DeVry University plans to close its campus in Federal Way by the end of the year.

University officials announced Thursday their strategy to transition to an online-only model of education in the Seattle market. The transition means the university will close their campuses in both Federal Way and Lynwood, affecting a combined 528 students who attend the campuses.

Approximately 50 percent of students at both locations currently take classes exclusively online, said Susie White, senior account supervisor for the MSLGroup public relations firm.

Mayor Jim Ferrell said DeVry’s enrollment and footprint has “reduced considerably” since the campus opened here in 2001 at 3600 S. 344th Way.

“We’re sorry to see their physical presence go,” Ferrell said, adding, “There’s a great degree of competition. You’ve got Highline College, the University of Washington, Tacoma … It’s a highly competitive market. I think it’s expected these transitions will occur over time and are market-driven.”

White said the campus closures later this year are pending approval from the Washington Student Achievement Council and the Higher Learning Commission. She said university officials will submit their plans to the council in the coming weeks and “we cannot speak to how quickly they will review [them].”

DeVry will be reaching out to students to schedule individual planning meetings to discuss the options available to them during the transition.

One of these options is taking their remaining courses online. These students will be eligible for a 20 percent tuitions savings for the remainder of their degree program.