A statement on the Clearwater Christian College’s website tells of the school’s abrupt closer.

“After much prayer and with a genuine heaviness of heart, a motion was made and a unanimous vote was made to close the college,” the message reads according to Tamabaycom.

The school has a small enrollment of just about 500 students, so it isn’t a large college. But due to “declining enrollment, increased debt and lack of a sizable endowment” the school was forced to close.

This follows the closure, or at least potential closure, of Sweet Briar College in Virginia. The difference in the two schools is that millions has been raised to keep Sweet Briar open and a recent court decision has stayed the order of closure for the moment.

Both schools have long histories. Sweet Briar has been around for 100 years while Christian Clearwater began its existence in 1966.

Sadly, smaller schools that may offer niche programs or experiences are no longer necessarily needed. According NPR, Sweet Briar, and all women’s college, is just one of about 50 nationwide. Because women are now allowed to attend most, if not all, of the country’s top educational institutions, colleges like Sweet Briar have faced declining enrollment.

Schools of this nature offer warmth, comfort, and specialized education services for students who look for smaller institutions. With today’s education climate, it remains to be seen if we’ll see more schools of this nature close in the near future.