Syracuse University Cutting Almost 100 Low-Enrollment Degree Programs

“Pottery is one of the degrees with zero enrollment.”

Posted by Mike LaChance Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 12:00pm 0 Comments

There is a lot of this going around right now. Schools need to trim the dead wood.

Syracuse University to cut 93 low-enrollment degree programs

Syracuse University plans to cut nearly 100 programs, more than half of which had zero students enrolled.

SU announced Wednesday it will “sunset” a total of 93 programs across all colleges, Provost Lois Agnew stated in a university-wide announcement. This includes undergraduate majors, master’s degrees and specialized post-graduate certifications.

Of the 93 programs, 55 had no students enrolled, Agnew said. An additional 28 are advanced certifications.

The cuts will affect 258 enrolled students, which is 1.2% of the student body. SU has 21,500 students enrolled.

Sunsetting degrees include nutrition science degrees, a new media master’s degree and an eSports gaming certification.

This is the final determination of the university’s academic portfolio review. SU announced in August that it would be looking at the approximately 460 degrees it offered to determine if some need to be cut, consolidated or rebranded.

The programs with enrolled students will be sunset, meaning current students will be able to finish their degree but new students cannot enroll.

Many of the degrees being cut will still be available, just in different ways.

For example, while the Bachelor’s of Fine Art in pottery is being eliminated, students can earn a BFA in studio arts with an emphasis in pottery. Pottery is one of the degrees with zero enrollment.