A Bittersweet Announcement: Trinity Christian College to Close After 66 Years

In a deeply stirring moment for the institution and its broader community, Trinity Christian College (TCC) in Palos Heights, Illinois, has announced that it will cease operations at the conclusion of the 2025-2026 academic year. The Board of Trustees formally approved the decision, citing a convergence of challenges — most notably from the aftermath of the pandemic, declining enrollment, intensified competition for students, and shifting donor support.  The college will hold its final commencement ceremony on May 8, 2026.

This decision marks the end of a 66-year legacy of a liberal-arts institution centered in private Christian formation, provoking reflection on the history of this institution, its impact, reasons for closure, and ways ahead for students, staff, and alumni.

A Legacy Built on Mission and Growth

When founded in 1959, Trinity Christian College was modest in size: the first academic year included 37 students and five full-time faculty members. Over time, the college grew to include a broad array of bachelor’s, master’s, and adult completion programs, boasting more than 70 areas of study at its peak.

The school distinguished itself in the Midwest Christian higher-education sphere, earning recognitions such as being named among the “Top Regional Colleges” and “Best Value” by *U.S. News & World Report”.  TCC also embraced innovative educational reforms in recent years — lowering tuition significantly (to US$19,800 for incoming students) under its “Tuition Transparency & Access” initiative, reducing the four‐year cost barrier and re-imagining its academic schedule to include a four-day week with Wednesdays dedicated to student wellbeing, internships and vocation.

These forward-looking efforts reflect the college's commitment to adapting and serving students within a changing educational landscape.

Why the Closure? A Confluence of Pressures

This decision was not taken lightly, and according to the announcement, several inter-linked factors contributed:

Financial losses post-COVID: Like many colleges, TCC felt a great deal of operational strain during and after the pandemic.

Declining enrollment: With fewer students coming into the ranks, the ability to scale programs became difficult due to fixed costs.

Increased competition and market shifts-most notably, many more colleges competing for fewer students, changing student expectations, and shifting priorities from the donor base-made a continued growth model difficult to sustain.

Changing priorities among donors: Support from benefactors did not keep pace with the institution's needs, further tightening the funding model.

According to a statement by acting president Jeanine Mozie, “Our deepest commitment in this season is to care for our people … particularly our students, faculty and staff, as we mourn this ending.”

Worth noting, however, is that for all the innovative cost models and restructurings TCC had embraced, these core structural and demographic headwinds proved too powerful to overcome in the current higher‐ed climate.

What This Means for Students, Faculty & Staff

The impact on the college community is profound, and TCC is taking steps to ease the transition:

Students: TCC has committed to providing advising, support, and resources necessary for students either to complete their degrees at TCC, prior to closure, or to transfer to other institutions.  Such “teach‐out” and transfer plans are critical to protecting the investment of students and to ensuring continuity in education.

Faculty & staff: The college recognizes the emotional, professional and practical implications on its employees and states it will assist in professional transitions.

Celebrating Legacy: TCC will host activities throughout the 2025-26 academic year to celebrate its history, engage alumni and donors, and recognize the community that has supported the college over generations.

For students who planned multi-year programs, the disruption could be considerable. TCC’s responsiveness in arranging alternatives is an important part of minimizing harm.

Reflections on Broader Trends in Higher Education

The sad closure of TCC is symptomatic of the broader forces buffeting many smaller private colleges in the U.S.:

Shrinking traditional college‐aged population: Competition has become keener as many regions have fewer 18‐ to 24-year-olds.

Increasing costs + pressure for affordability: Even with lowered tuition strategies like TCC's, maintaining financial viability when enrollment drops is difficult.

Changing student expectations: Today's students increasingly demand clear career pathways, flexible learning modalities, and meaningful value for money.

Donor fatigue & priorities: Many private colleges are heavily dependent on philanthropy, and when donor priorities shift or when giving declines, the impact is immediate.

COVID-19 accelerated many changes in higher education, including remote learning, hybrid models, and changing uses of campuses. It was harder for institutions already under stress.

In this light, TCC's efforts at redesigning its model-lower tuition, four-day week, strong vocational emphasis-were strategic and admirable. But they also reflect how urgent adaptation has become. The decision to close signifies how even well-intentional innovation may not be enough when the structural tides turn.

Preserving Memories — And What Comes Next

While the doors will close in 2026, the legacy of TCC will live on in several ways:

Alumni Impact: Thousands of graduates have taken the mission of TCC into ministry, business, education, and community service. Their ongoing work is a living legacy of the college.

Institutional History: TCC's story is part of the narrative of Christian liberal arts education in the Midwest, steeped in faith, community, and vocational preparation over 66 years.

Campus and transition planning: The question of what will become of the physical campus remains – whether it will be repurposed for educational, community or other use. (A detail to watch in future announcements.) Learnings for other institutions: TCC's journey will provide case study material for other colleges facing similar headwinds: what was done, what worked, what didn't, and how mission-driven institutions might chart resilient paths. For the campus community, the alumni network, faculty, staff, and students, its closure means more than just class closure-it's a moment of communal grief, reflection, and thanks for what the institution provided. As said by Acting President Mozie, "This work now is dedicated to service to the Trinity community until we close our doors." Conclusion The announcement that Trinity Christian College will close after 66 years marks a poignant milestone — both an ending and a bridge to what comes next. Its story is emblematic of enduring value, that of small, mission-driven liberal arts education, and yet there would be immense challenges for such institutions in today’s shifting landscape. To the students who will graduate in May 2026, to the faculty and staff whose jobs will change, and to the alumni who carry its name, the moment is a complicated one: sad, grateful, hopeful. While the campus may go quiet, the truer mission of the institution-to equip its students for purposeful vocational and spiritual lives-lives on through its people. As we celebrate what Trinity provided, we're also reminded how fragile higher education structures can be, and how crucial innovation, adaptability, and community support truly are. Let the coming months represent a time of supportive transition, celebration of legacy, and faithful preparation for whatever new chapters lie ahead for everyone touched by the college.