Westminster University disputes Forbes' assessment after receiving failing financial grade

June 4, 2026 - 12:12

Westminster University is pushing back against a recent Forbes report that handed the private institution a failing grade for its financial health. The university's leadership publicly disputed the assessment after Forbes assigned it an "F" -- the lowest possible score in the publication's annual financial analysis of private colleges.

University officials argue that the Forbes methodology is flawed and fails to capture the full picture of Westminster's financial stability. In a statement, the administration pointed to strong enrollment numbers, successful fundraising campaigns, and a manageable debt load as evidence that the institution is on solid ground. They emphasized that the single letter grade does not reflect ongoing investments in campus infrastructure and academic programs.

The Forbes ranking system typically weighs factors like endowment size, tuition dependency, and operating margins. Westminster contends that these metrics do not account for strategic adjustments the university has made in recent years to adapt to shifting demographics in higher education. While the school acknowledges challenges common to many small private colleges, it insists that the "F" grade is an inaccurate and misleading characterization of its fiscal reality. The university has invited stakeholders to review its independently audited financial statements for a more balanced view.