Trinity Christian College in Illinois to Close After the 2025–26 Academic Year

Trinity Christian College, a small private liberal arts college in Palos Heights, Illinois, has announced that it will permanently close at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year. The decision was made after months of financial review and board deliberations, marking the end of the institution’s 66-year history.

According to an official statement from the college, the Board of Trustees voted to wind down operations due to ongoing financial losses, enrollment declines, and limited donor capacity. The final commencement ceremony is scheduled for May 8, 2026.

Why Trinity Christian College Is Closing

Financial filings and independent reporting by Inside Higher Ed and CBS Chicago reveal the following challenges:

• Declining Enrollment: Total student headcount dropped from 1,068 in 2019 to 872 in 2024.
• Chronic Deficits: Trinity operated at a loss in 8 of the last 10 fiscal years.
• Shrinking Cash Reserves: Cash and equivalents fell 31 percent in a year—from $7.2 million to just under $5 million.
• Overreliance on Few Donors: Three donors provided 76 percent of all gifts in 2024.
• Small Endowment: About $11 million, compared to a sector median of $243 million.

The Board concluded that there was “no sustainable path forward” despite tuition resets and cost-cutting.

Impact on Students and Families

Trinity Christian College will continue full academic operations through the 2025-2026 school year, allowing seniors to graduate as planned.

For students who will not complete their degrees by May 2026, the college is developing teach-out agreements with partner institutions so they can transfer credits and complete their programs elsewhere.

Students are encouraged to contact academic advisors for details on:

• Transfer pathways and credit evaluations
• Housing and campus service timelines
• Financial aid transitions
• Transcript and record access after closure

Families can also refer to the official closure FAQ page for ongoing updates.

Faculty and Staff Transitions

Faculty and staff at Trinity Christian College will face phased layoffs as the college winds down. According to internal reports, contracts will be honored through the 2025-26 academic year, and the institution is offering career transition support and counseling resources.

This development underscores the broader workforce challenges in higher education, as smaller colleges consolidate or merge due to shrinking budgets.

Public and Community Reactions

The announcement sparked an emotional outpouring across campus and online.

Student Voices

In interviews with CBS Chicago, students expressed shock and sadness:

“We’re all like one little family, so it’s just really sad to see what’s happening,” said Sean Crofton, a current student.

Freshman Alexa Chapman, a softball player, added:

“I went to class and no one was there except for my professor. I said, ‘It’s real?’ and then I started crying. I’ve been crying ever since.”

Chapman described Trinity as a tight-knit community where “everyone knows each other and cares for each other.”

Alumni and Local Community

Alumni on social media shared memories of small-class discussions, faith-based mentorship, and the college’s iconic “Trolls” mascot.
One graduate wrote on Facebook, “Trinity was never just a campus —it was home. This hurts.”

Local leaders in Palos Heights acknowledged the college’s long-standing role in the community, from teacher education to athletic events that drew families and students together.

Reddit and Sports Community Reactions

The NAIA and college sports community on Reddit also responded to the news. Many lamented the loss of one of the most distinctive mascots in college sports—the Trolls:

“RIP Trinity Christian,” one comment read.

Another poster added:

“They had just built new athletic facilities 8-10 years ago. Tough times for small universities.”

Others noted the broader pattern within the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC):

“Trinity International, Cardinal Stritch, Lincoln, Robert Morris — and now Trinity Christian since 2020.”

Even those without direct connections to the school shared nostalgic memories of playing volleyball or baseball on its compact campus, calling it “one of the friendliest places you’d never know existed.”

The collective tone was one of grief, nostalgia, and recognition that the closure symbolizes a larger struggle for small faith-based colleges nationwide.

Broader Trends in Higher Education

Trinity’s closure reflects a nationwide trend of colleges facing financial strain and declining enrollment. Several institutions are closing or consolidating campuses in response. Limestone University and St. Andrews University both shut down in spring 2025, while Siena Heights University plans to close after the 2025–2026 academic year. Even large public systems such as Penn State are restructuring, with plans to consolidate seven Commonwealth campuses by 2027.

David Tretter, President of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities, told CBS:

“The number of students going to college is down across Illinois. Inflation and operating costs are crushing smaller campuses.”

Experts argue that sustained state and federal funding, strategic partnerships, and innovative program design will be vital for preventing further closures.

Final Thoughts

The closing of Trinity Christian College is not just a loss for Palos Heights but a signal to the entire higher-education sector. As students, faculty, and alumni mourn the end of an era, their stories illustrate why small colleges matter — and why sustaining them is a national challenge worth solving.

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