Why Michigan's Small Colleges Are Closing

Adrian — Since 2019, Marygrove College, Concordia University, and Siena Heights University—all liberal arts colleges with connections to Christian churches—have closed their doors. In the post-Covid world, one wonders if Michigan’s small colleges are now 20th-century relics.

Higher education isn’t going anywhere. The University of Michigan is conquering the state. With an endowment of over $20 billion, it’s the wealthiest university in the Midwest. Michigan State’s $4.6 billion endowment is nothing to sniff at, either.

U-M recently purchased a large section of Concordia University’s main campus. Concordia is still offering three graduate level degrees, but the future doesn’t look bright.

What happens to these small colleges when U-M doesn’t buy them?

Marygrove College in Detroit closed in 2019 after more than a century of operation. Detroit transformed the college into the Marygrove Conservancy, which has turned into a hub of miscellaneous community programs. It is a place where children and adults can come to gain skills in art, computer technology, business, and more. Yet, all of the institution’s promotional materials use words like reinvigoration, collaboration, communication, envision, revitalization, and the like. I have no idea what they’re talking about.

Siena Heights, located in Adrian, had a similar marketing issue. A 2022 intro video for the college presented Siena as having a “mission of developing students who are competent, purposeful, and ethical” while a synth track played in the background. Students shared why they chose Siena and give similar abstract, scripted language. Students said things like: “Every small liberal arts college promised me that I would belong. But Siena Heights was the first place where I believed that.”

At the university’s final commencement, comedian Bill Murray gave a speech that revealed why Siena failed. (The only reason Murray showed up is because his sister is a part of the Adrian Dominican Sisters, who founded the college.) Murray received an honorary doctorate from the college. Then, he began by saying Siena Heights was a family. One of the funniest, most cynical comedic actors of our time fell into the cliche. It was clear that Murray, brother of a Siena Heights insider, had no idea why Siena Heights was better than Adrian or Concordia.

I visited the campus and noticed faded pole banners with black and Hispanic students under the school motto. The place was sad. Every sign that formerly directed students to the correct building now had no-trespassing signs nailed to them. Apparently the message of belonging, finding your dreams, and invigorating one's potential didn't resonate with young people enough to save Siena Heights.

The school announced closure at the beginning of the 2025-2026 academic year, allowing students time to graduate or transfer credits and scholarships to other universities. Neighboring Adrian College offered to help and accept any students who needed to finish their degrees.

The irony of this is that Adrian is a small, formerly Christian, liberal arts college that is doing fine for now. But its decline is inevitable, too.

President Douglas Palmer noted that declining enrollment and insufficient funds were the main reason for closing. The Siena Heights endowment was only $14.8 million.

The problem is this: People aren't marrying or having kids. Institutions will die if there are no students. Children born today will go to the schools that either have prestige or a clear mission.

Christian liberal arts schools were founded with concrete goals like the original goal of Siena Heights, which was to train women in a Catholic environment to teach the next generation. In 1969, the college opened up to men. But that's another issue. Men aren’t going to college at the same rate they once were, which is evident in Siena Heights promotional material. The emotional appeal of their videos and banners is feminine. Why would young, ambitious men pay $30,000 a year to attend?

Places like Hillsdale College will have enrollment for years to come because they have a clear identity. This college in the middle of nowhere had a $900 million endowment as of 2024. Not bad for a small school.

The final president of Siena Heights, Cheri Betz, said public universities were better equipped to fight the current struggles of declining population because of better funding. But Hillsdale has proven that a rural Michigan college can create a pipeline of students if it has a clear mission.

Government-funded universities are Michigan’s future. If Siena Heights becomes like Marygrove to serve the local community, great. But young men are going to trade schools or to U-M if the remaining liberal arts colleges don't get back to their roots and start reaching the next generation.

Christian liberal arts colleges need to be unashamed of being Christian and boldly teach philosophy, as well as medicine and business. Otherwise, students will see these institutions have no clue what time it is or what they are about.

Students are supposed to find themselves at college. Paying $30,000 a year for a weak degree program isn’t going to work anymore.