Carleton University

What Carleton University does

Carleton University is a comprehensive public research university located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, founded in 1942 and incorporated under the Carleton University Act. It serves more than 30,600 students across over 200 undergraduate programs in 26 degree frameworks and more than 100 graduate programs, supported by roughly 1,001-5,000 employees including 200+ full-time faculty. The institution delivers teaching and research across engineering, science, business, arts, public policy, and journalism, with distinctive capabilities in space robotics (ASRoM Lab supporting NASA's Artemis lunar rover and ESA's e.Deorbit program), non-terrestrial networks (NTN-CAN, $13.5M CFI-funded), quantum science (100+ researchers across 32 labs), carbon capture and storage leak detection, and homomorphic encryption-based privacy systems. Revenue is generated from tuition and academic programs, government and industry research grants (approximately $155.4M annually), provincial operating funding, philanthropic donations, athletics and recreation services, and campus dining operations. Distribution is primarily through direct admissions channels, the institutional website (carleton.ca), and the Carleton Athletics/Fusion member portal, with marketing concentrated on digital channels and campus events targeting prospective students, community members, and industry partners.

Name

Carleton University

Legal name

Carleton University

Website

https://carleton.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1942

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Carleton University is a public research university in Ottawa, Canada, serving 30,600+ students across 200+ undergraduate and 100+ graduate programs, with notable research strengths in space robotics, quantum science, and non-terrestrial networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate research
• Professional development
• Recreation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Programs: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition fees, continuing studies programs, and professional development offerings including executive education and online courses.
2. Research Funding: Government and private sector research grants and contracts, including Canada Foundation for Innovation funding, government ministry grants, and industry partnerships.
3. Athletics and Recreation Services: Revenue from fitness memberships, aquatics programs, camps, sports leagues, and facility rentals including the High Performance Centre.
4. Dining Services: Food service operations including dining halls, food courts, cafes, and catering services across campus.
5. Donations and Alumni Giving: Philanthropic contributions from alumni, corporations, and foundations supporting scholarships, research, and campus development.
6. Government Funding: Provincial government funding through programs like the Training Equipment and Renewal Fund (TERF) for classroom modernization and technology upgrades.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Carleton University is a comprehensive public university offering over 200 undergraduate programs, 100+ graduate programs, continuing studies, and professional development (Future EDge). It delivers credit-bearing academic instruction, conducts funded research, operates athletics/recreation facilities, campus dining, library services, and serves over 30,600 students on its Ottawa campus.

Product overview

Carleton University operates primarily as an educational institution rather than a technology product company. Its digital offerings consist of the main institutional website (carleton.ca), Carleton Athletics recreational services, and supporting administrative platforms. Carleton Athletics, the university's recreation and athletics department, encompasses multiple service lines including the High Performance Centre for elite athlete training, CUfit fitness membership program, aquatics programming, youth camps and children's programs, and intramural/adult recreational leagues. The university also operates Carleton Dining Services managing campus food operations and Learning and Professional Development services for staff development. These are institutional services rather than software products with typical product integrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs
• Graduate Degree Programs
• Continuing Studies and Professional Development (Future EDge)
• Carleton Athletics and Recreation
• High Performance Centre Memberships
• Carleton Aquatics
• Carleton Camps and Children's Programs
• Intramurals and Adult Leagues
• Carleton Dining Services
• MacOdrum Library Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $155 million in research funding annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Polytechnique MontréalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026Co-lead partner in the $13.5 million NTN-CAN project developing non-terrestrial network technologies. The project aims to integrate satellites, drones, and high-altitude aircraft with terrestrial networks to close Canada's digital divide.
• University of OttawacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026Collaborating partner in the NTN-CAN project bringing together multiple Canadian research institutions to advance next-generation connectivity research.
• National Research Council CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026Government research partner in the NTN-CAN project contributing to Canada's innovation in non-terrestrial network technologies.
• Communications Research Centre CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026Government communications research partner in the NTN-CAN project developing protocols for extending mobile coverage across Canada.
• National Capital CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 December 2025Partnership to collect data and develop strategies for adapting Rideau Canal Skateway operations to climate change impacts.
• Spero AnalyticsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2025Partnership on methane emissions reduction technology projects as part of Canadian government initiative to develop new technologies and standard practices for reducing methane from oil and gas sector.
• NXTSENS MicrosystemsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2025Partner in methane measurement, reporting, and mitigation technology development as part of government-funded initiative advancing climate targets.
• Government of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2025Launched the Northern Entanglement strategic quantum partnership with Finland at Carleton University, bringing together researchers and government ministers to foster cooperation in quantum science and technology.
• Government of FinlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2025International partnership to develop quantum capabilities to counter emerging cybersecurity threats, with Carleton hosting over 100 quantum researchers across 32 labs.
• EnviroCentreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2025Collaboration on energy efficiency retrofits in social housing at Carver Place in Ottawa, including installation of heat pumps and new insulation to reduce carbon emissions.
• Multifaith Housing InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2025Partnership on social housing retrofits at Carver Place, implementing energy efficiency improvements with Carleton's research lab support.
• McGill UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 August 2025Collaborating on structural engineering solutions for climate-resilient cities, developing retrofitting solutions for aging masonry buildings using low-cost timber panels.
• University of WaterloominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 August 2025Research partner in McGill-led project developing retrofitting solutions for aging masonry buildings in Montreal and Ottawa-Gatineau.
• École de technologie supérieure (ETS)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 August 2025Partner in structural engineering research collaboration to improve earthquake resistance, thermal performance, and indoor health conditions in buildings.
• York UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 August 2025Research collaboration on retrofitting solutions for climate-resilient, sustainable cities with focus on building code updates and training programs.
• MDA SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 July 2025Strategic collaboration on Canada's lunar rover program for NASA's Artemis mission. The ASRoM Lab is developing intelligent robotic systems for lunar exploration and orbital applications.
• NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 July 2025Partner in lunar exploration through Canada's contribution to NASA's Artemis mission, with Carleton's ASRoM Lab developing robotic systems for the lunar rover program.
• European Space AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 July 2025Supporting the European Space Agency's e.Deorbit initiative to address orbital debris, which is projected to double in 50 years, through robotics research.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• McMaster University: Hamilton-based public research university with similar research output scale and comprehensive program portfolio. Comparable STEM and applied research focus and Ontario funding model.
• University of Ottawa: Geographically adjacent bilingual comprehensive research university in Ottawa. Directly comparable in size, mission, and co-op orientation, and a formal research partner of Carleton on the NTN-CAN project.
• University of Waterloo: Mid-sized Canadian comprehensive research university renowned for co-op programs and STEM research. Comparable program mix, applied research orientation, and Ontario public-university funding model.
• Queen's University: Ontario comprehensive research university with similar undergraduate-focused structure, strong research output, and tuition/government revenue mix. Comparable scale and program breadth.
• Western University: Ontario-based comprehensive research university with similar student population (~30,000+), research intensity, and co-op/experiential learning offerings. Closely comparable in size and mission.
• Polytechnique Montréal: Montreal-based research-intensive engineering university and formal co-lead partner with Carleton on the NTN-CAN project. Comparable in research scale, public funding model, and engineering focus.
• Concordia University: Montreal-based comprehensive public university with comparable enrollment scale, applied research emphasis, and four-year undergraduate focus. Similar tuition/government revenue mix and urban research university positioning.

Broad incumbents

• University of Toronto: Canada's largest research university and the dominant incumbent for federal research funding, talent, and international students. Overlaps with Carleton's research mission but at materially larger scale.
• McGill University: Montreal-based internationally prominent research university. Collaborates with Carleton on the structural engineering retrofit research program and competes for federal research dollars in the same fields.
• University of British Columbia: Large Canadian research university with broad STEM and applied research portfolio. Competes with Carleton for CFI, Tri-Council, and international research funding at a national level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Carleton_U
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/carletonuvideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/carletonuniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/school
• Instagraminstagram.com/carleton_u

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carleton University