Limestone University to Close Amid Financial Crisis, Ending 180-Year Legacy

After nearly 180 years, Limestone University in Gaffney, South Carolina, will close at the end of the spring 2025 semester. The Board of Trustees voted on April 29, 2025, to discontinue all on-campus and online degree programs due to a $6 million budget shortfall. Founded in 1845 as Limestone College, the first women's college in South Carolina, the institution evolved into a coeducational university serving about 1,600 students. It was a cornerstone of Cherokee County, contributing an estimated $150 million annually to the local economy and supporting many first-generation college students.

The financial crisis became public in mid-April when President Nathan Copeland and Board Chair Randall Richardson announced the shortfall, warning of potential closure or a shift to online-only operations. On April 24, Limestone launched the "Together for Limestone" campaign to raise unrestricted funds. The effort raised $2.143 million from nearly 200 donors, including two $1 million pledges. "We want to thank the almost 200 recent supporters in the last two weeks who committed a collective $2.143 million," Richardson said. "We had hoped that would be enough to sustain our institution. But in the final analysis, we could not continue operations on-campus or online without a greater amount of funding." Despite a brief hope on April 22 when the board delayed its decision due to a "possible funding source," the funds fell short, leading to the closure vote.

The decision impacts approximately 1,600 students and over 300 employees, with 478 faculty and staff receiving layoff notices on April 17. Students expressed devastation, with Giselle, a Brazilian student who arrived in spring 2025, feeling "betrayed," and Courtney, a transfer student, voicing frustration. Limestone hosted a transfer fair on April 28, attended by over 1,700 students, with institutions like Newberry College offering transfer options. The closure also affects Gaffney, where businesses like Boston Annie's, which drew half its revenue from Limestone, face uncertainty.

Limestone's struggles mirror those of other small, private colleges with limited endowments, like Eastern Nazarene College, which also announced its 2025 closure. Declining enrollment, rising costs, and reduced funding have strained liberal arts institutions. The "Together for Limestone" campaign emphasized the university's role for first-generation students. "This campaign is not just about preserving Limestone's campus – it's about fighting for the future of our students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college," Copeland said.

Despite the closure, Limestone will hold its final commencement ceremonies on May 3, 2025, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., celebrating its graduates. "Our Limestone spirit will endure through the lives of our students and alumni who carry it forward into the world," Richardson said.

For more details on the closure, visit Limestone University's announcement. Information on the commencement ceremonies is available here.