The Lincoln College of Technology in Franklin, told its students on Monday that it would be closing its doors.

In a letter sent to staff members, Chief Operating Officer Scott Shaw said several factors led the West Orange, New Jersey-based Lincoln Educational Services company to close operations in Columbus, its Vine Street campus in Cincinnati, Franklin, campuses in Connecticut and Florida.

“We ended up with some schools not being able to attract or serve enough students to justify keeping the schools open,” Shaw said.

The staff letter cited “the impact of having fewer Ability to Benefit students, limits on financial aid availability, market saturation and a prolonged economic downturn” as the reason for the closings. Ability to Benefit students are those without a high school degree who can pass a test to enable them to take college-level courses. But rules changes no longer enable potential students without a high school diploma to take college courses.

The Lincoln Educational Services Corporation showed a revenue decrease of 21.7 percent for the quarter which ended June 30. That’s a drop from $128.2 million in 2011 to $100.4 million this year. At the request of the home office, Franklin branch executive director Kevin Keehan was asked not to disclose any information regarding the school.

Michelle Music of West Carrollton said she is a few months from earning her Associate’s Degree as a medical assistant.

“I’m due to graduate in June of next year, so it’s kind of a difficult transition for me, because I’m going to have to decide which campus to go to,” Music said. “For me, it’s going to be a difficult decision to make. We have about four weeks to decide.”

Shaw said students will be able to take classes on the Franklin campus at 201 E. Second St. until Sept. 21. The students have until Sept. 14 to decide whether to attend the Lincoln College branch in Dayton or the Tri-County branch inear Cincinnati. Those students who decide not to attend either Lincoln campus will be reimbursed, but they have to stay in school up to the same Sept. 21 date.

The staff was told of the closing on Thursday, Aug. 2. Shaw said a total of 140 students were at the school on Monday.

“Our interest today is making sure the students are taken care of,” Shaw said. “And we are working to ensure that they are able to complete their education wherever possible.”

Lincoln Educational Services was formed in 1946. It has 48 campuses in 17 states.