The Hilltop feels more crowded than ever. The sandwich line at Dave is growing longer, parking spots disappear faster, and once-quiet spaces on campus no longer feel so isolated. With each semester, more students choose to call Saint Anselm home, a stark contrast to the “demographic cliff”—the anticipated decline in the number of college-age individuals in the United States—facing colleges nationwide. As other universities close their doors, Saint A’s is continuing the Anselmian tradition of holding them open; but as the cliff gets steeper, how will the college manage this shift? 

The decline in birth rates is primarily attributed to the 2008 financial crisis—the “Great Recession”—and the trend is leading to a projected decrease in high school graduates in the coming years. As fewer students apply, colleges have been forced to compete, most evidently by slashing prices and expanding academic offerings wherever possible. While greater scholarships are good for students, especially as tuition is steadily increasing, they pose a great risk to the College’s long-term financial health. Last spring, Saint Anselm College announced plans for a strategic $5 million budget reduction, which Chief Financial Officer Bill Furlong cited as the College’s response to the “extremely competitive market of higher education.” However, he emphasized that this decision was not a reaction to the immediate financial crisis but instead a proactive measure to maintain stability amid anticipated demographic shifts. “We are moving with urgency,” said Furlong, “[but] at the same time, we are taking thoughtful and deliberate steps throughout the process.” 

In the academic sphere, these budget cuts are most evident in the restructuring of the core curriculum and first-year experiences. Conversatio, the College’s year-long introductory course, is being revised, with a new version of the course piloted alongside “The Finale” this year: “Pathways and Perspectives”. As of now, the fate of “The Finale” is still uncertain, with a message from the Conversatio Office stating earlier this month, “the pilot is a pilot. Many elements are likely to change.” The changes to Conversatio, though controversial, stand to save the College a significant amount of money, with this restructuring—together with other academic changes—expected to comprise approximately $2 million of the budget cuts. The revisions to the core curriculum, while controversial, are crucial to the College’s ability to maintain economic stability while simultaneously expanding academic offerings. Recently, Saint Anselm College launched its first graduate programs in nursing, public policy, education and special education, and criminal justice. The programs seek to expand the range of students attending the college, aiming to appeal to adult learners and expand revenue streams. Not only do these post-graduate students contribute the cost of tuition and academic fees to Saint A’s, but most—if not all—live off-campus, lessening the strain to the Office of Residence Life caused by the growing student body. 

Housing, in particular, is of some concern, as the vast majority of students—over 90% of undergraduates—choose to live on campus. Although the number of students has steadily increased in recent years, the College’s administration views the growth with cautious optimism; administrators do not want to apportion limited resources to expansion of permanent residence

halls if they will not be used. “A lot less kids were born due to the recession and we have been expecting that for a long time,” said Dr. Sheila Liotta, Vice President of Academic Affairs. However, something must be done to address the current influx of students. In past periods of housing shortages, the College has used trailers to accommodate students, but it appears that this time Saint Anselm is prioritizing strategically building permanent residence halls, despite the risk posed by the demographic cliff. The fourth floor of Alumni Streets was renovated ahead of the Fall 2024 semester, and plans are allegedly underway to potentially repurpose buildings like Gadbois Hall and Joseph Hall into on-campus housing upon the relocation of the Jean School of Nursing to Grappone Hall. 

These financial challenges do not just affect the College, however, as low accessibility to education continues to impact many families. As tuition increases across the nation, Saint A’s has implemented initiatives to make college attendance a possibility to the surrounding community. The Anselmian Community Commitment offers free tuition to New Hampshire students with a family income of $75,000 or less each year. This program aims to alleviate the heavy financial burden of higher education, and encourage greater participation in higher education within the state. For non-eligible students, the College seeks to manage rising costs and maintain affordability through prudent financial planning and resource allocation. By proactively adjusting the budget and exploring new revenue streams, Saint Anselm College is positioned to navigate the ever changing landscape of higher education, continuing its mission of providing a transformative education shaped by Catholic and Benedictine values long into the future.