Bryn Athyn College announced Thursday that it will discontinue all sports programs at the end of the academic year, writes Justin Heinze for the Patch.

Moving forward, they will shift entirely to club-level competition due to financial challenges.

The college currently supports 11 NCAA Division III programs. In a letter to the campus community, President Sean Connelly described the decision as “difficult but essential,” emphasizing the need to preserve the college’s core academic mission and ensure its long-term viability.

“This decision is a necessary step for our survival,” Connelly wrote. “To ensure this institution, rooted in a distinctive vision almost 150 years old, can thrive for the next 150 years.”

Athletics account for 12% of Bryn Athyn’s overall budget—more than double the typical 4–5% spent by most DIII institutions. The transition is expected to save the equivalent of 11 full-time positions. Impacted students will receive full support, Connelly said.

Club sports, which rely on student fees and donations, will continue and may compete against NCAA teams in select events, but are ineligible for conference or NCAA championships.

In addition to cutting varsity athletics, the college is outsourcing IT services and restructuring support departments, projected to save the cost of another nine full-time roles.

Read more about Bryn Athyn College’s decision to cut DIII sports in the Patch.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on MONTCO Today in March 2025.