Enrollment Shifts Across Northwest Ohio Colleges

Community colleges and trade schools see increases as some universities face declines

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Lourdes University and Siena Heights University are among the 40 colleges that have closed in the past year, citing increased costs and drops in enrollment. The University of Toledo has seen a 25% decrease in undergraduate enrollment from 2020 to 2025, while Bowling Green State University saw a 2.7% increase. In contrast, community colleges like Owens Community College and trade programs like Penta Career Center have experienced enrollment jumps of 16% or more in the same time period.

Why it matters

The closures of Lourdes and Siena Heights reflect broader demographic shifts and economic challenges facing higher education, especially smaller private institutions. The enrollment trends highlight how students are increasingly seeking more affordable options like community colleges and trade schools, potentially signaling a change in the higher education landscape in northwest Ohio.

The details

Lourdes University's new president, Sister Nancy Leinenkugel, cited a 40% decrease in students from 2019 to 2026 as a key factor in the school's closure, noting that "our way of staying in business is students paying tuition." Siena Heights University also pointed to enrollment decreases as a reason for its closure. Meanwhile, the University of Toledo saw a 25% drop in undergraduate enrollment from 2020 to 2025, while Bowling Green State University experienced a 2.7% increase. Community colleges and trade schools like Owens Community College and Penta Career Center have seen significant enrollment jumps of 16% or more in the same time period.

  • In the fall of 2020, the University of Toledo had 14,436 undergraduate students.
  • In the fall of 2025, the University of Toledo had 10,810 undergraduate students, a 25% decrease.
  • In the fall of 2020, Bowling Green State University had 17,077 undergraduate students.
  • In the fall of 2025, Bowling Green State University had 17,537 undergraduate students, a 2.7% increase.
  • Penta Career Center's enrollment has increased by 16% in the last five years.

The players

Lourdes University

A private Catholic university that announced its closure at the end of the 2022-2023 school year, citing increased costs and a 40% decrease in enrollment from 2019 to 2026.

Siena Heights University

A private Catholic university that announced its closure at the end of the 2022-2023 school year, citing enrollment decreases as a key factor.

University of Toledo

A public university that saw a 25% decrease in undergraduate enrollment from the fall of 2020 to the fall of 2025.

Bowling Green State University

A public university that saw a 2.7% increase in undergraduate enrollment from the fall of 2020 to the fall of 2025.

Owens Community College

A community college that saw a 16% jump in enrollment when comparing the fall of 2020 to the fall of 2025.

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What they’re saying

“It just so happens that Siena Heights and Lourdes are Catholic. Statistically, 40 colleges closed in the past year. That's almost one a week.”

— Sister Nancy Leinenkugel, President, Lourdes University (wtol.com)

“The common denominator in all of it is just this shift in demographics that there aren't undergrad students available like there used to be.”

— Sister Nancy Leinenkugel, President, Lourdes University (wtol.com)

“I think there are so many factors, and each student has their own story. I think part of that is that we are affordable.”

— Erin Kramer, Director of Admissions, Owens Community College (wtol.com)

What’s next

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center's 2025 report found a 28.3% increase in enrollments in undergraduate certificate programs at community colleges since 2021, suggesting this trend may continue.

The takeaway

The enrollment shifts in northwest Ohio reflect broader changes in higher education, with students increasingly seeking more affordable options like community colleges and trade schools as some traditional universities face declining enrollment and even closures. This signals a potential transformation in the regional higher education landscape.