Bowie State University in Maryland has announced plans to cut 79 positions as the HBCU faces an $18 million deficit heading into Fiscal Year 2027, according to a letter sent to the campus community by President Aminta H. Breaux, Provost Guy-Alain Amoussou, and Vice President for Finance and Administration Manish Kumar.
In fiscal year 2026, Bowie State addressed a $13.6 million shortfall without conducting layoffs. Instead, the HBCU implemented various cost reductions, delayed hiring, eliminated vacant positions, and developed process improvements to increase revenue.
However, the fiscal year 2027 budget estimates an approximate $18 million deficit, due in part to “reduced state and federal funding, declining enrollment, and rising operational costs such as employee benefits, infrastructure, utilities, and essential technology investments.”
To address this shortfall, Bowie State plans to eliminate 79 employee positions through a combination of vacancies, reorganization, and layoffs. Additionally, university administrators plan to continue identifying other cost reductions and strategic adjustments to balance revenues and expenses.
“We recognize that this is difficult news,” the letter reads. “Please know that these decisions are not a reflection of the dedication and excellence you bring to Bowie State each day but rather the result of significant financial challenges that we must address to ensure the university’s long-term viability.”
Notably, Bowie State recently received a $50 million donation from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott during the fall 2025 semester. This gift was unrestricted, as was Scott’s earlier $25 million donation to the HBCU in 2020.
