Indiana's colleges slim down: 200 degree programs face cuts under new rules

Indiana is shaking up its college degrees. Nearly 20% of public college programs will disappear or merge soon after state leaders set new rules. Why? Many degrees had almost no students and were costing money for almost no return. The state reviewed over 1, 000 programs and decided 210 must go, another 374 will combine with others, and 472 stay untouched. Half of those cuts were already planned by universities before the law even passed. Some degrees had shocking enrollment numbers. At Ball State, the journalism master’s averaged six graduates every year for three years. Indiana State’s philosophy bachelor’s had just one student. At IU Bloomington, a master’s in fashion design had zero students during the same period. These three programs are among the 50 being cut that had no students at all. Critics say this shows some degrees survive on tradition rather than real demand. Supporters argue it’s about making sure every dollar spent actually helps students land jobs.The new rules set strict minimums: 10 graduates for associate degrees, 15 for bachelor’s, 7 for master’s, and 3 for doctorates. Programs below these numbers must ask permission to keep running. This change grew from a 2025 budget rule slipped in just before the legislative session ended. Governor Braun pushed the idea, saying students should focus on careers where jobs actually exist. It mirrors a nationwide push from Washington to cut funding for programs where graduates earn less than high school grads. Students already in those degrees will finish their programs as planned. Others are getting extra time to grow enrollment or prove they prepare students for well-paying jobs. The state also started a big data project to track how much each program really costs. Schools report differently, so collecting this information is slow and messy. Indiana plans to publish the findings online so everyone can see how much money is going where. The big question: Will this save colleges cash or just move money around? The state admits it doesn’t know yet. Some argue cutting “low-enrollment” degrees is long overdue, while others warn it could narrow learning options and limit opportunities in fields like arts or social sciences. Indiana’s move highlights a larger debate: Should colleges keep niche programs to preserve knowledge, or cut what doesn’t pay its own way?