Suffolk University
Suffolk University is a private, nonprofit higher education institution founded in 1906 in downtown Boston, operating three academic units (Arts & Sciences, Sawyer Business School, Law School) and a Madrid campus. It serves undergraduate, graduate, law, international, and military-affiliated students across 70+ undergraduate and 50+ graduate programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1906
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Suffolk University does
Suffolk University is a private, nonprofit higher education institution founded in 1906 and headquartered in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It operates three core academic units — the College of Arts & Sciences, the Sawyer Business School, and Suffolk University Law School — together with an international campus in Madrid, Spain that has operated since 1995. The university offers more than 70 undergraduate and 50+ graduate programs across business, law, sciences, humanities, and professional fields, plus a JD and advanced law programs; the law school is one of only 14 nationally with five programs ranked by U.S. News & World Report. Student-to-faculty ratio is 13:1 with an average class size of 22, and 95% of freshmen receive financial aid, suggesting a tuition-dependent model with significant institutional aid discounting.
The business model is a tuition-and-fees-driven nonprofit structure. Primary revenue is recurring tuition across undergraduate, graduate, and law programs (90-120 credits depending on program), supplemented by summer housing and conference services revenue from conference event rentals and summer internship housing. Go-to-market is sales-led through traditional admissions channels: digital presence, campus visits, recruitment events, and educational fairs targeting prospective undergraduate, graduate, law, international, and military-affiliated students. Distribution relies on direct admissions through the Apply to Suffolk portal and dedicated law and graduate admissions pipelines, with international recruitment across 144+ countries supported by the Madrid campus. The alumni network of 80,000+ across 144 countries (as of 2019) functions as a downstream career-services and fundraising channel rather than a direct revenue stream. Underlying technology is commodity academic and enterprise software — Canvas LMS for coursework, Workday for HR/finance, Handshake for employer recruiting, Google Analytics and Remarketing for marketing — with no proprietary platform or AI capability disclosed.
Recent strategic posture centers on academic product innovation (a 2024 Massachusetts-approved 3-year applied bachelor's pilot and a new Cybersecurity BS), mission-aligned endowment policy (divesting from fossil fuels, opioids, for-profit prisons, predatory lending, and tobacco), and ecosystem partnerships (the 2026 Boston Creator Accelerator with MIT and Harvard Business School). Marisa Kelly has served as the 11th president since 2018, focusing on academic reputation, fundraising, and enrollment management.
Suffolk University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Suffolk University
- Legal name
- Suffolk University
- Website
- https://suffolk.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1906
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Suffolk University is a private, nonprofit higher education institution founded in 1906 in downtown Boston, operating three academic units (Arts & Sciences, Sawyer Business School, Law School) and a Madrid campus. It serves undergraduate, graduate, law, international, and military-affiliated students across 70+ undergraduate and 50+ graduate programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Suffolk University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Law & Legal Studies Research Universities (EDAHABAF), Social Sciences & Public Policy Research Universities (EDAHABAD)
Keywords
Where Suffolk University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Suffolk University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from undergraduate, graduate, and law school tuition and associated fees from degree programs ranging from 90-120 credits depending on program type.
- Summer Housing and Conference Services: Revenue from summer internship housing for college students, conference event housing, and meeting space rentals for external organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Accelerated 3-Year Applied Bachelor's Degree |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Suffolk University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Suffolk University is a private, non-profit higher education institution offering undergraduate, graduate, and law degree programs. It operates through three academic units — the College of Arts & Sciences, the Sawyer Business School, and Suffolk University Law School — delivering 70+ undergraduate and 50+ graduate programs spanning business, arts, sciences, humanities, law, and professional studies. The university also maintains an international campus in Madrid, Spain.
Product overview
Suffolk University is a private higher education institution offering undergraduate, graduate, and law degree programs. The university operates through three academic units: the College of Arts & Sciences, the Sawyer Business School, and Suffolk University Law School. Programs span more than 60 areas of study including business, law, sciences, humanities, and professional studies. The institution also maintains an international campus in Madrid, Spain.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sawyer Business School: Business school within Suffolk University offering undergraduate and graduate business programs including MBA
- College of Arts & Sciences
- Suffolk University Law School
- Rams
Products and services
- College of Arts & Sciences Academic unit of Suffolk University offering undergraduate and graduate programs across humanities, sciences, and social sciences, serving students pursuing liberal arts and sciences degrees.
- Sawyer Business School Business school of Suffolk University offering undergraduate and graduate business programs including MBA, Finance, Marketing, Management, Supply Chain Management, and related disciplines, serving students pursuing business degrees.
- Suffolk University Law School Law school offering the Juris Doctor (JD) and advanced law degrees with five programs ranked in U.S. News & World Report, one of only 14 U.S. law schools with that distinction; serves students pursuing legal careers.
- Suffolk University Madrid Campus International campus located in Madrid, Spain, offering educational programs including an MBA program and providing students with a complementary cross-cultural educational experience to the Boston campus.
- Undergraduate Programs 70+ undergraduate degree programs across business, arts, sciences, humanities, and professional fields, available through traditional 4-year and accelerated 3-year applied bachelor's formats (90-96 credits).
- Graduate Programs 50+ graduate programs including MBA, specialized master's degrees, and continuing education offerings for working professionals and recent undergraduates.
- Law Programs (JD and Advanced Law Degrees) Juris Doctor (JD) and advanced law degree programs, including legal clinics and bar exam preparation, delivered through Suffolk University Law School.
- Summer Housing and Conference Services Rental of housing to college students during summer internships and conference/event housing and meeting space rentals for external organizations, leveraging the university's downtown Boston location and residence halls.
- Veterans Upward Bound Program Support program for veterans and military students providing college preparation, academic support, and pathways to higher education enrollment.
Quantifiable outcome
- 94% of graduates working or continuing education
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Suffolk University
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Suffolk University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Suffolk University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Boston Creator AcceleratorminorSuffolk University provides mentorship access to Greater Boston entrepreneurs in the Boston Creator Accelerator program co-founded by Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Lauren Holiday. The accelerator offers up to $100,000 in unrestricted funding and up to $150,000 in wraparound business services to community-driven entrepreneurs.
- MITminorMIT provides mentorship access as part of the Boston Creator Accelerator ecosystem, complementing Suffolk University's contribution of mentorship and business development resources.
- Harvard Business SchoolminorHarvard Business School provides mentorship access as part of the Boston Creator Accelerator ecosystem, supporting Greater Boston entrepreneurs alongside Suffolk University.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Suffolk University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Emerson College: Private college located in downtown Boston/Back Bay with comparable size and a professional-school focus (communications, performing arts, business). Directly comparable urban Boston private institution with similar undergraduate enrollment profile.
- Simmons University: Private Boston university with similar enrollment scale and a portfolio of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. Comparable mission-driven, urban private peer with overlapping student demographics.
- Bentley University: Private Boston-area university (Waltham) with a business-school-anchored portfolio and comparable undergraduate/graduate scale. Most directly comparable peer to Suffolk's Sawyer Business School.
- Babson College: Private Boston-area business-focused college with similar size and strong graduate outcomes narrative. Comparable to Suffolk's professional/business school positioning.
- Curry College: Small private Massachusetts college with similar enrollment scale and a focus on undergraduate professional preparation. Comparable on size, geography, and tuition-driven private model.
- Lasell University: Small private Boston-area university with comparable enrollment and undergraduate-focused professional programs. Similar in scale, mission, and competitive positioning to Suffolk.
Broad incumbents
- Northeastern University: Large urban Boston private research university with comparable experiential-learning/co-op narrative. Much larger and broader portfolio than Suffolk, but directly competes for the same urban Boston student.
- Boston University: Large private Boston research university with comprehensive undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools. Comparable to Suffolk at the program-category level though significantly larger and more research-intensive.
- Brandeis University: Mid-size private research university in the Boston suburbs (Waltham) with a liberal arts and sciences core and graduate professional programs. Comparable private research peer in the same metro.
- Tufts University: Private research university in Medford/Somerville with undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools including a law school. Comparable comprehensive private peer operating in the Greater Boston market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Suffolk University social profiles
Digital presenceSuffolk University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Suffolk University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Suffolk University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Suffolk University subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Suffolk University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Suffolk University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Suffolk University
What does Suffolk University do?
Suffolk University is a private, non-profit higher education institution offering undergraduate, graduate, and law degree programs. It operates through three academic units — the College of Arts & Sciences, the Sawyer Business School, and Suffolk University Law School — delivering 70+ undergraduate and 50+ graduate programs spanning business, arts, sciences, humanities, law, and professional studies. The university also maintains an international campus in Madrid, Spain.
Is Suffolk University a public or private company?
Suffolk University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Suffolk University founded?
Suffolk University was founded in 1906. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Suffolk University based?
Suffolk University is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Suffolk University make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are summer Housing and Conference Services.
Who are Suffolk University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Emerson College, Simmons University, Bentley University, Babson College, Curry College and Lasell University. Broad incumbents are Northeastern University, Boston University, Brandeis University and Tufts University.
Does Suffolk University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Suffolk University.
What industry is Suffolk University in?
Suffolk University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHABAA, Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary), with a secondary code of EDAHABAF, Law & Legal Studies Research Universities. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.