Reply to WaPo feature on bad economic outlook for colleges

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Warning bell for any slac outside the top 25.[/quote]

So, basically over 3000 colleges are in trouble?

I think you people need to get out of your "Top 25 or bust" bubble.[/quote]

Any slac outside the top 25 is in trouble.[/quote]

I don't agree.  SLACs outside the top 100 without a decent endowment, reasonable operating costs and/or a niche target population may be in trouble. SLACs in the 25-100 range are mostly fairly strong--they may need to make adjustments in operating costs, amount of merit aid/tuition discounts offered--but that has gone up and down.  A few may have too low of endowments, not a good handle on finances, not an attractive enough niche and may suffer. But,in some ways the SLACs that are innovative can be more nimble than public institutions--they only have to fill a small class, they have flexibility to adapt and change to a changing market without having to get every decision past a state governing board, they don't have requirements on how many in-state, in-country people they have to accept.  I hope some of the most innovative academic models will come out of SLACs facing these challenges.[/quote]

I have one child at a state flagship and one at a Top 50 SLAC. The one at the flagship wouldn't be happy at a SLAC and the one at the SLAC would get lost at the Flagship. My point is that as a parent I see the need for both type of schools. Personally I prefer the SLAC model but I do recognize that it is not for everyone. And with merit at both they are "reasonably" affordable. Will there be consolidation - sure - there is consolidation in every industry. But I do believe the Top SLACs will actually thrive as education is the ultimate gift in life.[/quote]

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