Image: Lincoln College in Illinois will close on May 13, after 157 years of operating.
It is a small private college, with most recent enrollment figures of about 1,000.
“Lincoln College has survived many difficult and challenging times—the economic crisis of 1887, a major campus fire in 1912, the Spanish flu of 1918, the Great Depression, World War II, the 2008 global financial crisis, and more, but this is different,” said a statement from the college.
The statement said the college “experienced record-breaking student enrollment” in the fall of 2019. “Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic dramatically impacted recruitment and fundraising efforts, sporting events, and all campus life activities. The economic burdens initiated by the pandemic required large investments in technology and campus safety measures, as well as a significant drop in enrollment with students choosing to postpone college or take a leave of absence, which impacted the institution’s financial position.”
In addition, the college “was a victim