Harvard's Big Shift: Why Fewer PhD Students?

Harvard University is making a big change. They are cutting back on their doctoral programs. This is not a total stop, but a significant slowdown. The university says they are facing money troubles. Other schools are also feeling the pinch. Boston University, for example, paused some graduate programs last year. UMass Chan Medical School even withdrew admission offers. Harvard is not alone in this struggle. But Harvard has a different approach. They are not stopping admissions entirely. Instead, they are reducing the number of new doctoral students. This will happen over the next two years. The university is still figuring out what the future of graduate education looks like. The goal is to keep training the next generation of thinkers. Money is a big part of the story. Research funding is uncertain. There is also an increased tax on their endowment. But Harvard is not just about money. They are also dealing with government pressure. The Trump administration has been tough on Harvard. They even tried to cut nearly $3 billion in federal funding. A judge ordered the funding to be restored, but the pressure continues. The government has asked Harvard for more information. They are investigating campus antisemitism. President Trump also claimed a deal with Harvard, but then backtracked. This is all happening while Harvard tries to support its current and future students. The university says they are in an unprecedented moment. They need to uphold their mission despite fewer resources.