Loyola University Maryland has cut 66 jobs in Baltimore as part of a sweeping reorganization aimed at closing a $20 million structural deficit. The move includes 29 employees who were laid off and 37 vacant positions that will stay empty.
According to The Baltimore Banner, President Terrence Sawyer said the reductions were made "along with other responsible spending reductions and plans for growth in revenues" and insisted Loyola is "well-positioned for the future." The outlet reports that Loyola made the decision after comparing its staffing to similarly sized colleges, and that most of the university’s deficit reports remain confidential.
Loyola kicked off what it calls an Operational Excellence review and brought in Huron Consulting Group to audit operations and identify savings opportunities, according to Loyola University Maryland. The university’s update notes that seven work groups were tasked with finding roughly $18 million in savings across academic programs, compensation, technology, and the endowment, while vice presidents were charged with locating the remaining $2 million.
Student reporting has tracked the financial squeeze building over time. Loyola closed fiscal 2025 with an operational deficit of $4 million and plugged that gap using reserve funds, reducing its flexibility heading into the current academic year. The Greyhound reported those earlier shortfalls and noted they helped trigger the consulting review now unfolding.
How Loyola Picked What to Cut
The Operational Excellence teams were told to hunt for duplicate structures, outsourcing possibilities, and changes to spans of control as ways to trim costs while trying to preserve core academic work. According to Loyola University Maryland, temporary steps such as tighter position control and benefit adjustments are also on the table as the school works to shore up its finances.
What Students and Campus Programs Could Feel
Loyola enrolls nearly 4,900 students and lists annual tuition at about $61,810, though almost all students receive some form of financial aid. The university also recently announced three gifts totaling $32 million that are restricted for specific projects, according to The Baltimore Banner. Because those donations are earmarked and basic operating costs such as utilities and insurance have climbed, leaders say there is limited discretionary money left, which has led to painful decisions about staffing and campus services.
University leaders frame the cuts as necessary steps to stabilize Loyola’s budget so it can invest in longer-term priorities, while campus groups and staff have pressed for more public information about how the numbers were crunched. Loyola says it will continue its Operational Excellence work and share additional updates as budget planning moves ahead.
