From Pillar to Farewell: Notre Dame College Closes After Enrollment Slide and Financial Strain

#Notre Dame College Fades After Enrollment Slide and Financial Strain Notre Dame College, a pillar of South Euclid, Ohio, faces a difficult good-bye. After a steady decline in student enrollment and mounting financial challenges, the college will close its doors at the end of the spring semester in 2024. Shrinking Student Body: Over the past eight years, Notre Dame College witnessed a significant drop in fall enrollment, with numbers falling nearly 37% from 2014 to 2022. This amounted to a decrease of over 800 students, putting a strain on the college's financial stability.

Last-Ditch Efforts: Determined to stay afloat, Notre Dame College explored various avenues, including fundraising, debt refinancing, and even utilizing funds provided during the pandemic. However, these efforts proved insufficient to bridge the widening budgetary gap and fulfill their growing financial obligations. Ensuring a Smooth Transition: Despite the closure, the college's top priority remains ensuring a smooth transition for its students. To achieve this, they have secured partnerships with ten other institutions through "teach-out" agreements, allowing students to

continue their education seamlessly. New Chapters, Familiar Costs: These partnerships primarily involve Ohio institutions like Baldwin Wallace University and Case Western Reserve University. Additionally, an agreement was established with Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania. Through these collaborations, students can complete their degrees without facing delays or credit loss, while paying similar tuition costs to what they were accustomed to at Notre Dame College. Adding to the Trend: Sadly, Notre Dame College is not alone in facing such challenges. The college closure adds to the growing national trend, with at least four other Ohio institutions and 20 nationwide facing similar fates through closure or consolidation in recent years. The decline in enrollment and financial struggles faced by Notre Dame College highlight the broader challenges confronting smaller colleges across the nation.

A Community in Transition: While the college closes its doors, efforts are still underway to secure additional partnerships, further aiding students in their transition to new institutions. As the community of South Euclid says its goodbyes to Notre Dame College, the story also serves as a stark reminder of the changing landscape of higher education in the United State