University of Providence to shutter in summer 2027
The University of Providence, in Montana, will close at the end of summer 2027, following a vote from its board on Tuesday. The Catholic nonprofit cited "years of sustained enrollment decline and increasing financial pressure" in a statement. This spring, it said it faced a $8 million annual budget gap in the coming years, and its accreditor put it on probation over financial stability concerns in August. Its board explored "all options" to stay open — including academic and budget cuts, new enrollment and revenue strategies, a merger or being acquired — but ultimately decided to undergo "a planned closure, rather than the risk of an abrupt ending," according to a FAQ on the college's website. Like many small private colleges, the University of Providence has faced significant enrollment and revenue challenges in recent years. Its fall headcount dropped 23.5% from 2019 to 2024, reaching…