Boston University (BU) will suspend admissions for PhD programs in the humanities and social sciences for the 2025–26 academic year, citing budget constraints following a new graduate workers union contract. The affected programs span disciplines such as Anthropology, Philosophy, History, English, and Sociology, overseen by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GRS).
The new collective bargaining agreement, which concluded a months-long strike in October 2024, increased graduate worker stipends to $45,000 annually with a 3% yearly adjustment, expanded healthcare coverage, and provided additional benefits like childcare subsidies and paid family leave.
According to an internal email, these changes led to significant financial pressure, forcing BU’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) to absorb long-term costs. Despite BU’s $3.1 billion endowment, the administration stated that the decision aims to maintain funding commitments to current PhD students while re-evaluating program sustainability.
BU’s executive director of media relations described the decision as part of an effort to “re-envision doctoral programs” for long-term viability. However, the Boston University Graduate Workers Union criticized the move, arguing it undermines academic disciplines where graduate workers play a crucial teaching and research role.
Union representative Natalia Berthet Garcia said, “The suspension raises serious questions about BU’s commitment to these disciplines... We reject the suggestion that increased labor costs are a contributing factor.”
High attrition rates in PhD programs nationwide, often ranging from 36% to 51%, have also driven universities to reconsider their structure and funding models. However, the decision to suspend admissions for an entire academic year has sparked concern among faculty, students, and union leaders about the university’s long-term priorities.
BU has committed to reducing cohort sizes for grant-funded PhD programs and freezing admissions for non-grant-funded programs while maintaining five-year funding commitments to current students. As the university implements recommendations from its 2022 task force on PhD education, it remains unclear how these measures will affect BU’s academic reputation and the future of its graduate education programs.
The situation underscores broader challenges in balancing labor costs, institutional sustainability, and the accessibility of advanced academic programs in the U.S.
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