MIDDLETOWN — Brookdale Community College leaders are preparing to lay off staff to combat rising costs and long-term declines in enrollment, college President David M. Stout confirmed Wednesday, Aug. 26, in an email to the Asbury Park Press.
On Aug. 25, the college’s Board of Trustees approved a declaration of a reduction in force, citing rising utility costs and increasing health benefit expenses as driving forces behind the announcement.
The college’s cost for employee health benefits increased by $11 million in 2025 to $17.7 million in 2026, Stout said through a college spokesperson. The expense is projected to reach $24.3 million in the next fiscal year, he said.
“This decision comes after months of careful financial analysis and sustained efforts to reduce expenses while protecting our academic mission, student services and long-term financial stability,” the college president said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the financial challenges facing colleges and universities across New Jersey are also affecting Brookdale. These financial challenges require us to make difficult decisions now to ensure that the College remains strong and able to serve our students and community well into the future.”
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The Brookdale Community College campus in the Lincroft section of Middletown.
Exactly how many employees would be impacted was not yet known, a college spokesperson said.
“While enrollment has recovered somewhat since the pandemic, it remains nearly 6% below pre-pandemic levels,” Stout said. “At the same time, the cost of operating the College has increased substantially faster than enrollment. Since FY (fiscal year) 2020, utility costs have risen nearly 90%, while employee health benefit costs have increased by more than 33%.”
The college had 10,195 students in the autumn of 2025.
Significantly raising tuition fees was not a “a sustainable solution” due to “the financial challenges facing our students and families,” he said.
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“Substantial increases in tuition could undermine our commitment to affordability, access and the continued recovery of enrollment,” Stout added.
The college president said the school’s leadership would be evaluating the organizational structure of Brookdale, operating model and student needs for the future. The college will continue to work toward expanding opportunities for adult learners, working professionals and career-focused programs, he said.
The regional locations in Wall and Freehold will continue to remain open. Earlier this year, the college’s campus in Long Branch was purchased by the city’s government after student enrollment at the site declined.
“We recognize the very real impact this decision has on our colleagues, their families, and the broader Brookdale community,” said Stout. “We will approach this transition with compassion, dignity and respect. At the same time, we have a responsibility to make the difficult decisions necessary to protect the future of the college and preserve its ability to fulfill its mission.”
Amanda Oglesby covers education and the environment. Reach her at aoglesby@app.com or 732-557-5701.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Brookdale Community College will layoff staff amid rising costs
