The state's Board of Higher Education meets Tuesday to discuss the future of students at Mount Ida College, the liberal arts college in Newton set to close at the end of the month. 

Many of its 1,500 students-and incoming ones who had planeed to enroll this fall-are unsure where they will complete their degrees.

One thing is sure: more difficult days are ahead for small private colleges. Education officials are debating whether to help students and their parents identify colleges that are in financial trouble.