Ursinus College in Collegeville Welcomes Cabrini Students

RADNOR, PA — Ursinus College in Collegeville joined the stream of local colleges inviting Cabrini University students to complete their degrees at Ursinus in the wake of Cabrini’s June 23 announcement that it will close in 2024.

Cabrini announced that it will graduate its last class in 2024 and that Villanova University is acquiring Cabrini’s campus in Radnor Township.

Cabrini, a Catholic-based university, has struggled with enrollment, which was estimated at 1,600 in 2022, about 1,000 less than in 2012, according to the state Department of Education Data system.

Ursinus, a private liberal arts college, reached a “teach-out” agreement with Cabrini, in which Ursinus will provide the required courses for Cabrini students to complete their degrees.

Ursinus President Robyn Hannigan said Thursday that all Cabrini credits will transfer, and Ursinus will honor Cabrini’s tuition to ensure that the students will not incur additional out-of-pocket expenses.

“Ursinus is steadfast in its role as an anchor institution and partner to our community,” Hannigan said. “Cabrini University has been an integral part of our region for a long time.

“To not stand beside them as they go through this incredibly difficult time would be antithetical to the values upon which our college is grounded,” Hannigan continued.

“Providing a pathway for Cabrini students to continue their education is merely an expression of Ursinus’s continued commitment to keeping the promise of higher education.”
Ursinus officials said the college will accept any undergraduate Cabrini student who successfully concludes the 2023-24 academic year in good academic standing.

“I’m pleased that Ursinus and Cabrini University were able to establish a teach-out agreement that will benefit Cabrini students,” Micheal J. Keaton, Ursinus vice president for enrollment management, said.
“I’m proud that Ursinus will be one of the landing spots for students who wish to transfer and complete their undergraduate education.”
Cabrini was founded in 1957 by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was originally a college and became a university in 2016. It has an enrollment of 1,186 undergraduate students and 430 graduate students.

Cabrini’s Plan Moving Forward

Cabrini staff plans to meet undergraduate students during the 2023-24 academic year to speak in detail about the opportunity to transfer to Ursinus, according to Michelle Filling-Brown, Cabrini’s dean of academic affairs.
“We are proud to add Ursinus College, a top-tier liberal arts college, to Cabrini’s list of official partner schools,” Filling-Brown said. “We trust that each of our partner schools can meet the distinct and diverse needs of our students.

“This is a challenging and emotional time for our students as they navigate the 2023‒24 academic year, and Cabrini’s academic leadership team is committed to seeing these students through to the completion of their degrees.”
Ursinus is one of four partner institutions to reach an official “teachout agreement” with Cabrini.

The agreement includes cost-free applications, free transcripts, and transfer of all credits.
These colleges reached official teach-out agreements:

• Holy Family University, Northeast Philadelphia, is available here.
• Eastern University, Radnor, is available here.
• Gwynedd Mercy University, Lower Gwynedd Township, is available here.

Rosemont College, Lower Merion; St. Joseph University, Philadelphia; and Immaculata University, East Whiteland Township, Chester County, also have websites and transfer days scheduled for Cabrini students.