A Massachusetts student was heartbroken to learn their college would be closing, even though they claim to have a full-ride scholarship. Hampshire College of Amherst has announced its permanent closure after the fall 2026 semester due to a lack of financial resources to operate. Its Board of Trustees claimed it had “explored every possible alternative” but to no avail, and countless online users and alumni were devastated to hear the news.
Reddit user WerewolfIcy7240 shared their frustration on r/mildlyinfuriating, explaining how the disappointment was immeasurable. Not only did they lose their future and full scholarship at Hampshire College, but they also claim they didn’t have a backup plan. “It’s also my birthday today,” WerewolfIcy7240 wrote in their post.
The Hampshire College Student Received An Overwhelming Amount of Support and Encouragement on Reddit
Within just a few hours, thousands flooded the comment section, offering their condolences and support, and many even shared suggestions on where the student could go now. “Even if you take the semester off, trust and believe the next school will be much more stable and hopefully a better future than you saw at Hampshire College,” a commenter said as encouragement.
Others shared other colleges in the area that WerewolfIcy7240 could reach out to for a similar offer regarding their scholarship at Hampshire College. “On the bright side, this sounds like fodder for a really great application essay,” wrote another hopeful Redditor.
A third pointed out how this student likely has the skills to thrive elsewhere, considering they were allegedly given a full-ride scholarship. “Bro got a full ride to nowhere,” joked a fourth comment. As one Redditor pointed out, the Board of Trustees did inform students about the closure early enough for them to make alternative plans now.
While they might not have full-ride scholarships like WerewolfIcy7240, there are plenty of other Hampshire College students who feel torn that their school will be shut down, according to Greenfield Recorder.
For those wondering whether government cuts might have played a role in this college’s downfall, Reddit user wittgensteins-boat shares a brief summary of how Hampshire College was already struggling to make ends meet, even during pre-COVID. However, after the hit enrollment took during the pandemic, it never fully recovered, leaving leaders no choice but to close it down.
