Shockwaves in Higher Education: Lourdes and Providence Christian Colleges Set to Close

In a stark reminder of the financial vulnerabilities facing small private colleges across the United States, two institutions have recently announced their closures at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year. Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio, and Providence Christian College in Pasadena, California, cited declining enrollment and escalating operational costs as primary drivers behind their decisions. These announcements, made on February 11, 2026, for Lourdes and February 7 for Providence, underscore a troubling trend gripping higher education, particularly among regional, faith-based liberal arts schools.

Both colleges, while continuing normal operations through the spring semester, are now focused on teach-out plans and supporting their students, faculty, and staff during this transition. This development not only affects hundreds of current students but also highlights broader challenges that could lead to more small college closures amid financial pressures.

Lourdes University's Long History Meets Harsh Realities

Lourdes University, a Catholic institution sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis, has served northwest Ohio for nearly 70 years. Originally established to provide accessible education rooted in Franciscan values, it evolved into a traditional undergraduate university with robust athletic programs. However, on February 11, 2026, the Board of Trustees announced the permanent closure at the semester's end, appointing Sister Dr. Nancy Linenkugel, OSF, DM, as the final president to oversee the process.

The decision followed a comprehensive review of finances, enrollment trends, and program viability. Lourdes reported around 1,014 total students in fall 2023, with 827 undergraduates, remarkably 72.3% of whom were varsity athletes—a heavy reliance on sports recruitment that proved unsustainable. Declining numbers, coupled with rising costs, rendered the funding model unviable. Operations, including classes and athletics, will proceed as usual, with Lifelong Learning Programs and the Franciscan Center unaffected.

Support measures include individualized guidance for transfers, partnerships with nearby institutions like the University of Toledo, and dedicated Zoom sessions for students and parents. Academic records will be preserved, ensuring graduates' credentials remain valid.

Providence Christian College Grapples with Southern California Challenges

Nestled in a historic 1928 church building, Providence Christian College offered a Reformed Christian liberal arts education to a small cohort of about 147-168 undergraduates. Its intimate setting fostered close-knit community learning, but persistent financial headwinds led to the February 7, 2026, closure announcement.

Key factors included prolonged enrollment drops, soaring operational expenses in high-cost Southern California, stricter accreditation demands, reduced federal funding, and shifting donor priorities. Despite exploring relocations, program shifts, and partnerships, no sustainable path emerged. Notably, over half of full-time students are on track to graduate in May 2026, softening some immediate impacts.

The college has secured teach-out agreements with nearby Christian institutions like Biola University, Concordia University Irvine, and The Master’s University, offering automatic admission, credit transfers, and comparable costs. A dedicated transfer team assists via registrar@providencecc.edu, with counseling and student life support continuing. Prospective students receive enrollment deposit refunds, and transcripts will be managed by the National Student Clearinghouse post-closure.

Unpacking the Core Causes of Enrollment Decline

The plight of Lourdes and Providence mirrors a national crisis in small college enrollment decline. U.S. undergraduate enrollment peaked in 2010 and has since fallen by about 15% through 2021, with private nonprofits hit hardest. Recent data shows private colleges lagging behind a 1.2% overall undergraduate uptick in fall 2025, driven by community college gains.

• Demographic Cliff: High school graduates are projected to drop 13% from 2025 to 2041, shrinking the traditional college-age pool, especially in Midwest and Northeast regions where Lourdes and similar schools draw students.
• Post-Pandemic Shifts: Many opted for workforce entry or alternatives amid economic uncertainty, with direct college enrollment falling from 70% in 2016 to 63% in 2024.
• Competition Intensifies: Larger universities, online programs, and trade schools lure students with flexibility and lower costs.

Faith-based colleges face added pressures from donor fluctuations and cultural shifts.

Financial Pressures Mounting for Small Institutions

Beyond enrollment, skyrocketing costs exacerbate vulnerabilities. Operational expenses rose due to inflation, facility maintenance, and compliance with evolving accreditation standards. Small colleges like Lourdes and Providence, heavily tuition-dependent, struggle as revenue per student shrinks.

Credit agencies like S&P forecast negative outlooks for 2026, predicting higher closure rates among regional privates. Moody's notes revenue growth slowing to 3.5%, insufficient for many. Athletics, vital for recruitment at Lourdes (72% athletes), add millions in costs without proportional returns.

For faculty and staff eyeing new roles, resources like higher ed jobs at AcademicJobs.com can provide timely opportunities.

Human Impacts: Students, Faculty, and Communities Feel the Strain

Students face disrupted education; research shows those at closing colleges are 50-71% less likely to reenroll promptly, often delaying graduation by years. Lourdes athletes and Providence underclassmen benefit from teach-outs, but transfers can mean higher costs or credit losses elsewhere. Financial aid continuity via FAFSA updates helps, though loan discharges require documentation.

Faculty, specialized in niche liberal arts, struggle most—unlike students, their placements aren't straightforward. Communities lose economic anchors; a single closure can erase 265 jobs and $21 million in GDP. Ohio and California locals now seek stability.

Prospective educators might explore higher ed career advice for navigating such turbulence.

A Growing List of Casualties: 2025-2026 Closures Accelerate

These aren't isolated: 16 nonprofits shuttered in 2025, matching prior years, with Trinity Christian College first in 2026. Projections warn of 80 more over five years, targeting small privates.

• Northland College (WI)
• St. Andrews University (NC)
• Limestone University (SC)
• Bacone College (OK)

Mergers rise as survival tactics. X discussions reflect sadness, especially for NAIA sports fans.

Expert Insights: Predicting and Preventing the Wave

Experts attribute closures to enrollment reliance and tuition exposure, per machine learning models. Demographic forecasts and regional biases (Midwest hardest hit) guide predictions. Solutions emphasize agility: niche programs, online expansion, mergers.

One plan advocates consortia for shared services, boosting survival odds. Policymakers urge better closure management to protect students.

Pathways Forward: Strategies for Resilience

• Mergers and Partnerships: Like Providence's teach-outs, formal alliances preserve missions.
• Cost Controls: Program pruning, staff reductions (e.g., Wooster's 22 layoffs).
• Innovation: Hybrid models, workforce-aligned curricula attract non-traditional students.
• Fundraising: Diversify beyond tuition/donors.

Job seekers in flux can leverage university jobs and rate my professor for informed transitions.

Photo by 0xk on Unsplash

Outlook and Actionable Advice for Stakeholders

2026 may see accelerated closures, but opportunities emerge for adaptive institutions. Students: Update FAFSA, contact transfer teams promptly. Faculty: Network via faculty jobs. Institutions: Audit finances now. AcademicJobs.com supports with career advice and listings.

For deeper insights, visit Providence's announcement. The higher education landscape evolves—resilience defines survivors.