Solving the Business Department Squeeze Before it's Too Late
In our recent webinar, we explored how Rize’s new Hybrid Department Programs help institutions sustain essential business programs by supporting faculty, modernizing curriculum, and meeting student demand for flexibility. Watch the recording or request a demo to learn more about our new Accounting and Finance programs.
Introduction
Last week, we hosted a webinar on solving the Business Department Squeeze with our new Hybrid Department Program model. Here's the paradox we explored: while Accounting and Finance programs are experiencing significant enrollment growth nationally, small colleges tell a dramatically different story. Faculty shortages, outdated curriculum, and resource constraints are putting these essential business programs at risk. Here are the key takeaways from our discussion with higher education professionals about why this disconnect exists and what colleges can do about it.
You can watch the recording here, or keep reading for a brief synopsis of the key takeaways.
The Business Program Paradox
The data that opened our webinar surprised even us. According to Great Decision Intelligence, finance programs grew 13% year-over-year nationally, claiming the top spot for enrollment growth. Accounting wasn't far behind at 12% growth, landing in third place. Both programs outpaced what we typically think of as "hot" fields like cybersecurity and data analytics.
But small colleges are experiencing something entirely different. Among our LCMC partner institutions over the past five years:
- 77% of accounting programs have actually contracted
- 46% of finance programs have similarly declined
This disconnect between national growth and small college reality is what we're calling the "Business Department Squeeze."
Understanding the Squeeze
This challenge is all too familiar for many small colleges. Take one of our partner institutions: their dean was down to a single faculty member in accounting, someone who had been teaching for 30 years. If that professor retired, the program would essentially disappear. The dean was losing sleep over potentially having to shut down accounting entirely.
This scenario illustrates three main challenges driving the squeeze:
Faculty hiring competition. Small colleges simply can't compete with industry salaries for qualified accounting and finance professors. When your single faculty member retires, you're not just losing a teacher, you're potentially losing an entire program.
Curriculum pressure. The pace of change in finance and accounting is relentless. Between AI transforming financial analysis, new regulations, FinTech innovations, and evolving industry standards, keeping curriculum current requires constant attention and resources that stretched faculty don't have.
Marketing disadvantage. Small colleges compete for students against institutions with massive marketing budgets, state-of-the-art business facilities, and brand recognition. When a prospective student chooses between your program and a flagship state school, what's your competitive advantage?
The Hybrid Department Solution
Traditional Rize programs help colleges launch entirely new programs they wouldn't otherwise have the resources to build, things like Cybersecurity or AI for Everyone. But we kept hearing from partners about a different challenge: programs like Accounting and Finance that are difficult to sustain and grow.
Hybrid Department Programs represent our response to this feedback. Unlike our traditional approach, these programs are designed to strengthen existing departments rather than launch something entirely new. We like to think of it as reinforcement, not a replacement.
The model offers three core value propositions:
1. Support for existing faculty. Hybrid programs allow you to supplement your existing program with high-quality online options, enabling faculty to cover more sections and attract more students without overwhelming current staff.
2. Flexible modality for today's students. Our research shows that 95% of residential students want to take at least one online course per semester. Whether they're traditional undergraduates, working adults, student athletes, or commuters, students increasingly demand flexibility while still wanting that in-person campus experience.
3. Solving resource constraints. Most institutions know the importance of modernizing curriculum and marketing high-demand programs, but few have the budget or staff time to do it all. Our programs are designed and maintained by industry experts, updated regularly, and supported by enrollment and marketing teams.
New Programs
Accounting Program (11 courses) Our accounting program covers all foundational topics students need for their future careers, including preparation for the CPA exam and other professional certifications. The curriculum includes AI literacy embedded throughout all courses and career navigation specific to accounting roles. Students graduate with both the technical knowledge and professional judgment needed for success in public accounting, corporate finance, government, and nonprofit sectors.
Finance Program (10 courses) The Finance program combines core topics like Corporate Finance and Financial Markets with three elective tracks, allowing students to specialize in areas like portfolio management or corporate strategy. We've included a dedicated "Financial Analysis with Excel" course, something industry professionals consistently told us was essential but often missing from traditional programs. The "Future of Finance" course covers emerging topics like AI, cryptocurrency, and decentralized finance.
Conclusion
Many institutions feel caught between impossible choices:
- Compete with industry salaries that strain institutional budgets
- Shut down essential programs
Hybrid Department Programs offer a third option: strategic collaboration that provides institutional resilience. By working with partners who specialize in curriculum development, faculty support, and student success, small colleges can maintain essential programs while staying competitive with larger institutions.
The model isn't just about survival—it's about creating sustainable growth that preserves what makes small colleges special while meeting students where they are in an evolving educational landscape.
If you’re interested in learning more about Hybrid Department Programs or our new Accounting and Finance programs, request a demo and a member of the Rize team will be in touch shortly.
Kevin is passionate about working at Rize because he believes students should not have to choose between a rich residential college experience and earning a degree that equips them with essential career skills. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing, skiing, listening to podcasts while walking around NYC, and spending summers with family and friends in Cape Cod.
Solving the Business Department Squeeze Before it's Too Late
In our recent webinar, we explored how Rize’s new Hybrid Department Programs help institutions sustain essential business programs by supporting faculty, modernizing curriculum, and meeting student demand for flexibility. Watch the recording or request a demo to learn more about our new Accounting and Finance programs.
Introduction
Last week, we hosted a webinar on solving the Business Department Squeeze with our new Hybrid Department Program model. Here's the paradox we explored: while Accounting and Finance programs are experiencing significant enrollment growth nationally, small colleges tell a dramatically different story. Faculty shortages, outdated curriculum, and resource constraints are putting these essential business programs at risk. Here are the key takeaways from our discussion with higher education professionals about why this disconnect exists and what colleges can do about it.
You can watch the recording here, or keep reading for a brief synopsis of the key takeaways.
The Business Program Paradox
The data that opened our webinar surprised even us. According to Great Decision Intelligence, finance programs grew 13% year-over-year nationally, claiming the top spot for enrollment growth. Accounting wasn't far behind at 12% growth, landing in third place. Both programs outpaced what we typically think of as "hot" fields like cybersecurity and data analytics.
But small colleges are experiencing something entirely different. Among our LCMC partner institutions over the past five years:
- 77% of accounting programs have actually contracted
- 46% of finance programs have similarly declined
This disconnect between national growth and small college reality is what we're calling the "Business Department Squeeze."
Understanding the Squeeze
This challenge is all too familiar for many small colleges. Take one of our partner institutions: their dean was down to a single faculty member in accounting, someone who had been teaching for 30 years. If that professor retired, the program would essentially disappear. The dean was losing sleep over potentially having to shut down accounting entirely.
This scenario illustrates three main challenges driving the squeeze:
Faculty hiring competition. Small colleges simply can't compete with industry salaries for qualified accounting and finance professors. When your single faculty member retires, you're not just losing a teacher, you're potentially losing an entire program.
Curriculum pressure. The pace of change in finance and accounting is relentless. Between AI transforming financial analysis, new regulations, FinTech innovations, and evolving industry standards, keeping curriculum current requires constant attention and resources that stretched faculty don't have.
Marketing disadvantage. Small colleges compete for students against institutions with massive marketing budgets, state-of-the-art business facilities, and brand recognition. When a prospective student chooses between your program and a flagship state school, what's your competitive advantage?
The Hybrid Department Solution
Traditional Rize programs help colleges launch entirely new programs they wouldn't otherwise have the resources to build, things like Cybersecurity or AI for Everyone. But we kept hearing from partners about a different challenge: programs like Accounting and Finance that are difficult to sustain and grow.
Hybrid Department Programs represent our response to this feedback. Unlike our traditional approach, these programs are designed to strengthen existing departments rather than launch something entirely new. We like to think of it as reinforcement, not a replacement.
The model offers three core value propositions:
1. Support for existing faculty. Hybrid programs allow you to supplement your existing program with high-quality online options, enabling faculty to cover more sections and attract more students without overwhelming current staff.
2. Flexible modality for today's students. Our research shows that 95% of residential students want to take at least one online course per semester. Whether they're traditional undergraduates, working adults, student athletes, or commuters, students increasingly demand flexibility while still wanting that in-person campus experience.
3. Solving resource constraints. Most institutions know the importance of modernizing curriculum and marketing high-demand programs, but few have the budget or staff time to do it all. Our programs are designed and maintained by industry experts, updated regularly, and supported by enrollment and marketing teams.
New Programs
Accounting Program (11 courses) Our accounting program covers all foundational topics students need for their future careers, including preparation for the CPA exam and other professional certifications. The curriculum includes AI literacy embedded throughout all courses and career navigation specific to accounting roles. Students graduate with both the technical knowledge and professional judgment needed for success in public accounting, corporate finance, government, and nonprofit sectors.
Finance Program (10 courses) The Finance program combines core topics like Corporate Finance and Financial Markets with three elective tracks, allowing students to specialize in areas like portfolio management or corporate strategy. We've included a dedicated "Financial Analysis with Excel" course, something industry professionals consistently told us was essential but often missing from traditional programs. The "Future of Finance" course covers emerging topics like AI, cryptocurrency, and decentralized finance.
Conclusion
Many institutions feel caught between impossible choices:
- Compete with industry salaries that strain institutional budgets
- Shut down essential programs
Hybrid Department Programs offer a third option: strategic collaboration that provides institutional resilience. By working with partners who specialize in curriculum development, faculty support, and student success, small colleges can maintain essential programs while staying competitive with larger institutions.
The model isn't just about survival—it's about creating sustainable growth that preserves what makes small colleges special while meeting students where they are in an evolving educational landscape.
If you’re interested in learning more about Hybrid Department Programs or our new Accounting and Finance programs, request a demo and a member of the Rize team will be in touch shortly.
Kevin is passionate about working at Rize because he believes students should not have to choose between a rich residential college experience and earning a degree that equips them with essential career skills. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing, skiing, listening to podcasts while walking around NYC, and spending summers with family and friends in Cape Cod.
