Though hard to accept, and not necessarily the case with the colleges already mentioned, the closure of some schools is an overdue blessing. Too many ostensibly Christian schools are institutional versions of “Christian merch,” no different than regular t-shirts but with a few “Jesus words” pressed on. If Christian schools do not offer anything unique, then there’s no point in having Christian schools in the first place. 

A few weeks ago, Trinity Christian College announced that it would be closing its doors after the spring 2026 semester. The Chicagoland school had served the Dutch Reformed community and others for almost 70 years, had a strong nursing program, and gave a priority to the Christian worldview.  

Back in 2023, Trinity International University, the other Trinity in the Chicago area, announced that its undergraduate program would be moved online, with no residential option offered. A few months ago, its grad school, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School announced it would fold into another seminary in Vancouver. In July, The King’s College in New York City, which had been struggling for a while, announced it would permanently close. Many observers predict that there will be more announcements in the weeks and months to come. 

Institutions of higher education face a perfect storm of factors. Enrollments have not kept up with expectations, leaving high debt and empty buildings. During Covid, students, staff, and administrators got used to “zoom classes,” especially how moving online avoids the trouble of feeding, housing, and entertaining students.   

And, of course, too many educators are more interested in creating activists rather than educating students. What has long been an endemic reality at “secular” schools is also the case at many once-faithful Christian institutions that fell captive to the Critical Theory mood that pervades the rest of academic culture. Why would Christian parents spend thousands on an education that “progressed” beyond biblical authority and historic Christian morality when the education offered is indistinguishable from cheaper, secular options? Many parents have learned the hard way about mission drift at Christian colleges. 

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