In this episode of This Week in College Viability, He highlights a growing wave of layoffs, academic cuts, hiring freezes, and financial distress across higher education, arguing that these developments confirm the industry is in long-term decline. Gary cites recent budget reductions and workforce cuts at institutions including Kent State, Colorado State, Portland State, the University of Oregon, and the University of Maryland.

He also chats about some colleges that publicly challenge poor financial ratings from the new Forbes college financial grades. Stocker focuses heavily on Westminster University and La Salle University, arguing that their public reassurances conflict with enrollment declines, shrinking revenues, and reduced endowment values shown in federal and audited financial data. Throughout the podcast, he stresses that graduation rates and accreditation alone are not reliable indicators of institutional stability, especially when colleges face persistent enrollment losses and financial strain.

Stocker introduces his related podcasts, Kitchen Table College Chat and Beyond the College Brochure, both aimed at challenging traditional college marketing narratives and encouraging greater transparency. In the final segment, he discusses a Forbes article by Ryan Craig about “healthcare donut degrees,” criticizing colleges that offer healthcare-related majors without guaranteed clinical placements required for graduation and licensure. Using his own medical laboratory science background as an example, Stocker argues that too many institutions create revenue-generating degree programs without providing the full educational pathway students need to complete them successfully. He closes by urging families to seek independent financial and academic data rather than relying solely on college marketing materials or sponsored college-ranking websites.

Show Notes:
+ College Viability Inspection Report
+ 2026 College Majors Completion App
+  Kitchen Table College Chat podcast
+  Beyond the College Brochure podcast

Story links:

‘It’s Just Been Agony’: Facing a Big Deficit, the New School Begins Layoffs

Kent State, Colorado State and other universities turn to budget cuts

Westminster University (UT) disputes Forbes' assessment after receiving failing financial grade

Pa. college’s (Albright) touted $10M surplus was less than half that: audit

La Salle University’s accreditation reaffirmed by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Despite Headwinds, College Enrollment Increases Nationwide Once Again

Universities Are Selling Healthcare Donut Degrees