The University will focus on supporting students, faculty and staff through the transition while honoring its mission and Providence heritage
GREAT FALLS, MONTANA (Oct. 27, 2026) — The University of Providence Board of Trustees voted today to cease the University’s educational operations at the conclusion of the 2026–2027 academic year, after exhausting all viable paths forward.
The University’s final day of instruction will be August 20, 2027. Certain academic and administrative activities will continue beyond that date to ensure students receive their final grades, academic records and other necessary support.
Through its remaining period of educational operations, the University will focus on maintaining a strong academic experience, helping students complete their degrees or transition to another institution, supporting faculty and staff with dignity and respect, and stewarding the institution responsibly through closure.
“We recognize the grief and uncertainty this decision will bring to students, families, employees, alumni and the Great Falls community,” said Dr. Caroline Goulet, President of the University of Providence. “Our responsibility now is to care for the people who make up this University community, maintain the quality of their educational experience, and provide clear guidance and support as they prepare for what comes next.”
Over the past several years, the University has sought a sustainable path forward in response to continued enrollment decline and increasingly significant financial pressures. Those efforts included restructuring academic programs, reducing operating expenses, pursuing new enrollment and revenue strategies, and exploring potential partnerships with other institutions. These actions eased immediate pressures but did not produce a viable long-term operating model.
The University’s circumstances reflect pressures reshaping small private colleges nationwide. Since March 2020, an estimated 49 public and private nonprofit colleges have closed or announced plans to close, according to tracking by BestColleges, and an estimated nine nonprofit colleges have announced they will cease operations in 2026 alone.
The Board of Trustees and the University’s sponsors engaged in a purposeful process of discernment over the past several months, evaluating all options for a path forward, including merger and acquisition.
“For nearly 95 years, the University of Providence has been an important Catholic ministry,” said Terry Cosgrove, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “While this chapter of the University’s history is ending, its mission and impact will endure through the generations of graduates, faculty, staff, Sisters and partners who have carried the spirit of Providence into their communities. We are committed to honoring that legacy with the same compassion, dignity and integrity that have guided the University since its founding.”
Students remain at the heart of the University’s mission. The University’s first priority is to provide every currently enrolled student with individualized guidance toward an academically sound path to degree completion or transfer.
For some students, that path will be completing their degree at the University of Providence. For others, it will involve an approved teach-out arrangement with a partner institution of higher education or transfer to another college or university, based on their academic program, progress toward completion and individual circumstances. In accordance with NWCCU requirements, the University has developed teach-out plans and will work with partner institutions to provide students with the clearest and least disruptive pathways possible for completing their education.
The University recognizes the deeply personal impact this decision will have on faculty and staff. Individual meetings with all employees will be held beginning Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, to provide information about employment timelines, compensation and benefits, responsibilities during the transition, and available support resources.
“Our employees have served this institution and its students with dedication, often through exceptionally difficult circumstances,” President Goulet said. “Their contributions are an enduring part of the University’s legacy. They deserve our gratitude, timely information and thoughtful support as they navigate this transition.”
Founded in 1932 through the collaborative efforts of the Sisters of Providence, the Ursuline Sisters, and the Catholic Bishop of Great Falls, the University expanded access to Catholic higher education at a time when educational opportunities for women were limited. For nearly 95 years, it has prepared students to serve their communities and professions.
“The Sisters of Providence founded this University because they saw a need. They believed every person deserved the chance to learn, to serve and to make a difference,” said Mary Anne Sladich-Lantz, President, Providence Ministries. “Because of this ministry, thousands served in hospitals, classrooms, businesses, and communities throughout Montana and beyond.”
“But times change. The path forward for many small, private universities across the country is uncertain. Financial sustainability is no longer feasible. While we let go with heavy hearts, the mission and spirit of Providence will continue to live on through graduates of this fine institution and the faculty and staff who have served so well over the years,” Sladich-Lantz said.
As the University moves through its final year of educational operations, it will work closely with Providence Ministries and other mission partners to preserve and honor its Catholic identity and Providence heritage, including its history, traditions, institutional records, and sacred and historical assets. The University will also provide information in the coming months about alumni records, transcripts and opportunities for alumni to remain connected.
The University will provide regular updates at www.uprovidence.edu. Students, families and employees may direct questions to questions@uprovidence.edu.
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About the University of Providence
The University of Providence is a private, Roman Catholic university located in Great Falls, Montana. Founded in 1932 through the collaborative efforts of the Sisters of Providence, the Ursuline Sisters, and the Catholic Bishop of Great Falls, it offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts and health professions, grounded in a commitment to education, service and the dignity of each person. For more information, visit www.uprovidence.edu.
Media Contact
Courtney Blackwell
Director of Admissions
courtney.blackwell@uprovidence.edu
