Private colleges face closure risk as new report estimates 25% will close in next 10 years
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:31
Private colleges face closure risk as new report estimates 25% will close in next 10 years
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ADRIAN, Mich. (WTVG) - A new report projects over 25% of private colleges and universities across the country are at risk of closing over the next 10 years.
The report comes from management consulting company Huron Consulting Group.
Two private institutions are already set to close, Lourdes University and Siena Heights. But for schools like Adrian College and the University of Findlay, staff say closing is something they’re working hard to avoid.
“There are a lot of things coming together to create the perfect storm to make it very tough for these schools to survive,” Dr. Jeffrey Docking, President of Adrian College, said.
Enrollment cliff threatens hundreds of schools
Out of the country’s 1,700 private non-profit four-year colleges and universities, a little over 440 are estimated to close by 2036. Over 670,000 students are expected to be at risk of losing their education.
“The enrollment cliff, it’s real. We’re seeing a decline in the number of traditional college-age students, and it’s very specific to our area in Midwest Ohio,” said Nikki Hintze, the Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing of University of Findlay.
The University of Findlay and Adrian College are just two of over 20 private schools in the viewing area.
Five years ago, Adrian had about 1,800 students enrolled. This year it’s 1,600. For Findlay, its enrollment has remained steady between 4,700 and 5,000 students in that time.
Despite the falling retention overall, staff at Adrian and Findlay say they’re not worried.
“We are in a good spot. We have black ink. We’re not running deficits. We’re taking a draw on our endowment, which is very acceptable, right around 5%, which is a national average, and it’s a very good number for us,” Docking said.
“Despite those national pressures, we have not seen a decline in overall enrollment outside of international student enrollment. So obviously that population is dwindling at many private schools and public schools,” Hintze said.
Dr. Docking and Hintze say what makes private colleges and universities special is the hands-on and one-on-one learning experiences they offer.
“We’re able to surround students with, you know, lifetime educators who can really help to shape and mold them during this very impressionable time in their life,” Docking said.
“They’re not gonna come here and have large classes, and they have those one-on-one relationships with their instructors, and we think that’s really important,” Nikki adds.
While Dr. Docking sees plenty of other colleges closing, he says they’re preparing to do the complete opposite. This fall, they’ll add more majors to their course offerings. Many of them fall into the health and technology fields.
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Add Us On Google
Add as a preferred source on Google
ADRIAN, Mich. (WTVG) - A new report projects over 25% of private colleges and universities across the country are at risk of closing over the next 10 years.
The report comes from management consulting company Huron Consulting Group.
Two private institutions are already set to close, Lourdes University and Siena Heights. But for schools like Adrian College and the University of Findlay, staff say closing is something they’re working hard to avoid.
“There are a lot of things coming together to create the perfect storm to make it very tough for these schools to survive,” Dr. Jeffrey Docking, President of Adrian College, said.
Enrollment cliff threatens hundreds of schools
Out of the country’s 1,700 private non-profit four-year colleges and universities, a little over 440 are estimated to close by 2036. Over 670,000 students are expected to be at risk of losing their education.
“The enrollment cliff, it’s real. We’re seeing a decline in the number of traditional college-age students, and it’s very specific to our area in Midwest Ohio,” said Nikki Hintze, the Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing of University of Findlay.
The University of Findlay and Adrian College are just two of over 20 private schools in the viewing area.
Five years ago, Adrian had about 1,800 students enrolled. This year it’s 1,600. For Findlay, its enrollment has remained steady between 4,700 and 5,000 students in that time.
Despite the falling retention overall, staff at Adrian and Findlay say they’re not worried.
“We are in a good spot. We have black ink. We’re not running deficits. We’re taking a draw on our endowment, which is very acceptable, right around 5%, which is a national average, and it’s a very good number for us,” Docking said.
“Despite those national pressures, we have not seen a decline in overall enrollment outside of international student enrollment. So obviously that population is dwindling at many private schools and public schools,” Hintze said.
Dr. Docking and Hintze say what makes private colleges and universities special is the hands-on and one-on-one learning experiences they offer.
“We’re able to surround students with, you know, lifetime educators who can really help to shape and mold them during this very impressionable time in their life,” Docking said.
“They’re not gonna come here and have large classes, and they have those one-on-one relationships with their instructors, and we think that’s really important,” Nikki adds.
While Dr. Docking sees plenty of other colleges closing, he says they’re preparing to do the complete opposite. This fall, they’ll add more majors to their course offerings. Many of them fall into the health and technology fields.
Latest Local News
|
First Alert Weather
|
Crime
|
National
|
13abc Originals
Copyright 2026 WTVG. All rights reserved.
Most Read
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Student dies after shooting herself in front of classmates in high school cafeteria, police say
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Toledo Police officer relieved of duty following assault, domestic violence charges
Father kills 7 of his children plus another child in shooting after domestic dispute, police say
6-year-old boy shot at Joe E. Brown Park in Toledo Friday
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Man in critical condition after shooting in East Toledo
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