Epworth closed in 1911 after the school ran into financial difficulties.[1] At the same time the church formed Methodist University of Oklahoma in Guthrie, Oklahoma, which also absorbed a Methodist college in Texas, Fort Worth University.[8] After a few years the school's trustees developed a plan to close the school in Guthrie and relocate to Oklahoma City.[7] The school opened in Oklahoma City as Oklahoma City College in 1919 from funding from the Methodist congregations.[7] After the college opened it experienced rapid growth and changed its name to Oklahoma City University in 1924.[7] Despite the success and growth of the university in the 1920s, OCU again fell on hard times during the Great Depression.[7]