PAXTON—After weeks of warning signs and mounting financial concerns, Anna Maria College announced it is closing after the spring 2026 semester, a decision that, while widely anticipated, marks a significant loss for Central Massachusetts.
The Paxton-based college said it is ceasing academic offerings shortly after graduation in May and transition to full closure by the end of 2026, following what officials described as an exhaustive review of its financial position.
“After an exhaustive review of the college’s current financial situation and the industry-wide trends in higher education, the Board of Trustees determined that the College can no longer project sufficient financial resources to sustain its academic operations,” the college said in its announcement.
Graduating seniors will complete their degrees and participate in commencement as scheduled on May 9. For students who are not finishing this semester, the college said it has secured transfer pathway agreements with partner institutions and will host transfer fairs to support the transition.
Academic records for students and alumni will continue to be maintained through a teach-out partner, with additional details expected in the coming weeks.
College officials said the decision follows an extended period of financial restructuring and oversight, including engagement with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and the New England Commission of Higher Education. A recent audit raised “substantial doubt” about the institution’s ability to continue operating, contributing to the decision.
Like many small, tuition-dependent colleges, Anna Maria has struggled with declining enrollment and rising costs in recent years. The college said it had taken steps to stabilize its finances, including reducing staffing and operating costs by more than $2 million and pursuing new revenue sources.
The school also reported some recent gains, including a 7.5% increase in spring enrollment, improved fundraising and a $5 million anonymous donation. Still, officials said those improvements were not enough to offset long-term structural challenges.
“Like many small, tuition-dependent institutions, Anna Maria has faced structural challenges driven by declining enrollment and rising costs in the years following the pandemic,” the college said in the announcement.
Founded in 1946 by the Sisters of Saint Anne, Anna Maria College has served generations of students from Central Massachusetts and beyond, with programs in nursing, criminal justice, fire science, education and the liberal arts. The institution has also played a significant role in educating first-generation and working-class students.
“Anna Maria College has served students who needed us most, and we have done so with extraordinary dedication for 80 years,” President Sean J. Ryan said in a statement. “Our focus is entirely on our students, ensuring every one of them has a clear pathway to complete their education.”
Board Chair David P. Trainor said the decision came after all options were considered.
“The Board of Trustees reached this decision only after pursuing every realistic alternative. We are heartbroken,” Trainor said in a statement.
State officials said they will continue working with the college to support students through the transition.
“The Department continues to work with President Ryan and his leadership team to ensure that students who are not graduating this spring have opportunities to transfer and complete their degrees as seamlessly as possible,” said Massachusetts Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega in a statement.
The closure comes amid broader challenges facing higher education, particularly for smaller private institutions in New England.
Those pressures mirror trends across the region, where dozens of colleges have closed or merged over the past decade amid declining enrollment and what experts describe as a shrinking pool of college-age students.
The closure also marks the second college in Worcester County to shut down in recent years, following Becker College’s closure in Worcester in 2021 after similar financial pressures tied to declining enrollment and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anna Maria College said its priority in the coming months will be supporting students, faculty and staff through the transition. Most faculty and staff employment is expected to conclude in June, with some student support services continuing beyond commencement.
