Hampshire College is Closing

A personal reflection—and an important shift every family with a college-bound student needs to understand.

April 19, 2026

This is a difficult piece for me to write.

This past week, I learned that my alma mater, Hampshire College, will close its doors after the end of the fall semester.

Like many in the Hampshire community, I received the news by email. And while the closure marks the end of a 56-year experiment in higher education, it also represents something much more personal.

Hampshire was not a typical college.

Its motto—Non satis scire (“to know is not enough”)—captured what made it so special. It was a place where students were challenged not only to learn, but to apply, create, and make meaning from their education.

It was, in every sense, a magical place.

It’s where I received a transformative education. Where I was able to combine my interests in micro/molecular biology and creative writing into a self-designed course of study that reflected who I truly was.

It’s also where I developed the confidence to pursue a different path when my original one ended—eventually leading me to earn a PhD in political science.

At Hampshire, I learned how to pursue knowledge—and then create it—not for its own sake, but to make a difference in the world, to solve real problems.

That foundation shaped everything that came after.

What This Means for Families Today

While this loss is deeply personal, it also reflects a broader shift that families navigating college admissions need to understand.

Colleges like Hampshire—small, private, liberal arts institutions—are increasingly at risk. Some estimates suggest that up to a quarter of all 4-year private colleges in the United States could close within the next decade.

This has real implications:

• Fewer colleges to choose from
• Increased competition for admission
• Greater pressure on students to stand out
• Fewer opportunities at institutions that often provide the most generous financial aid

For families who cannot afford to pay for college out-of-pocket and want to avoid student debt, this matters even more.

The margin for error is shrinking.

Why Strategy Matters More Than Ever

In this changing landscape, hoping for the best is not a plan.

Students who secure admission with full funding are not leaving things to chance. They are approaching the process with clarity, intention, and a proven strategy.

This is exactly what we focus on inside CFF College Fully Funded®.

We help students:

• Identify best-fit colleges that are generous with aid
• Position themselves strategically in the application process
• Maximize their chances of admission with full funding

We help families navigate this increasingly competitive landscape with clarity, strategy, and a proven framework—so students can secure admission with full funding.

Because in today’s environment, doing the “right things” is no longer enough—you have to do the right things strategically.

And while Hampshire College may be closing, its legacy lives on in those of us who had the good fortune of experiencing its magic—and who continue to believe in what education can and should be.

Secure College Admission with Full Funding

If your family has a serious high school junior/rising senior or prospective transfer student and:

• cannot afford to pay for college out-of-pocket,
• wants to avoid student debt,
• is aiming for a private or selective college experience,

then now is the time to act.

​CFF College Fully Funded® provides the structure, strategy, and support needed to navigate this increasingly competitive process successfully.

Early bird registration for CFF College Fully Funded® closes on April 24 at 11:59pm EST.

If you have not yet started the enrollment process, now is the time to book your call.

If we have already spoken, take the next step and complete your enrollment before the deadline.