University of Providence closes after 95 years: students face transfer choices
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- The University of Providence will end classes on August 20, 2027, after nearly 95 years in Great Falls, Montana.
- Fewer students and rising money pressure forced the closure, even after years of cost cuts and merger talks.
- Current students can finish at Providence, move through a teach-out deal, or transfer to another school.
A small Catholic university in Montana will close next year. The University of Providence in Great Falls will end its classes on August 20, 2027. Its board voted for the closure on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
The school will keep teaching through the 2026-27 school year. After that, it will stop its school work for good. The news ends nearly 95 years of classes in Great Falls.
What happened
The board of trustees voted at 8:45 in the morning on Tuesday. The vote ended the school's work at the close of the 2026-27 school year. Students, teachers, and staff learned the news that same morning.
The school said some office work will go on past August 20, 2027. That work will cover final grades and school records. Students will still get the papers they need after classes end.
The school now has just over 430 students this school year. More than 75 percent of them play sports for the school. The school runs 14 NAIA varsity teams, plus a men's hockey team.
About 115 teachers and staff work at the school. Their own meetings start on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Those meetings will cover jobs, pay, benefits, and help on offer.
Why the school is closing
The school points to two linked problems. Student numbers kept falling for years. Money pressure kept rising at the same time.
Leaders tried to fix the problem for years. They reshaped study programs and cut running costs. They also chased new students and new sources of cash.
They also looked for a partner school. Merger talks ran into the week before the vote. Board chair Terry Cosgrove said those talks stayed secret by deal rules.
None of it built a plan that could last. Cosgrove said the school has no debt. But he said it still needed more fee income to stay open.
"We just needed to attract more students to make it viable," Cosgrove said, according to KRTV. He added that leaders tried but did not succeed.
The school had already declared financial exigency. That is a formal warning that money is in deep trouble. KRTV also reported accreditation probation tied to money health.
The school also lost the right to serve online students in many states. It stays accredited for now, KRTV reported. These setbacks cut off more paths to new students.
A long history in Great Falls
The school began in 1932. The Sisters of Providence helped found it. The Ursuline Sisters and the Catholic Bishop of Great Falls joined them.
At first, it opened more school doors for women. School chances for women were narrow at that time. The school grew into a full university over the decades.
It was known for decades as the College of Great Falls. It became the University of Great Falls in 1995. It took the name University of Providence in July 2017.
Cosgrove himself graduated from the school in 1969. He called the choice hard on a personal level. He praised teachers and staff for helping him finish his own degree.
President Caroline Goulet spoke for the school too. She said the school now owes its people care and clear guidance. She said the school will guard the quality of classes in its last year.
What happens next for students
The school says each student will get personal guidance. Advisers will help each student find a sound path. That path depends on the student's program and progress.
Some students can finish their degree at Providence. Others can use a teach-out deal with a partner school. A teach-out deal lets students finish a program at another school.
Other students can transfer to a new college or university. The school will work with partner schools on these deals. Details on fees and grants will come as deals are signed.
Students should start with their Providence adviser. That is the first step, the school says. Registration will go on, and campus housing will stay open.
The Montana University System will also help students. It will help them find degree paths at public campuses. That includes options in Great Falls and online.
Students who plan a move can read about choosing a course that fits. A good fit makes a transfer less painful. It also helps students finish on time.
Money trouble at private colleges is not rare. Ontario recently hit pause on private college payments in a funding row. Providence students should check fees and aid at any new school with care.
What happens next for sports teams
Sports will feel the closure fast. The Argos teams will finish their current year of play. After that, athletes must find new teams or new schools.
The volleyball team holds a 19-6 record this season. It began the season ranked sixth in the nation. That was its best preseason rank ever.
The men's and women's soccer teams played their last match last Saturday. At the time, neither team knew it was their last game. Wrestling will now play its final season as a program.
Both wrestling teams rank inside the preseason top 25. The school will help athletes find new programs. Other schools have already shown interest in Providence athletes.
Where each student goes next is that student's own choice. The school says it will help with the search. Formal deals with sports schools may ease the move.
A wider trend in small colleges
Providence is not alone in this trouble. Small private colleges face the same squeeze across the United States. Fewer students and higher costs hit them hard.
Since March 2020, about 49 nonprofit colleges have closed. That count comes from tracking by BestColleges. It covers schools that closed or said they will close.
Nine nonprofit colleges said they will close in 2026 alone. That figure also comes from the school's own statement. It cites the same BestColleges tracking.
The school will work with Providence Ministries in its last year. Together, they will guard its history and traditions. They will also guard school records and sacred items.
No plan for the 68-acre campus has been shared yet. School leaders said the focus stays on people first. News on the site will come later, when it is ready.
Alumni will get news on records and transcripts in the months ahead. The school will post updates on its own website. Students and families can send questions to the school by email.
For students, the next step is simple but urgent. Talk to an adviser, check degree progress, and weigh each path. The school year still runs, but the clock to August 2027 has started.
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