According to federal data, the overall fall enrollment at Notre Dame decreased by about 37% between 2014 and 2022, from 2,281 students to 1,444. Officials from the college stated that they worked hard to stay open, raising money, refinancing debt, and utilizing state and federal financial assistance, among other things. However, they said that insufficient efforts had been made to reduce budget shortfalls and pay down debt.
The interim president of Notre Dame, John Smetanka, released a statement that read, “We are all saddened by the need to make this decision, but rest assured that as we move forward, we are doing everything we can to ensure a smooth transition for our students to continue their education.”
Since 2018, Ohio has seen the closure of at least four public and nonprofit universities, and Notre Dame is about to follow suit. In 2023, at least 20 institutions—including many colleges with religious affiliations—announced closures or mergers. Late last year, two more Roman Catholic colleges, the College of Saint Rose in New York and Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts in New Hampshire, announced that they would be closing.
Enrollment issues had also plagued both schools, and the College of Saint Rose had forecast a $11.3 million budget deficit. A frequently asked question states that Notre Dame College has made arrangements for students to continue their education through teach outs with ten additional colleges.
Baldwin Wallace University, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, Hiram College, John Carroll University, Kent State University, Lake Erie College, Ursuline College, and Walsh University are the Ohio universities where the most are enrolled.Additionally, a partnership was formed with Mercyhurst University, located in Pennsylvania around 95 miles northeast.
Mercyhurst stated in a statement on Thursday that the teach-out arrangement will allow students at Notre Dame College to complete their degrees without having to forfeit any time or credits. Mercyhurst’s interim vice president for enrollment, Michael Joseph, stated in a statement that “it is the goal of both institutions to meet the distinct and diverse needs of Notre Dame students and to ensure the best possible outcome for all concerned.”
The FAQ states that Notre Dame students transferring to partner schools should anticipate paying the same net tuition and graduating on schedule.According to the college, negotiations for teach-outs with other universities are still ongoing.