Local · Montana
University of Providence in Great Falls Will Close After 2026-27
Trustees ended operations after Providence Health said it would stop covering deficits by the end of 2027.
The University of Providence in Great Falls will close after the 2026-27 academic year, the Catholic university announced Tuesday. The last day of instruction is Aug. 20, 2027, NBC Montana reported, citing the board of trustees, which declared financial exigency in December 2025.
Montana Free Press reported that Providence Health had been covering about $8 million a year in deficits and said in 2025 it would end that support by the end of 2027. The university has about 630 students including online enrollment, with 397 on campus, and more than 200 staff, faculty and adjuncts, according to the Free Press.
University President Caroline Goulet said in the announcement that the school’s responsibility now is to care for its community. NBC Montana reported that students will get individual guidance toward finishing a degree or transferring, and that meetings with employees about compensation and benefits began Wednesday. Cascade County Commissioner Eric Hinebauch, a graduate and former trustee, told the Free Press it is frustrating that Great Falls is gaining momentum while the university closes, and said he hopes someone fills the void.
Sources
- NBC Montana, Oct. 27, 2026: board announcement, Aug. 20, 2027 end date, student and employee plans <https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/university-of-providence-to-close-following-2026-27-academic-year-due-to-financial-woes>
- Montana Free Press, Oct. 27, 2026: Providence Health funding, enrollment and staffing numbers, local reaction <https://montanafreepress.org/2026/10/27/university-of-providence-in-great-falls-to-close-at-end-of-school-year/>
This article was drafted with automated tools from the sources listed, checked by a review pass, and published by Daniel Varrone. Corrections: editor@monochromechronicles.com