Martin University, the only historically Black college and university (HBCU) in Indiana, will officially close its doors, bringing an end to nearly five decades of serving students in Indianapolis and beyond.
According to Inside Higher Ed, the decision follows months of uncertainty. In early December, the private university paused operations, laid off staff, and urged students to pursue transfer options.
On December 30, Martin’s Board of Trustees quietly voted to formally close the institution, citing financial realities that leadership said could no longer be overcome.
In a public statement published by the Indianapolis Recorder, the board explained that “declining enrollment, increasing costs and accumulated debt left the university without sufficient operating cash to function as an institution of higher learning.”
Trustees also said the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Martin’s accrediting body, instructed the university to cease operations—a claim the HLC has since disputed. As of this writing, no closure notice appears on Martin’s official website.
Founded in Indianapolis in 1977, Martin University has long held a unique position as the state’s only predominantly Black institution of higher education. But financial challenges have followed the university for years. Auditors repeatedly warned that Martin was at risk of closure, pointing to shrinking enrollment, mounting debt, and the lingering impact of a costly cyberattack.
Enrollment numbers illustrate the strain. Federal data show that while Martin enrolled nearly 1,000 students in fall 2010, that number fell to 223 by fall 2023, reflecting a steady decline over more than a decade.
Funding challenges also played a role. Although Martin is a private university, it has received state support in recent budget cycles. That changed last year when Indiana Governor Mike Braun, a Republican, did not include the school in his budget proposal, eliminating an anticipated $5 million allocation the university needed to remain operational.
In its statement, the board emphasized that Martin’s mission—serving students with limited financial means—made sustainability especially difficult. “Without an endowment and given today’s political climate around higher education funding, this financial model is simply not sustainable,” trustees wrote.
Leadership explored partnerships, new academic models, and fundraising efforts, but none generated enough momentum to reverse the trend.
The board said its top priority now is students. Teach-out agreements and individualized transition plans are being implemented to ensure current students can continue their education elsewhere without interruption.