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Webster University is being sued for allegedly failing to pay rent on its downtown St. Louis campus, St. Louis Today reported.
The ownership group of the 54,000-square-foot building alleged that Webster hasn’t paid full rent since January and owes “well in excess of $75,000,” according to the lawsuit filed in federal court. Plaintiffs have asked the court to determine the appropriate amount of damages.
Webster’s main campus is in St. Louis County, but the university signed a 20-year lease in downtown St. Louis in 2016 to serve primarily as a hub for cybersecurity and degree=completion programs. Webster previously leased a smaller space downtown.
Webster officials declined to comment on the litigation.
The lawsuit compounds financial woes for Webster, which has seen enrollment decline in recent years. In fall 2021, the university enrolled 6,779 total students, according to the Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Going back to fall 2019, Webster reported enrollment of 9,860 students.
However, Webster appears to be experiencing an enrollment boom, with an announcement on its website projecting an overall enrollment of more than 12,600 students for this academic year.
