Trinity Christian College Campus Up for Sale

Small private college to close amid financial pressures facing higher education sector

Apr. 16, 2026 at 12:52am

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A serene, painterly image of an empty college campus building, its windows and entryway cast in warm, golden light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of melancholy and transition as the institution prepares to close its doors.The impending closure of Trinity Christian College's campus marks the end of an era for the small private institution, reflecting broader financial pressures facing the higher education sector.Chicago Today

Trinity Christian College, a small private college in Chicago, is set to close its doors and put its campus up for sale. The closure is part of a broader trend of small, private colleges and universities shuttering in recent years due to financial challenges, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why it matters

The closure of Trinity Christian College reflects the ongoing financial pressures facing the higher education sector, particularly smaller private institutions. This trend has significant implications for students, faculty, and the surrounding community, as well as broader questions about the future of higher education.

The details

Trinity Christian College, located in Palos Heights, Illinois, has announced plans to close its doors and sell its campus. The college, which was founded in 1959, has struggled with declining enrollment and financial challenges in recent years, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Trinity is among a number of small, private colleges and universities that have shuttered in recent years, including Lincoln Christian University in 2024.

  • Trinity Christian College was founded in 1959.
  • Lincoln Christian University closed in 2024.
  • Trinity Christian College announced plans to close and sell its campus in 2026.

The players

Trinity Christian College

A small private college located in Palos Heights, Illinois that was founded in 1959 and is now set to close and sell its campus.

Lincoln Christian University

A small private college that closed in 2024, part of the broader trend of financial challenges facing smaller institutions in the higher education sector.

Mark Glennon

The founder of the Illinois policy research organization Wirepoints, who has commented on the broader fiscal challenges facing the city of Chicago.

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What they’re saying

“Chicago's political leadership is floating a pension buyout program as evidence it is seriously addressing the city's thirty-six-billion-dollar unfunded pension liability, but that the proposal moves debt from one column to another rather than reducing it, and that the broader fiscal picture facing the city continues to deteriorate across every measurable dimension.”

— Mark Glennon, Founder, Wirepoints

The takeaway

The closure of Trinity Christian College is a symptom of the broader financial challenges facing smaller private colleges and universities, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend raises questions about the future of higher education and the ability of these institutions to adapt to changing demographics and economic conditions.