MI University Closing After 105 Years

ADRIAN, MI — A small, catholic university in southeastern Michigan is closing for good at the conclusion of the 2025-2026 academic year, officials said.

Siena Heights University, located in Adrian, made the announcement Monday after senior leadership assessed the school's financial situation.

Officials determined "continuing operations beyond the coming academic year is no longer feasible."

"For 105 Years, Siena Heights University has been a beacon of light in a world sometimes cast in darkness," President Douglas B. Palmer said. "The spirit of Siena Heights will continue long after the institution itself closes its doors because it lives in every graduate, faculty member, and staff person who has been on campus – whether in-person or online."

Officials said the university will work with other institutions to ensure faculty, staff and students will be transferred with as little disruption as possible.

"We are deeply grateful to the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who have worked hard decade after decade to make Siena Heights an incredibly special place," Palmer added. "We look ahead to the next academic year planning all the activities one would normally get including athletics, residential life, and great events that we share with our alumni and entire community."