Northland College to Remain Open, But With Fewer Academic Programs

Northland College

With many colleges succumbing to low enrollment numbers and budget concerns over the last several months, Northland College has some good news to share: The school will remain open for the foreseeable future.

The small environmental liberal arts college in Ashland, Wisconsin has dodged an imminent shuttering of its doors after an extensive fundraising effort and some significant downsizing.

After an all-time low enrollment this term and several years of financial troubles, the college was expected to close in April after 132 years of operations. A last-minute change of course has saved the school for now.

“Together with the Board, a plan was built to keep Northland College open and serving students in a way that is aligned with our mission and the values that define us. I am immensely grateful to all involved for securing the future of this incredible college,” said Northland College President Chad Dayton.  

It isn’t all good news, though. Northland College is being forced to downsize and will be cutting some faculty members and majors amid a new “restructuring” plan. This new plan will only support eight majors; prior to the restructuring, students could choose from over three dozen academic degrees. Here are the majors Northland will continue offering:

  • Business
  • Education
  • Biology
  • Natural Resources
  • Earth Studies
  • Psychology and Social Sciences
  • Environmental Humanities
  • Sustainable Community Development

These salvaged degree plans were chosen because school administration felt they were critical to Northland’s overall mission and because they’re aligned with high-demand occupational fields. The college is the nation’s first environmental liberal arts school.

The Higher Learning Commission has accredited the school since 1957. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Northland College among the top 35 regional colleges in the Midwest. Here at CVO, we’ve highlighted the school’s business programs in our ranking of the Best Affordable Small Colleges for Business Administration.

Source: WDIO: Northland College in Ashland to Remain Open Under Refocused Model