Christian College in Illinois Suburbs to Close After 66 Years

A college that has operated in the suburbs of Illinois, specifically Cook County, will be closing its doors at the end of the current school year, citing financial factors as the coffin-sealing nail.

It's nearly the end of the line for Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL. The college has been a fixture in the community for 66 years, opening in 1959, and has just under 1,000 students enrolled. Trinity Christian College announced it would be closing at the end of the current academic year, meaning spring 2026 will begin the winding down process.

READ MORE: Dubuque College to Cut Positions, Programs at the End of the Year

Students and Faculty Will Need to Explore Other Options:

The college's board of trustees voted to close the campus due to financial struggles prompted by the usual suspects: declining enrollment, post-COVID-19 losses, increased competition, and shifting donor priorities, per WGN:

It’s a sad day for our students and families. It’s a sad day for our staff and our faculty. Today we are also deeply committed to doing what we can to support our students either graduating from Trinity or in their endeavors after - Trinity Christian College President Jeanine Mozie, per WGN

Students and faculty will need to sift out other options as a result. "Teach out" agreements were reached with other nearby schools, St. Xavier University, Calvin University, and Olivet Nazarene University, which would afford students a similar graduation timetable and out-of-pocket cost.

Trinity College's Efforts to Fix Their Issues Sadly Weren't Enough:

Trinity Christian College exhausted many efforts to prevent closure from happening. WGN reports that in 2023, they took on a tuition transparency and access initiative, which significantly lowered the cost from $33,000 to under $20,000.

At present, the college has approximately about 800 students enrolled, and the final commencement will be held on May 8th, 2026. Read more about the closure of Trinity Christian College on WGN's website.