What Butler University does

Butler University is a private, independent higher education institution founded in 1855 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The university serves a multi-segment student population including first-year undergraduate residential students, graduate and professional students, transfer and adult learners, and NCAA Division I student athletes competing in the Big East Conference. Academically, Butler offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across multiple colleges, with particular depth in education, counseling, health professions, and the liberal arts; differentiated offerings include CACREP-accredited School and Mental Health Counseling programs, a CAEP-accredited College of Education with 100% EPP placement rates, and accessible programs such as Founder's College (two-year associate degrees for Central Indiana students with financial need) and Butler Overseas (study abroad).

The institution's technology and delivery infrastructure centers on Canvas LMS for course delivery, augmented by an online graduate program platform operated in partnership with Risepoint, which handles marketing and enrollment operations while Butler retains academic and accreditation control. Online graduate programs in School Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, and Education are priced at $700 per credit hour, with a new online Master of Science in Deaf Education launching in Fall 2026 funded by a $1.25M U.S. Department of Education grant. Marketing is conducted through a multi-channel approach spanning digital content (stories.butler.edu), broad social media presence, search and paid digital advertising for online programs, campus visit events, and athletics events at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Butler's business model is built on tuition and fees (primary), supplemented by grants and donations (notably a $22.5M grant from Lilly Endowment in 2024 as part of a $300M+ pool to 13 Indiana institutions), and auxiliary revenue from housing, dining, and athletics. The institution is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1915, holds CAEP and CACREP program-level accreditations, and operates through affiliated nonprofit entities including the Butler University Alumni Association and Butler University Foundation. Governance rests with a Board of Trustees, with no parent company or external controlling owner.

Name

Butler University

Legal name

Butler University

Website

https://butler.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1855

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Butler University is a private nonprofit institution founded in 1855 in Indianapolis, Indiana, offering undergraduate and graduate programs in liberal arts, education, and counseling, plus NCAA Division I athletics, with growing online graduate delivery through a Risepoint partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Private/Independent Community & Junior Colleges (EDAHADAB)

Keywords

• Private higher education
• Liberal arts university
• Graduate counseling programs
• Online master's degrees
• NCAA Division I athletics

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from undergraduate and graduate tuition, including online program tuition ($700 per credit). Revenue varies by program and student type.
2. Grants and Donations: Federal grants (Department of Education), state grants, private foundation grants (Lilly Endowment $300M+ to Indiana colleges), and alumni donations support university operations and programs.
3. Auxiliary Services: Housing, dining services, athletics events, campus facilities, and other student services generate additional revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Butler University is a private nonprofit higher education institution that delivers undergraduate liberal arts and pre-professional degree programs alongside graduate degree programs, including CACREP-accredited online master's programs in School Counseling and Mental Health Counseling and CAEP-accredited teacher preparation programs. It complements academics with NCAA Division I Big East athletics, study abroad through Butler Overseas, affordable associate degree pathways via Founder's College, and a new online Deaf Education master's program launching Fall 2026.

Product overview

Butler University is a higher education institution offering a diverse portfolio of academic programs and student services. The university's product offerings include undergraduate and graduate degree programs (notably CACREP-accredited counseling programs offered online), experiential learning initiatives like Founder's College and Butler Overseas study abroad, and co-curricular programs including esports and athletics. The institution's online education division, in partnership with Risepoint, delivers graduate programs including the MS in School Counseling and MS in Mental Health Counseling, with a new Deaf Education program launching in Fall 2026. The university also operates Hinkle Fieldhouse as a venue for intercollegiate athletics and hosts the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament. Canvas serves as the primary learning management system across all programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• College of Education and Human Development: College offering graduate and undergraduate education programs including counseling, teacher preparation, and educational leadership
• Founder's College
• Butler Overseas
• Butler Blue IV

Products and services

• MS in School Counseling (Online, CACREP-Accredited) CACREP-accredited online Master of Science program preparing students for K-12 school counselor licensure in Indiana; 60 credits over 2.5–3 years with 700 hours of hands-on experience, priced at $700 per credit hour.
• MS in Mental Health Counseling (Online) Online Master of Science program preparing students for mental health counseling licensure with dual-licensure preparation including clinical addictions counseling; 60 credits (66 credits with dual-licensure option) over 2.5–3 years, priced at $700 per credit hour, designed to meet CACREP standards.
• Online MS in Deaf Education New online Master of Science program in Deaf education launching Fall 2026, funded by a $1.25 million U.S. Department of Education grant, training teachers in spoken language and listening skills for deaf children, including those with cochlear implants.
• Founder's College Affordable, career-focused two-year associate degree programs designed for Central Indiana students with financial need, providing a low-cost on-ramp into Butler University and degree completion pathways.
• Butler Overseas (Study Abroad) Global study abroad program offering Butler undergraduates international academic experiences that combine rigorous academics with cultural immersion across multiple countries.
• Butler Esports Competitive collegiate esports program offered by Butler University enabling student participation in organized gaming competitions.
• Adult Degree Completion Programs Flexible degree completion pathways for adult learners and transfer students seeking to finish or transfer credits toward a Butler degree through online and hybrid formats.
• College of Education and Human Development Initial Licensure Programs (CAEP-Accredited) CAEP-accredited teacher preparation programs covering initial licensure areas including Elementary Education (K-6), English Education (5-12), Foreign Language Education, Health Education (P-12), Mathematics Education (5-12), Physical Education (P-12), Social Studies Education (5-12), Science Education, and Special Education, plus advanced licensure in Educational Administration (Building Level Administrator P-12).

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 100% job placement rate for College of Education graduates
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Consortium for Urban Education (CUE)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorButler is a member of the Consortium for Urban Education in the Indianapolis area, enabling students to cross-register for courses at other CUE institutions that are not available at their home institution. This enhances degree programs by providing access to courses across member schools.
• Indiana Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerButler's College of Education works with IDOE for teacher preparation program reporting, principal surveys, and licensure. The annual EPP placement rate reporting and employer satisfaction surveys are conducted in partnership with IDOE.
• RisepointcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Risepoint to deliver online graduate programs. Risepoint maintains the website on behalf of Butler University while Butler maintains responsibility for curriculum, teaching, admissions, tuition, financial aid, accreditation, and all academic-related functions.
• Large Mental Health Agencies (Local Partnerships)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental Health Counseling program features partnerships with large mental health agencies locally for practicum and internship experiences, providing students with hands-on training opportunities.
• NCAAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerButler's athletics programs participate in NCAA Division I, particularly Big East conference. Hinkle Fieldhouse hosts NCAA Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) semifinals and finals.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/butleru
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/butleruniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/246520644411
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/butler-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/butleru/?hl=en
• TikToktiktok.com/@butleru

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A

Investments3 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Butler University