What Coppin State University does

Coppin State University is a public historically Black university (HBCU) in Baltimore, Maryland, founded in 1900 and operating as a constituent institution of the University System of Maryland under the Maryland Higher Education Commission. The institution enrolls approximately 2,790 students (Fall 2025) across 63 academic programs — 31 baccalaureate, 13 master's, 18 certificates, and 1 doctoral — spanning Computer Science, Cybersecurity Engineering, Mathematics, Management, Marketing, Sport Management, Entertainment Management, Nursing, and Liberal Arts. Core academic technology includes Blackboard Learn Ultra as the LMS, Microsoft 365 for productivity, EagleLINKS as the student portal, and an integrated ecosystem of Panopto, TurnItIn, Blackboard Ally, PlayPosit, and Qwickly. The university also offers 100% online programs in Management and Marketing and runs dedicated admissions pathways for undergraduate, graduate, transfer, international, adult learner, and military/veteran students.

The university's revenue model is structurally that of a public HBCU: primary recurring tuition and fees supplemented by state appropriations through USM, auxiliary services (housing, dining, bookstore), federal/state grants (including a $3.9M broadband expansion grant and $4.1M from the U.S. Department of Education), and philanthropy via the CSU Development Foundation. The BE MORE Capital Campaign exceeded its $25M goal. The university has invested in differentiated STEM/tech offerings, including a Cybersecurity Engineering BS, a Computer Science program covering AI/ML/quantum computing, and a Quantum Information Science Research Group led by Dr. Stephen Providence in partnership with IBM, Fermilab, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and Microsoft — placing Coppin among a small group of HBCUs with active quantum research. Recognized as the Most Affordable University in USM and the Safest Residential University in Baltimore City, the institution achieved a record 23,000 undergraduate applications and 54%+ male enrollment growth (2021-2025), supported by the Student Development Center and multi-channel digital marketing through coppin.edu, social media, and earned media.

Name

Coppin State University

Legal name

Coppin State University

Website

https://coppin.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Coppin State University is a public HBCU in Baltimore, Maryland, founded in 1900, serving approximately 2,790 students through 63 academic programs spanning STEM, business, nursing, and liberal arts, with differentiated research in quantum computing and cybersecurity.

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)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Cybersecurity engineering education
• HBCU online learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Coppin State University generates primary revenue from student tuition and fees. Graduate application fees are $50 USD. Tuition rates vary by residency status (in-state vs. out-of-state), with cost of attendance information publicly available on the university's Tuition and Fees page. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, certificate, and online programs across 63 academic programs.
2. Auxiliary Services: Revenue generated from housing and dining services, the campus bookstore, and other student life auxiliary operations. The university reduced dining plan costs by 12% for residential students in 2026 amid rising higher education expenses.
3. Government Appropriations and Grants: State funding through the University System of Maryland, federal grants including a $3.9 million grant for broadband expansion in West Baltimore addressing digital equity and social justice issues, and foundation grants such as the $450,000 T. Rowe Price Foundation grant for a nonprofit support hub as part of a $6.5 million three-year initiative to strengthen Baltimore's nonprofit sector.
4. Philanthropy and Fundraising: The university's BE MORE Capital Campaign exceeded its $25 million goal. Revenue generated through the Division of Institutional Advancement supports students through scholarships, overcomes hardships, provides naming opportunities, and funds university advancement initiatives. Donations are managed through the Coppin State University Development Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Coppin State University is a public Historically Black University (HBCU) offering undergraduate, graduate, certificate, and doctoral degree programs across 63 academic programs. It delivers education through on-campus instruction, online programs (e.g., Management and Marketing), and supports learning with Blackboard Learn Ultra LMS, Microsoft 365, and research centers including a Quantum Information Science Research Group. The university serves students through an Office of Admissions handling seven distinct enrollment pathways and provides student life services such as housing, dining, athletics, and campus security.

Product overview

Coppin State University operates as a comprehensive educational institution offering a platform of academic programs and student services. The university provides undergraduate and graduate degree programs across multiple colleges (College of Business, School of Arts & Sciences and Education) totaling 63 academic programs including 31 baccalaureate, 13 master's, 18 certificates, and 1 doctoral program. Core academic offerings include Computer Science, Cybersecurity Engineering, Mathematics, Management, Marketing, Sport Management, and Entertainment Management, with online delivery options available. Student-facing technology platforms include EagleLINKS for academic/financial management and Blackboard Learn Ultra for learning management. Research is supported through specialized centers including those focused on nanotechnology, quantum computing, and strategic entrepreneurship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Baccalaureate Degree Programs 31 undergraduate baccalaureate degree programs across multiple disciplines including Computer Science, Cybersecurity Engineering, Mathematics, Management, Marketing, Sport Management, and Entertainment Management, available to traditional, transfer, international, adult learner, and military/veteran students.
• Master's Degree Programs 13 master's degree programs offered to graduate applicants who submit a $50 USD application fee, official transcripts, optional test scores, and three letters of recommendation.
• Doctoral Degree Programs 1 doctoral degree program available to graduate students seeking the highest academic credential.
• Online Degree Programs Fully online accredited bachelor's or master's degrees in Management and Marketing, providing worldwide access to Coppin State's programs.
• Certificate Programs 18 specialized certificate offerings including Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Esports Management, and other discipline-specific credentials.
• Honors Program Selective admissions program for high-achieving students offering enhanced academic opportunities beyond standard undergraduate study.
• Cybersecurity Engineering Program Bachelor of Science degree program focused on developing cyber-resilient systems that protect humans, aligned with the university's strategic technology and STEM focus areas.
• Housing and Dining Services Residential housing and dining plan services offered to enrolled students living on campus, with dining plan costs reduced by 12% for residential students in 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• Record 23,000 undergraduate applications received for upcoming academic year — highest in institution's history — at a time when many institutions nationwide face enrollment challenges
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026TEDCO, Maryland's Technology Development Corporation, collaborates with the Institute for Women Entrepreneur Excellence (IWEE) and appointed Troy LeMaile-Stovall to represent TEDCO on the IWEE board. Coppin State University also has a representative on the IWEE board, fostering a mutual partnership that expands access to resources and fosters growth within Maryland's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Institute for Women Entrepreneur Excellence (IWEE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026IWEE is a Maryland non-profit dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs through resources, programs, and ecosystem engagement. Coppin State University is represented on the IWEE 2026-2027 board of directors alongside leaders from Applied Neurons, EEO Services LLC, and Morgan State University. TEDCO collaborates with IWEE to expand access and foster a sustainable innovation ecosystem in Maryland.
• IBM HBCU Quantum InitiativeflagshipTechnology or IntegrationDr. Stephen Providence leads the Quantum Information Science Research Group at Coppin State, which is in its fourth cohort of students funded by the IBM HBCU Quantum Initiative. Students receive training and research opportunities in quantum computing across multiple quantum computing platforms, positioning Coppin among the limited HBCUs with active quantum computing education programs.
• Department of Energy, School of Science at SQMS Center, FermilabflagshipTechnology or IntegrationCoppin State's Quantum Information Science Research Group participates in the Department of Energy's Superconducting Quantum Material Science (SQMS) center at Fermilab, working on SRF (superconducting radio-frequency) bosonic cavity-based microwave driven quantum processors. This partnership enables undergraduate and graduate students to engage in cutting-edge quantum research with national laboratory resources.
• Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Stephen Providence collaborates with Fermilab on quantum computing research including SRF bosonic cavity-based quantum processors, contributing to the development of next-generation quantum computers using quantum mechanical principles. Students from Coppin participate in research programs at Fermilab.
• Brookhaven National LaboratoryflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Stephen Providence collaborates with Brookhaven National Laboratory on quantum computing research, as part of the university's quantum information science initiative. This partnership provides students with access to national laboratory research infrastructure and expertise.
• Johns Hopkins University / Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Stephen Providence collaborates with Dr. Susan Kassin of Johns Hopkins University through the Astro-Scholars program, providing Coppin Computer Science students with Python programming experience and winter research opportunities at the Space Telescope Science Institute. 2025 marks Coppin's fourth and largest cohort in the Astro-Scholars program.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Morgan State University: Another Maryland-based public HBCU located in Baltimore, with overlapping STEM, business, and graduate programs and direct competition for the same regional applicant pool and Baltimore employer relationships.
• Bowie State University: Maryland public HBCU with comparable undergraduate and graduate program mix (including computer science and business), serving a similar non-traditional and transfer student base within the University System of Maryland.
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore: Maryland public HBCU offering baccalaureate and graduate programs in STEM, business, and health sciences, competing for in-state students and operating under the same University System of Maryland governance.
• Hampton University: Private HBCU with similar-sized undergraduate and graduate offerings, STEM focus areas, and a comparable cybersecurity and STEM research footprint, competing for out-of-region HBCU applicants.
• North Carolina A&T State University: Largest public HBCU in the U.S. with strong STEM, cybersecurity, and engineering programs — and previous employer of Dr. Stephen Providence — serving as both peer and indirect competitor for STEM talent.
• Norfolk State University: Virginia public HBCU offering undergraduate and graduate programs in STEM, business, and education with comparable enrollment scale and similar student demographic profile.
• Tuskegee University: Private HBCU with strong STEM, engineering, and applied research programs serving a comparable African-American student base across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
• Florida A&M University: Large public HBCU with comparable business, STEM, and pharmacy programs, competing for HBCU-bound students in the Southeast and offering a similar affordability + outcomes value proposition.
• Lincoln University (PA): Public HBCU with comparable enrollment scale, mix of undergraduate and graduate programs, and similar positioning as an affordable, urban-adjacent institution serving traditional and non-traditional students.

Broad incumbents

• Howard University: A larger, research-intensive private HBCU in Washington DC with a much broader graduate and doctoral portfolio, competing for high-achieving HBCU-bound students across the Mid-Atlantic and nationally.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/coppinstateuniv
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CoppinStateTube
• Facebookfacebook.com/46799584881
• Instagraminstagram.com/coppinstateuniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coppin-state-university

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 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 Coppin State University