculty that was crafted to break the news that their benefits were being reduced but leaving out this piece from the Feb letter?

“Our retirement plan was one of the best in higher education, better than some of the wealthiest schools,” he said. “We made some structural changes to our healthcare plan because we had one of the richest healthcare plans in American higher education, so it was really just recalibrating to live within our means."

Why did you quote pieces from before MIIS was closed? It's old news but if you want to use that material why didn't you include:

"For our workforce, we’ve been able to increase salaries each of the last three years—7 percent, 5 percent, and 4 percent respectively—resulting in a $22 million increase overall."

While the persistence is admirable/annoying the gaslighting skills are weak. You try hard but you just aren't capable of crafting a narrative than anyone believes.

Responding to your own posts for engagement is not a good look.

There’s more than one person posting here because I posted earlier but haven’t posted these last few.

You sound bonkers.

This is true. I posted briefly on Middlebury and received "You are replying to your own post again" in reply.

Still doing it…..we see you

If you believe such a thing, you can flag posts as you see fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middlebury has expressed at least some concern over its history of annual deficits, particularly in relation to the balance sheets of some of its peers:

"Our deficits are continually an outlier among our NESCAC peers, which all operate profitably, experiencing only occasional downturns."

https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2025/04/budget-our-way-forward

You are replying to your own post again....

Why didn't you include the entire sentence?

"In addition, the Board accepted a $20 million gift for the construction of a new arts museum scheduled to open in fall 2028, and trustees learned that as of Dec. 31, the projected budget deficit had been reduced to $4.49 million from $8.61 million in October, a savings of $4.12 million."

Or the actual title of the article:

"Board of Trustees talk tuition increase and improved budget deficit"

Or maybe this one:

"Provost was confident that Middlebury is on a path now to balancing the budget for the college and schools, and also emphasized its commitment to its people."

Why are you are selectively quoting from a letter to the Faculty that was crafted to break the news that their benefits were being reduced but leaving out this piece from the Feb letter?

“Our retirement plan was one of the best in higher education, better than some of the wealthiest schools,” he said. “We made some structural changes to our healthcare plan because we had one of the richest healthcare plans in American higher education, so it was really just recalibrating to live within our means."

Why did you quote pieces from before MIIS was closed? It's old news but if you want to use that material why didn't you include:

"For our workforce, we’ve been able to increase salaries each of the last three years—7 percent, 5 percent, and 4 percent respectively—resulting in a $22 million increase overall."

While the persistence is admirable/annoying the gaslighting skills are weak. You try hard but you just aren't capable of crafting a narrative than anyone believes.

Responding to your own posts for engagement is not a good look.

There’s more than one person posting here because I posted earlier but haven’t posted these last few.

You sound bonkers.

This is true. I posted briefly on Middlebury and received "You are replying to your own post again" in reply.

Still doing it…..we see you

If you believe such a thing, you can flag posts as you see fit.

+1. Flag for Jeff instead of ranting like a lunatic about sock puppeting that you have no evidence of. Of course, nothing will happen because it is different people commenting, but at least it will be an outlet for your crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middlebury has expressed at least some concern over its history of annual deficits, particularly in relation to the balance sheets of some of its peers:

"Our deficits are continually an outlier among our NESCAC peers, which all operate profitably, experiencing only occasional downturns."

https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2025/04/budget-our-way-forward

You are replying to your own post again....

Why didn't you include the entire sentence?

"In addition, the Board accepted a $20 million gift for the construction of a new arts museum scheduled to open in fall 2028, and trustees learned that as of Dec. 31, the projected budget deficit had been reduced to $4.49 million from $8.61 million in October, a savings of $4.12 million."

Or the actual title of the article:

"Board of Trustees talk tuition increase and improved budget deficit"

Or maybe this one:

"Provost was confident that Middlebury is on a path now to balancing the budget for the college and schools, and also emphasized its commitment to its people."

Why are you are selectively quoting from a letter to the Faculty that was crafted to break the news that their benefits were being reduced but leaving out this piece from the Feb letter?

“Our retirement plan was one of the best in higher education, better than some of the wealthiest schools,” he said. “We made some structural changes to our healthcare plan because we had one of the richest healthcare plans in American higher education, so it was really just recalibrating to live within our means."

Why did you quote pieces from before MIIS was closed? It's old news but if you want to use that material why didn't you include:

"For our workforce, we’ve been able to increase salaries each of the last three years—7 percent, 5 percent, and 4 percent respectively—resulting in a $22 million increase overall."

While the persistence is admirable/annoying the gaslighting skills are weak. You try hard but you just aren't capable of crafting a narrative than anyone believes.

Responding to your own posts for engagement is not a good look.

There’s more than one person posting here because I posted earlier but haven’t posted these last few.

You sound bonkers.

This is true. I posted briefly on Middlebury and received "You are replying to your own post again" in reply.

Still doing it…..we see you

If you believe such a thing, you can flag posts as you see fit.

+1. Flag for Jeff instead of ranting like a lunatic about sock puppeting that you have no evidence of. Of course, nothing will happen because it is different people commenting, but at least it will be an outlet for your crazy.

"thou doth protest too much."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middlebury has expressed at least some concern over its history of annual deficits, particularly in relation to the balance sheets of some of its peers:

"Our deficits are continually an outlier among our NESCAC peers, which all operate profitably, experiencing only occasional downturns."

https://www.middlebury.edu/stories/archive/2025/04/budget-our-way-forward

I guess the real question here is this: does a $5 million budget deficit substantially impact the college experience? I would say with an endowment of $1.7B+, the answer is no. I don’t have a dog in this fight. Others can interpret as they see fit.

The operative question is $5 million deficit on what total budget number.

Endowment doesn't help with an annual budget deficit. The endowment has to last forever; a university spends a very small percentage of the earnings each year, and that amount generally stays consistent. It's projected out over decades. If a university has to suddenly increase their dependence on endowment earnings to make up a budget deficit, that's a very bad sign.

The univ does spent the interest on the endowment. So the larger the endowment, the better.

Of course. But if they are running a budget deficit, they are operating beyond their means. So their endowment isn't big enough.

[Anonymous]

Of all the ones you posted, Chicago is the only one that I am aware of that has a structural budget deficit, beyond the current issues that every major research institution is having with slashed federal research funding.

FWIW, SLACs will be much less affected by the federal funding cuts. However, that's because they never did much of the kind of research that forms the majority of the cuts, which mostly happens in med schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:USC was very stingy with aid this year, I 100% think it was due to budget deficit.

USC took a bunch of wealthy mediocre kids this year. I know a handful who got in with GPAs under 3.0 but from extremely wealthy families.

How many? And how do you know them? And how do you know that USC took a “bunch” of mediocre kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:USC was very stingy with aid this year, I 100% think it was due to budget deficit.

USC took a bunch of wealthy mediocre kids this year. I know a handful who got in with GPAs under 3.0 but from extremely wealthy families.

How many? And how do you know them? And how do you know that USC took a “bunch” of mediocre kids?

Very doubtful that they did, it's the copium talking.

[Anonymous]

GW’s sale of its Loudoun Campus for $400M+ should take care of its issues.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

But the deficit has to be funded somehow and if it is recurring, it could lead to financial instability.