Fitch issues deteriorating outlook for US HE in 2026: Here’s why mergers and closures may rise
US colleges brace for 2026 challenges with shrinking student base and uncertain federal HE funding Fitch Ratings has issued a “deteriorating” outlook for the US higher education (HE) sector in 2026, continuing a grim forecast first highlighted in 2025. Analysts cited a shrinking pipeline of students, rising costs, and uncertainty over state and federal support…