Distinctive Engineering College Sees Financial Losses Mount

The pioneering Olin College of Engineering has accumulated tens of millions of dollars in losses in recent years, eating into its endowment, an article in The Boston Globe reveals. Olin, which was founded in 2002, has been heralded for its distinctive, high-touch approach to engineering education, which has proven expensive even though the institution does not offer amenities such as athletics. The Globe reported that the college spent about $100 million more than it took in from 2008 to 2011, and that its endowment lost significant value as well.