St. Michael’s College faces accreditation warning as enrollment slips

The decline of more than 500 students helped prompt the notation issued earlier this summer.

St. Michael’s College is under closer scrutiny from the New England Commission of Higher Education after years of falling enrollment and financial pressure raised concerns about the school’s long-term stability.

The commission said the college’s current situation does not mean it has lost accreditation, but officials warned it could be at risk if it fails to meet required standards in the future. Those expectations include financial strength, governing independence, minimum credit-hour requirements and evidence of student success after graduation.

Full-time undergraduate enrollment has fallen sharply in recent years, according to the commission. The school had 1,539 full-time undergraduates in the fall of 2019, but that figure dropped to 1,021 in the fall of 2025. The decline of more than 500 students helped prompt the notation issued earlier this summer.

Commission President Lawrence Schall said the warning reflects a concern that St. Michael’s could fall short of expectations, even though it is still being judged as compliant for now. He said the commission plans to keep working with the college’s board as the process continues.

In response, St. Michael’s College President Richard Plumb said the school has already been working through the same problems identified by regulators as part of a transformation plan. He said the college is still fully accredited and expects to present progress when it responds to the commission this fall. Plumb also pointed to 2 1/2 years of changes, along with three steady incoming classes and strong fundraising results.

Founded in 1904, St. Michael’s College has long been a major part of Vermont’s higher education scene, but the recent drop in students has created one of the most serious challenges in its history.