(TNS) — Gannon University in Erie and Ursuline College in the Cleveland area will officially merge, creating the largest Catholic university system in the Lake Erie region, the schools announced Thursday.
By December 2026, Ursuline will become Gannon’s third campus under the schools’ definitive agreement, which was approved by both colleges’ boards in December.
Integration will unite roughly 6,000 students and 1,300 employees under one umbrella.
“We are proud to have the support of both boards in our collective effort to improve and strengthen Catholic higher education in our region,” Gannon President Walter Iwanenko said in a news release. “This combination will bring new opportunities to both institutions’ students, staff, faculty and alumni that would not be possible otherwise.”
Soon to be dubbed the Ursuline College Campus of Gannon University, Ursuline will operate as a Gannon location with distinct academic programs and athletics after an 18-month transition period that will begin this June.
Integration will not impact tuition, scholarships, financial aid, academic opportunities or athletics for Ursuline students. Base tuition at both schools is about $38,000 this academic year.
The two colleges first announced they intended to combine in September. This partnership comes as Gannon was looking to expand its footprint and Ursuline wanted to partner with a larger institution.
Over the past decade, enrollment has increased at Gannon’s two campuses in Erie and Ruskin, Fla. But at Ursuline, enrollment fell 30% between fall 2013 and fall 2022, according to Department of Education data. The number of sisters at the Ohio college is also on the decline.
“As the landscape of higher education experiences turbulent times, particularly with smaller Catholic institutions, our vision is focused on a successful collaboration that will offer a model of academic excellence and mutual respect of our individual identities, all while creating a new shared culture and combined strength,” Ursuline President David King said in the release.
University consolidation is becoming increasingly popular as more institutions face enrollment declines related to population drops in young adults and diminished confidence in higher education. In the past year, 16% of university presidents have discussed merging with another institution, a recent survey by education consulting firm EAB found.
Notably in Pennsylvania, state-owned schools in California, Edinboro and Clarion combined two years ago to form Pennsylvania Western University.
In November, Gannon and Ursuline received a $100,000 grant bolstering their merger plans from the Transformational Partnerships Fund, which supports colleges and universities that are exploring partnerships. The grant allows the schools to hire experts in law, finance, governance and human resources.
There are currently 13 integration teams at Gannon and Ursuline planning how to operate the two institutions. Prior to integration in 2026, both schools will continue to function independently.
“We will continue to operate as two separate entities until then, but we will certainly be getting to know each other in deeper ways and learning best practices from each other,” Mr. Iwanenko said in the release. “We believe it is important to retain the school’s identity even as we move collectively in a new direction. Ursuline’s legacy will continue, just as Gannon’s legacy will continue. The goal is to preserve and strengthen our institutions to build a better future for both.”
