Dickinson College plans enrollment, aid cuts amid higher education decline

Dickinson College plans to reduce its enrollment target to approximately 575 students annually, down from 650, and shift to a greater emphasis on need-based financial aid, reducing merit scholarships. This decision is partly a response to the unpredictability in enrollment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and aims to balance net revenue with the rising discount rate, which has increased over 50% in the past decade. Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is seeking a 6.5% funding increase despite ongoing enrollment declines, emphasizing the need to keep tuition stable since 2018. The chancellor noted that while funding requests are made, fewer students are entering higher education, raising questions about sustainability. Overall, these trends reflect a broader challenge of declining enrollment in higher education across the U.S., prompting institutions to reevaluate their financial strategies.