Demonstrating confidence in the long-term financial outlook for Hampden-Sydney College, S&P Global (S&P) recently affirmed the College’s “A/Stable” long-term credit rating.
“We are pleased to have the College’s “A” rating reaffirmed by S&P, and I am grateful to the College’s Board of Trustees and senior leadership team for their stewardship of our finances,” said President Larry Stimpert. “This rating, combined with positive financial ratings from both Forbes and Bain & Company earlier this year, demonstrates that Hampden-Sydney is in a strong financial position as we work and invest resources to strengthen every aspect of the College.”
S&P’s review underscored the importance of the philanthropic support the College has been receiving from alumni and other benefactors. The assessment cited record-setting giving over the last four years and significant growth in the College’s endowment as reasons for confidence and to believe that Hampden-Sydney is well positioned to pursue its ambitious vision and plans.
S&P gave Hampden-Sydney’s enterprise risk profile a strong assessment, pointing in particular to “recent enrollment stabilization in fall 2022 and expected [enrollment] growth” in future years. The report acknowledged the College’s “sustained improvement in selectivity and freshman matriculation rates” on the admission front, and also cited the College’s “sound, stable management team.”
This rating, combined with positive financial ratings from both Forbes and Bain & Company earlier this year, demonstrates that Hampden-Sydney is in a strong financial position as we work and invest resources to strengthen every aspect of the College.
Larry Stimpert, President
Hampden-Sydney’s financial risk profile also received a strong assessment, with S&P highlighting the College’s “solid financial resources ratios compared with rating category medians and peers.”
“In spite of nationwide headwinds that are challenging many smaller private colleges in this post-COVID era, our overall financial health has remained strong due to a strong balance sheet and great philanthropic support,” said Ken Copeland, the College’s vice president for business affairs and finance. “We look forward to an even stronger financial posture as we grow our enrollment and the revenue we derive from tuition and fees.”
The positive assessment from S&P comes just months after Hampden-Sydney received a grade of "A+" in a Forbes analysis of the financial health of 906 private colleges nationwide, making the College the third highest ranked Virginia private institution on the list, and placing Hampden-Sydney in the top 11 percent of all private colleges nationally.
