Grambling State University

What Grambling State University does

Grambling State University is a public historically Black college and university (HBCU) located in Grambling, Louisiana, founded in 1901 and operating as a member of the University of Louisiana System. The institution enrolls approximately 5,010 students drawn from 41 states and 31 countries, and delivers more than 43 undergraduate and graduate programs across four academic colleges (Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, and Professional Studies) plus the E.L. Cole Honors College. It functions as a comprehensive residential campus providing degree instruction, NCAA Division I athletics, residential housing and dining, counseling and health services, and a range of student-life programming.

The university operates a conventional higher education technology stack: Ellucian Banner (student information system with BannerWeb self-service), Instructure Canvas (learning management system), SolarWinds Service Desk (IT support ticketing), Microsoft Office 365 with Teams, EduRoam WiFi, Nelnet tuition payment plans, and Transact Campus powering the Tiger1 Card platform. The Tiger1 Card integrates student ID, residential meal plans (Silver/Gold tiers plus commuter block plans ranging $96-$600 per semester), and the G-Flex stored value account; supporting services include the Foster Johnson Health Center (with telemedicine), the renovated Student Counseling and Wellness Center, mandatory student health insurance, Tiger Post mailroom, and Barnes & Noble/Sodexo-operated bookstore and dining. Adjacent brand properties include the World Famed Tiger Marching Band, KGRM-FM radio, The Gramblinite student newspaper, The Television Center, and the Eddie G. Robinson Museum.

Grambling State is governed by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors and is funded through a combination of state appropriations, tuition and fees, federal grants, and private donations; commercial revenue is not publicly disclosed. Under President Dr. Martin Lemelle Jr. (appointed April 2024), the institution has pursued private-sector financial strategies, federal grant capture for capital projects, and academic differentiators including the only Cloud Computing degree in Louisiana and the Call Me MiSTER teacher-pipeline program. Recent strategic positioning includes participation in the MLB HBCU Swingman Classic, an HBCU Classic at Allegiant Stadium, and active alignment with the US Department of Education's proposed framework for higher education mergers and acquisitions.

Name

Grambling State University

Legal name

Grambling State University

Website

https://gram.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Grambling State University is a public HBCU in Louisiana enrolling approximately 5,010 students from 41 states and 31 countries, delivering 43+ degree programs across four colleges and funded by state appropriations, tuition, and federal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public HBCUs (State-Supported) (EDAHAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Graduate & Professional-Program HBCUs (e.g., law/education/business) (EDAHAMAK)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Student housing services
• Campus dining services

Headquarters

HQ city

Grambling

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, fees, and related educational charges. Includes in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
2. Meal Plans: Residential and commuter meal plan programs including Silver Plan ($2,207), Gold Plan ($2,210), Summer Meal Plan ($599), and various commuter block plans ranging from $96-$600 per semester
3. Tiger1 Card Services: Replacement ID cards at $25 each, G-Flex stored value accounts for campus purchases, and related card services
4. Student Health Insurance: Mandatory student health insurance plans - accident-only for domestic students, sickness and accident for international students, billed through student accounts
5. Campus Housing: Revenue from on-campus residential living including room and board charges, managed through student accounts

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Grambling State University is a public historically Black university providing accredited undergraduate and graduate degree programs across four colleges (Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Professional Studies), campus-based student services (housing, dining, health, counseling, financial aid), and the Tiger1 Card as the unified student identity, meal plan, and stored value account system. As part of the University of Louisiana System, it serves about 5,010 students from 41 states and 31 countries with 43+ academic programs.

Product overview

Grambling State University operates as a higher education institution with a portfolio of interconnected student-facing services centered around the Tiger1 Card platform. The core Tiger1 Card functions as the unified student identity and access system, integrating meal plans (Tiger Bucks), the G-Flex stored value account for on and off-campus purchases, and building access. Supporting services include the Foster Johnson Health Center with telemedicine capabilities, the Student Counseling and Wellness Center, mandatory student health insurance plans, Tiger Post mailroom services, comprehensive financial aid processing through Banner, and IT help desk support via SolarWinds Service Desk. The university uses Canvas LMS for academic delivery, Banner for student information management, and Microsoft Office 365 with Teams for productivity and collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• World Famed Tiger Marching Band: The nationally recognized marching band of Grambling State University known for performances at major events including NFL games, college football events, and the 2026 HBCU Classic.
• Moorehead College of Business & Entrepreneurship
• E.L. Cole Honors College

Products and services

• Tiger1 Card The official Grambling State University student identification card functioning as campus ID, meal plan carrier, stored value account (G-Flex), and access card for various campus services and events. Replacement cards cost $25; initial issuance is free to students, faculty, and staff.
• Meal Plans Dining meal plans loaded onto the Tiger1 Card for residential and commuter students. Includes the Silver Plan (15 meals/week, $200 Tiger Bucks, $2,207/semester), Gold Plan (19 meals/week, $150 Tiger Bucks, $2,210/semester), Summer Meal Plan ($599/six-week session), and commuter block plans ranging from 10 to 100 meals per semester ($96-$600). Operated by Sodexo at McCall Dining Hall.
• G-Flex Stored Value Account A stored value account linked to the Tiger1 Card allowing students to deposit discretionary funds for purchases on-campus and at participating off-campus merchants, including books, supplies, snacks, and dining. Operated via Transact Campus Cash system.
• Undergraduate Degree Programs Accredited four-year bachelor's degree programs across four colleges: College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, and College of Professional Studies, plus the E.L. Cole Honors College. Includes unique programs such as the only Cloud Computing degree in Louisiana and the Cybersecurity program.
• Graduate Degree Programs Master's, doctoral, and professional degree programs offered through graduate admissions, including access to specialized programs such as Cybersecurity and Cloud Computing. Applications are submitted through a separate graduate application portal.
• On-Campus Housing On-campus residential living accommodations for enrolled students, with room and board charges managed through the Office of Student Accounts.
• Foster Johnson Health Center Services Ambulatory medical facility providing basic health care services including immediate care, medical advice, health counseling, assessment, treatment, referrals, wellness education, and telemedicine for the student body. Staffed by nurse practitioners.
• Student Counseling and Wellness Center Services Mental health and counseling services for students, including telehealth capabilities, renovated in 2025 with federal grant funding combined with Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds.
• Student Health Insurance Plan Mandatory student health insurance providing accident-only coverage for domestic students and accident and sickness coverage for international students, billed through Student Accounts each semester.
• Tiger Post (Mailroom) Services Campus postal and print services providing mail and package processing, student mailboxes, and print services via partner vendor. Mail is received from USPS, FedEx, and UPS carriers.
• Financial Aid Services Comprehensive financial aid services including Federal Pell Grants, Federal Work-Study, Stafford Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, institutional scholarships, and state aid programs (GO Grant, TOPS), processed through the Banner student information system.
• GSU IT Help Desk Centralized technical support via SolarWinds Service Desk providing work order submission, tracking, and resolution for students and employees, with online portal access at helpdesk.gram.edu.
• NCAA Division I Athletic Programs NCAA Division I athletic programs under the Tigers brand, with athletic events serving as both competitive programming for enrolled students and a recruiting platform. Notable for producing MLB HBCU Swingman Classic selections.

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Major League Baseball (MLB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026MLB organizes the HBCU Swingman Classic during All-Star Weekend, selecting 50 players from 19 historically Black colleges and universities. Grambling State's Chris Marcellus and Cameron Hill were named to the National League roster for the 2026 event at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
• Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association (LVNBA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 October 2025LVNBA partnered with Christian Bishop to sponsor 20 students from the Black Student Union in Henderson, Nevada to attend the HBCU Classic at Allegiant Stadium, featuring a football game between Grambling State University and Jackson State University. The partnership aims to promote college readiness and cultural exposure for underrepresented youth in Southern Nevada.
• Christian BishopminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 October 2025Christian Bishop collaborated with LVNBA to sponsor students to attend the HBCU Classic, supporting underrepresented youth exposure to HBCU culture and college opportunities.
• Allegiant StadiumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 October 2025Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas hosts the annual HBCU Classic football game featuring Grambling State vs. Jackson State, providing venue for HBCU exposure and recruitment events.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Xavier University of Louisiana: New Orleans-based HBCU and peer institution in Louisiana, with a strong STEM and pre-med focus. Comparable in regional market overlap and in serving similar student demographics.

Broad incumbents

• North Carolina A&T State University: Largest public HBCU in the U.S. with strong STEM programs (including cybersecurity and cloud-adjacent fields). Comparable in mission but at substantially greater scale and research output than GSU.
• Florida A&M University: Larger public HBCU with broader research footprint and more extensive graduate programs. Comparable in mission but operates at significantly greater scale and brand reach than GSU.
• Howard University: Preeminent private HBCU with extensive graduate and professional programs. Comparable in mission and cultural positioning but operates with significantly larger resources and national brand reach.

Direct peers

• Hampton University: Private HBCU with comparable enrollment scale and broad academic portfolio. Similar in mission emphasis and in producing graduates in high-demand fields.
• Prairie View A&M University: Texas-based public HBCU and SWAC peer of similar size and program mix. Comparable in governance structure (Texas A&M System) and in serving a similar demographic and mission profile.
• Jackson State University: Public HBCU in Mississippi and frequent athletic rival (HBCU Classic matchup at Allegiant Stadium). Closely comparable in scale, governance, and student demographic profile.
• Tuskegee University: Private nonprofit HBCU with comparable size and a strong STEM and engineering tradition. Comparable in mission emphasis on producing Black professionals and serving underrepresented students.
• Southern University and A&M College: Louisiana's other public HBCU, governed separately but operating in the same state. Directly competes for Louisiana-resident students, state appropriations, and HBCU brand affinity, making it GSU's closest comparable institution.
• Alcorn State University: Mississippi public HBCU of similar enrollment scale and land-grant character, competing for the same SWAC athletic footprint and overlapping regional student pools.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/grambling1901
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GramblingStateUniv
• Facebookfacebook.com/274246056007
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grambling-state-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/GramblingStateUniv

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Grambling State University