Cabrini University Will Close This June After 67 Years

Cabrini University, a liberal arts university located in Radnor, Pennsylvania, will close indefinitely this June after 67 years of operation due to financial pressures and a decline in enrollment.

The school announced in June 2023 that it would be closing its doors after reaching an agreement with Villanova University, which will buy the campus. After several months of searching for a partner, the university failed to reach a deal to continue operating, Erudera.com reports.

On Sunday, May 19, the 67-year-old Catholic institution held its final graduation ceremony, 6abc news reported. Some students expressed sadness over the university’s closure, while others said they were glad to graduate.

“I mean, it feels good to be part of something, like I feel like I’m leaving a part of a legacy or part of something. It’s unfortunate that school is closing. I have to look at some partner schools or other schools for my MBA, but I’m still excited,” graduate Erick Mendieta said.

Mendieta added that he was also excited to be among the first generation of Mexican students to graduate from the university.

Danna Harris, who graduated in Design Management, also expressed sadness that classes will be over and school will be shut down. “I won’t have a place to come back to,” she said.

Alumni Kylie Kelce, who graduated from the university in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in communications, was also present during the final ceremony. In her emotional commencement speech, she told students that after the university closes and another school moves in, they should know their home still exists.

Cabrini University was founded in 1957 by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a global educational, medical, and social service institution. It received its university status in 2016.

In 1957, 43 students enrolled in four major programs offered by the university. In 2021, there were 1,760 students in 30 programs. Enrollment declined to 1,500 in 2022.

Student numbers at the university were more stable before the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2013, 2,448 students studied at Cabrini.

According to the Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System data, the university recorded a decline of approximately 1,000 students in less than a decade.

The decline in enrollment forced staff cuts and changes to courses. At the same time, the school faced up to a $6 million budget deficit. The following schools were part of Cabrini University:

• School of Business and Professional Studies
• School of Education
• School of Arts and Sciences

Image source: Twitter account of Cabrini University. Posted on March 26, 2021