--- title: "University of Providence board votes to close the Montana school in 2027" description: "The Great Falls university has a teach-out plan coming for students, and staff and donors have open questions of their own." url: https://education.skoop.news/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-summer-2027-0b7332/ published: 2026-10-29T11:31:51.269261-04:00 modified: 2026-10-29T11:31:51.269298-04:00 section: "Education & Careers" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["Sisters of Providence", "University of Providence", "Great Falls", "Great Falls Mayor Cory Reeves", "University President Caroline Goulet", "Montana University System", "ProPublica", "school", "college", "university"] hashtags: ["#SistersOfProvidence", "#UniversityOfProvidence", "#GreatFalls", "#School", "#education"] image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Great_falls_of_missouri_river.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled --- # University of Providence board votes to close the Montana school in 2027 > The Great Falls university has a teach-out plan coming for students, and staff and donors have open questions of their own. Published 2026-10-29 · Updated 2026-10-29 · Education & Careers, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - The University of Providence in Montana will close at the end of summer 2027, following a vote by its board on Tuesday. [[1]](https://www.highereddive.com/news/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-summer-2027/873123/) - The university declared financial exigency in December 2025. [[2]](https://dailymontanan.com/2026/10/27/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-2027/) - The board explored all options to stay open, including academic and budget cuts, new enrollment and revenue strategies, a merger or being acquired. [[1]](https://www.highereddive.com/news/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-summer-2027/873123/) ## The board's vote The University of Providence in Montana will close at the end of summer 2027, following a vote by its board on Tuesday. [[1]](https://www.highereddive.com/news/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-summer-2027/873123/) The board of trustees voted unanimously to shut down the university. [[2]](https://dailymontanan.com/2026/10/27/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-2027/) The Catholic nonprofit cited years of sustained enrollment decline and increasing financial pressure as the reason for the closure. [[1]](https://www.highereddive.com/news/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-summer-2027/873123/) University President Caroline Goulet cited falling enrollment and financial pressures too, and said the school could not find a financially sustainable way forward. [[2]](https://dailymontanan.com/2026/10/27/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-2027/) ## How the school got here The university declared financial exigency in December 2025. [[2]](https://dailymontanan.com/2026/10/27/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-2027/) In August, its accreditor put it on probation over financial stability concerns. [[1]](https://www.highereddive.com/news/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-summer-2027/873123/) The accreditor required the university's leaders to submit a teach-out plan by October. [[1]](https://www.highereddive.com/news/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-summer-2027/873123/) The Providence health system provided substantial financial support as the university sought a viable long-term operating model, but those efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. [[1]](https://www.highereddive.com/news/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-summer-2027/873123/) The university also set a goal of increasing revenue by $16 million over the next four years through donations and increased enrollment. [[1]](https://www.highereddive.com/news/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-summer-2027/873123/) In 2025 the university had $28.6 million in revenue, $35.6 million in expenses, and total assets valued at $48.6 million, according to ProPublica. [[2]](https://dailymontanan.com/2026/10/27/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-2027/) ## Why the board chose a planned closure The board explored all options to stay open, including academic and budget cuts, new enrollment and revenue strategies, a merger or being acquired. [[1]](https://www.highereddive.com/news/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-summer-2027/873123/) It chose a planned closure rather than the risk of an abrupt ending. [[1]](https://www.highereddive.com/news/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-summer-2027/873123/) Providence Ministries said the Sisters of Providence saw a need in Great Falls and looked to fill it, and that financial sustainability is no longer feasible. [[2]](https://dailymontanan.com/2026/10/27/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-2027/) ## The school and the city The university is a private Roman Catholic liberal arts school founded in 1932 by the Sisters of Providence. [[2]](https://dailymontanan.com/2026/10/27/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-2027/) It is located on a 44-acre campus near Benefis Hospital in Great Falls. [[2]](https://dailymontanan.com/2026/10/27/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-2027/) Great Falls Mayor Cory Reeves called the closure a huge loss for the city. [[2]](https://dailymontanan.com/2026/10/27/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-2027/) ## What it means for students, staff and donors If you are a student, the university will soon share details of a teach-out plan intended to keep your out-of-pocket expenses from exceeding what they would have been had the university stayed open. [[1]](https://www.highereddive.com/news/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-summer-2027/873123/) The Montana University System said it would support Providence students seeking to find a new school. [[2]](https://dailymontanan.com/2026/10/27/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-2027/) Carroll College offered transfer support services to University of Providence students on Tuesday. [[1]](https://www.highereddive.com/news/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-summer-2027/873123/) The university is working with legal counsel on steps required to permit use of endowment funds as scholarship support for continuing students. [[2]](https://dailymontanan.com/2026/10/27/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-2027/) If you work at the university, you face questions about benefits and employment details. [[2]](https://dailymontanan.com/2026/10/27/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-2027/) Faculty members' last day will be determined by program requirements and institutional needs. [[1]](https://www.highereddive.com/news/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-summer-2027/873123/) If you are a donor, you will be contacted to discuss alternatives that honor the original intent and purpose of your gifts. [[1]](https://www.highereddive.com/news/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-summer-2027/873123/) ## Sources 1. [University of Providence to shutter in summer 2027](https://www.highereddive.com/news/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-summer-2027/873123/) — Higher Ed Dive 2. [University of Providence to shutter in 2027](https://dailymontanan.com/2026/10/27/university-of-providence-to-shutter-in-2027/) — Yahoo Image: Photo: Tim1965 / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Great_falls_of_missouri_river.jpg) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. How we work: https://skoop.news/how-we-work/ · Corrections: https://skoop.news/corrections/