Lourdes University announced it will close at the end of the academic year after trustees and the Sisters of St. Francis concluded the institution could not sustain operations. The Board of Trustees said the decision followed careful deliberation and that "this decision is one we do not make lightly, but it is one we are charged to make."
Officials tied the closure to mounting financial pressures, declining enrollment and a funding model the university called unsustainable. Publicly available financial documents show a meager endowment of $13.6 million, much of it restricted, offering limited relief as operating losses accumulated. Federal enrollment data cited by reporting show head count has slipped to 964 from about 1,780 a decade earlier and once hovered near 2,500.
President William Bisset stepped down immediately after the announcement and Sister Dr. Nancy Linenkugel was named the 13th and final president to oversee the closure. The university said all classes and operations will continue through the end of the academic year and that it will preserve the quality and integrity of instruction while supporting students, faculty and staff through transition planning.
The University of Toledo has agreed to serve as a teach-out partner. Dr. James Holloway of the University of Toledo said the institution will admit interested Lourdes students in good standing into programs aligned with their majors and, to the fullest extent allowed by accreditors, support them to finish their degrees. The university also announced a schedule of meetings including a parent Zoom, a student session with University of Toledo admissions leadership and a townhall for students to address transfer options and degree completion.
Impact And Regional Context
The Sisters of St. Francis, who long supported Lourdes with financial and institutional backing, said they can no longer subsidize the university at the level required to sustain operations. Sister Linenkugel emphasized the Sisters' longstanding focus on student success and said the immediate priority is supporting the Lourdes community as details on degree completion and transfer options are finalized.
Local partners reacted to the announcement. Sylvania Schools confirmed Lourdes will continue to use shared athletic fields through the spring season and said there would be no immediate impact on its own athletes. The Diocese of Toledo said Bishop Daniel Thomas offered prayers and encouragement to the Sisters and the broader Lourdes community after being informed of the decision.
Reporting on the closure placed Lourdes among several small private and faith based colleges facing severe financial strain. Nearby institutions have also announced plans to cease operations, underscoring similar challenges across comparable campuses. Lourdes officials said they will provide updates to students, parents and faculty as transition work continues.
