Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | July 27, 2026 | Worcester Business Journal 13 "e students enrolled in these programs deserve to complete their degrees, and we will help them do so," Pieczynski said. Nichols' donors are responding well to the college's future plans, as giving is up 33% this year, said Pieczynski. "at's the kind of positive momen- tum we need as we plan for a com- prehensive capital campaign," he said. "Donors want to invest in institutions with a clear vision and credible plan." More challenges on the horizon While thoughtful planning and bold strategy can allow for- ward-thinking institutions to be optimistic about their futures, more challenges are coming. Fewer people will apply to college in the coming years, and fewer believe higher ed is a good investment. About 710,000 fewer children were born in America last year than at the nation's peak in 2007, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Combined with the plunging immigrant population, a January report from the Congressio- nal Budget Office reduced its previ- ous 2055 U.S. population projection by about 8 million people. e U.S. population age 34 or younger is projected to decline in each of the next 30 years, CBO says. In September, 35% of Americans considered a college education to be very important, down from nearly 75% in 2010, according to polling organization Gallup. In Massachusetts, the trends appear no more encouraging. A statewide survey of 1,069 parents of K-12 students conducted in April by the nonpartisan MassINC Polling Group found 45% of middle-school parents expect their child to pursue a bache- lor's degree, down from 53% in 2023. As affordability consistently ranks as a top concern for college skeptics, the region's public universities and community colleges – buoyed by free tuition funded by the state's Fair Share Amendment – would seem to represent a reasonable alternative. Yet, these institutions face challenges. "Overall access has improved, but equity in outcomes and completion hasn't kept pace, and lower-resourced sectors like community colleges and some state universities are being asked to close bigger gaps with fewer resources than well-endowed institutions," said Jennie William- son, state director for the equity-fo- cused nonprofit EdTrust Massa- chusetts. e six-year graduation rates for Black and Latino students at state universities sit at 56%, compared to about 72% for white students. At community col- leges, those rates are 35% overall, but 29% for Black students and 27% for Latino students, EdTrust says. "e bottom line is, Massachusetts has built the funding and infrastruc- ture to genuinely improve access to and outcomes in higher education through Fair Share and recent invest- ments," Williamson said. "e next phase is making sure higher education is genuinely easier to access and nav- igate … for students at all our public institutions, not just some." EDUCATION F O C U S Jennie Williamson, state director, EdTrust Massachusetts Another Central Mass. college will close When Anna Maria College in Paxton closed at the end of the spring semester, it became the second Central Massachusetts college to shut its doors this decade, following Becker College in Worcester, which closed in 2021. Higher education is facing significant headwinds nationwide, including a shrinking pool of high school graduates, rising concerns about affordability, and increasing political scrutiny. When polled online, two-thirds of WBJ readers said they expect another local college to close soon. 67% Yes 33% No Do you think another Central Massachusetts college will close within the next five years? W OPEN NOTRE DAME ACADEMY HOUSE Discover the Difference at Notre Dame Academy! OCTOBER 17, 2026 | 12:00PM 508.757.6200 www.nda-worc.org Tour our campus and learning spaces Meet teachers, students, and school leaders Learn about our college preparatory curriculum Explore athletics, arts, clubs, and leadership opportunities Discover how NDA empowers young women to grow in confidence, character, and purpose Welcoming young women grades 7-12 Register Here! Endowments at Central Mass. private colleges Source: Each school via survey School Endowment MCPHS, in Worcester and Boston $2.1 billion College Of The Holy Cross, in Worcester $1.2 billion Worcester Polytechnic Institute $733 million Clark University, in Worcester $501 million Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, in Grafton $138 million Assumption University, in Worcester $101 million Dean College, in Franklin $64 million Nichols College, in Dudley $39 million

• Cover