By: Mallory Mankin, Staff Writer
On Nov. 4, Trinity Christian College announced that it would be closing after the 2025-26 school year.
“Unfortunately, after reviewing assessments from financial and higher education advisers, and following a period of intense and prayerful deliberation and discernment, Trinity’s Board of Trustees has determined there is no path toward long-term sustainability for our beloved institution,” the college posted online.
Karen Lee, the provost of Wheaton College, was made aware of Trinity Christian College’s (TCC) closure when it was announced publicly and was saddened by the disruption it may cause for those in the TCC community. She said that the closure stresses the challenges that Christian institutions face when navigating “the complex educational landscape.”
The vice president of finance and operations, Chad Rynbrandt, reported a similar reaction of grief and sorrow upon hearing the closure announcement but was not surprised that the school faced financial challenges.
“I think the closures reflect broader financial challenges in higher education, particularly for smaller schools,” Rynbrandt said. “Christ-centered schools aren’t any more or less susceptible to that financial challenge, in my opinion.”
These closures are occurring amid political turmoil in higher education. The current White House administration has been engaging in battles with a variety of collegiate institutions, threatening monetary consequences if institutions do not comply with federal directives. As a result, many universities, including small Christian liberal arts schools, are experiencing hardship and unexpected difficulties.
Located just outside of Chicago, Trinity Christian College is rooted in the ideals of the Reformed Christian faith and guides students to incorporate those tenets into all areas of life. With around 900 undergraduate students, the college aims to provide students with a “well-rounded liberal arts education.”
However, Trinity has been experiencing tremendous financial instability. The school reports a decline in donations and enrollment following COVID-19, which has prevented the college from keeping pace with the economy. TCC is not the only Christian liberal arts college in Illinois that has closed or announced its closure in the past year. Lincoln Christian University and Trinity International University have also made preparations to close their campuses.
Trinity is offering a surplus of spring classes in hopes of graduating as many of its students with sufficient credits and academic flexibility. If that option is not feasible, TCC has secured teach-out agreements with three other universities: Saint Xavier University, Calvin University and Olivet Nazarene University.
The teach-out option allows students to secure automatic admission to an approved partner university and transfer all credits to earn a degree at a similar cost.
Teach-out options vary by major, and TCC still has eight majors without approved teach-out pathways. The school is continuing to negotiate on behalf of students in these programs, with two majors currently in stasis and “more details to come.”
Lincoln Christian University, which was affiliated with the Churches of Christ, closed after the 2023-24 school year. Its seminary is now under the leadership of Ozark Christian College, a school based in Missouri. The school’s declining enrollment was a primary factor in its decision to close. Its corporate debt had also reached $9 million by 2019.
Trinity International University closed its in-person undergraduate program on its Bannockburn campus in 2023 and redesigned its graduate programs to include many, though not exclusively, online pathways. The president and board of the college also cite lower enrollment rates, COVID-19 impacts and economic instability as factors for closing.
Wheaton College President Philip Ryken said it is “likely” that Wheaton would receive some transfers as well, but it is also “too early to tell how many.”
One of the four pillars in the recently announced “Wheaton for the World” strategic plan is financial sustainability, which prioritizes a balanced budget, stewardship of the endowment and minimal debt. While this prioritization is not a response to the TCC closure, it is reflective of how day-to-day tasks of stewarding an institution may be evolving in higher education today.
“We can define sustainability as not merely having a balanced budget, but also having the resources to make strategic investments and to address long-term issues such as deferred maintenance,” Ryken said.
In light of this changing higher education landscape, Provost Lee wants to remind students that “Christian institutions flourish when we uphold one another in prayerful partnership and hope, trusting that God remains faithful even in seasons of uncertainty.”
