Westmar University

Westmar University was a private four-year liberal arts college located in Le Mars, Iowa. Founded in 1887 as the Northwestern Normal School and Business College, it underwent several name changes and affiliations throughout its century-long history, most notably as Westmar College and later Teikyo Westmar University. It was primarily affiliated with church organizations, including the United Evangelical Church and the United Methodist Church, before entering a period of financial instability.

In the 1990s, the institution attempted to secure its future through a partnership with Japan's Teikyo University, but the merger ultimately failed to resolve the school's mounting debts and accreditation challenges. Following a brief period under private ownership and a final attempt by the city of Le Mars to sustain its operations, Westmar University officially closed its doors on November 21, 1997. Today, the brand remains a part of Iowa's educational history, remembered mainly through its alumni and the physical campus which was repurposed by the local community.