Hampshire College was ‘a magical place’ for a progressive education. It couldn’t survive this era

Hampshire College, known for its progressive and unconventional liberal arts education since 1970, has succumbed to declining enrollment. The institution is the latest school to face closure amid a decades-long crisis affecting liberal arts colleges. This development signifies the end of a unique educational model that emphasized interdisciplinary learning and close student-teacher relationships for over five decades. Its closure reflects broader challenges within higher education, particularly for smaller, specialized institutions.