Delaware College of Art and Design to Close Due to Declining Enrollment and FAFSA Issues

The Delaware College of Art and Design has announced that it will be closing for the 2024-25 academic year due to low enrollment numbers. The decision comes as a result of ongoing challenges related to declining enrollment, a shrinking pool of college-age students, rising costs, and unexpected issues with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Enrollment Decline and Financial Pressure

The college experienced a nearly 10% decline in enrollment, with only 129 students enrolled in recent years, according to federal data. This decline in student numbers has led to financial pressure, as the college's tuition revenue has also decreased.

Experts have pointed out that the decline in enrollment is part of a larger trend known as the "enrollment cliff," where fewer students are pursuing higher education after high school. Additionally, the population of college-aged students is shrinking, contributing to the challenges faced by institutions like the Delaware College of Art and Design.

Inflation and rising costs have further compounded the challenges for small, private institutions like DCAD. As a result, more students are opting for less expensive public schools or considering alternatives to traditional degree programs, such as trade programs or apprenticeships.

Impact of FAFSA Issues

The college's president, Jean Dahlgren, highlighted the unexpected issues with the FAFSA rollout as a contributing factor to the enrollment decline. Ongoing problems with the new FAFSA form have resulted in fewer students applying for financial aid, further exacerbating the college's enrollment challenges. The Department of Education is on track to see 1.5 million to 1.8 million fewer FAFSAs submitted this year, which could lead to a significant enrollment decline.

According to higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz, colleges, especially those teetering on the brink of insolvency, are facing added pressure from the rocky FAFSA rollout. Even a modest decline in college enrollment could push some institutions over the edge of a financial cliff, with long-term consequences that may last for years.

Response and Support

In response to the closure, the Delaware College of Art and Design has stated that it will work with incoming first-year students and rising second-year students to help them transfer to partner schools, including the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and the Moore College of Art and Design.

The Department of Education has emphasized that providing support to colleges and universities to ensure efficient processing of student records, aid offers, and enrollment encouragement is a top priority. They aim to support schools and students to ensure continued access to higher education.