Gallaudet University

What Gallaudet University does

Gallaudet University, chartered by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864, is a private nonprofit institution that operates as the world's only four-year liberal arts university exclusively for deaf and hard of hearing students. The university delivers a bilingual American Sign Language (ASL) and English curriculum across five schools, offering more than 150 degrees, certificates, and credentials spanning 60+ areas of study, supported by a 99-acre National Historic Landmark campus in Northeast Washington, D.C. It also operates the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, which includes the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School (PK-8) and Model Secondary School for the Deaf (9-12), and runs the only deaf-led collegiate esports program in the world through the ECAC.

The product portfolio extends well beyond traditional degree programs. ASL Connect offers globally distributed online ASL instruction (ASL 1-6, fingerspelling certificates, summer residency), while GOAL (Gallaudet Opportunities for Advancement and Learning) and the Learning and Training Center deliver continuing education, professional certificates, and Ed2Go courses under $159. The university holds exclusive authority over the ASL Proficiency Interview (ASLPI), an adaptive assessment for ASL placement, and has launched the Gallaudet Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (GIEI). Auxiliary revenue and brand-building lines include NCAA Division III athletics (14 varsity teams), the DeafTech Conference, the Gallaudet University Press, and a pipeline of youth programs such as the Academic Bowl, Battle of the Books, Youth Esports Series, and summer camps including Tide Trekkers in Florida.

The business model rests on tuition and fees from undergraduate and graduate enrollment, continuing education and certificate revenue (GOAL/ASL Connect), youth program fees, donations and planned gifts through the Office of Institutional Advancement, and ancillary hospitality revenue from the Kellogg Conference Hotel. Approximately 90% of students receive financial support, indicating a heavily subsidized tuition structure. Distribution is omnichannel: on-campus at Kendall Green, virtually through apply.gallaudet.edu and ASL Connect, and via youth programs that operate as feeders into undergraduate enrollment. The technology stack is built on commodity enterprise platforms (Workday for HR/SIS, Blackboard for LMS, Nelnet for tuition payments, Zoom for ASLPI delivery, and Raiser's Edge for fundraising), with no proprietary AI or machine learning capabilities disclosed.

Name

Gallaudet University

Legal name

Gallaudet University

Website

https://gallaudet.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1864

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Gallaudet University is a federally chartered nonprofit university in Washington, D.C., and the world's only four-year liberal arts institution serving deaf and hard of hearing students through bilingual ASL and English instruction across five schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accessibility, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) & Inclusive Content Services (EDAGAKAJ), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Deaf education programs
• ASL instruction courses
• Liberal arts university
• Continuing education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, fees, and associated academic charges for degree programs.
2. Continuing Education and Professional Studies: Revenue from GOAL (Gallaudet Opportunities for Advancement and Learning) programs including credit and non-credit courses, certificates, ASL Connect online courses, and professional development offerings.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Annual giving programs including one-time and recurring donations, bequests, planned gifts, and matching gifts from alumni, parents, friends, students, faculty, and staff.
4. Youth Programs: Revenue from youth camps, competitions, and educational programs for deaf and hard of hearing students including summer programs and dual enrollment courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Gallaudet University is a federally chartered private university that delivers higher education through a bilingual ASL/English platform, serving deaf and hard of hearing students across undergraduate degree programs, graduate programs, continuing education (GOAL), online ASL courses (ASL Connect), K-12 education (Clerc Center), youth programs, athletics, and entrepreneurship programs. It is the world's only four-year liberal arts university for deaf and hard of hearing students, with all instruction and support services designed for visual communication.

Product overview

Gallaudet University operates as a comprehensive higher education institution serving deaf and hard of hearing students, offering a portfolio of interconnected educational products and services. The core offerings include undergraduate and graduate degree programs across multiple disciplines, supported by the Blackboard learning management system. ASL Connect provides online American Sign Language education from beginner to advanced levels. GOAL (Gallaudet Opportunities for Advancement and Learning) serves as the continuing education division offering non-degree courses, professional certificates, and the Learning & Training Center with self-paced content. Youth Programs and the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center (K-12) extend the university's reach to younger learners. Gallaudet Athletics and Esports provide competitive sports programs, while the Gallaudet Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (GIEI) supports business development. The ASLPI assessment system provides standardized ASL proficiency evaluation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of students receive financial support
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Loggerhead Marine CampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGallaudet's Tide Trekkers youth program partners with Loggerhead Marine Camp in Juno Beach, Florida, allowing deaf and hard of hearing students to participate in marine biology experiences during a week-long program.
• Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGallaudet's esports program is an official member of ECAC, competing at the recreational and varsity levels through the conference, similar to NCAA competition structure.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at Rochester Institute of Technology: NTID is the only other federally-funded higher education institution in the U.S. dedicated specifically to deaf and hard of hearing students, offering associate and bachelor's degree programs with ASL-English bilingual support. It is the closest functional peer to Gallaudet in terms of mission, student population, and federal support structure.
• California State University, Northridge (CSUN): CSUN hosts the Department of Deaf Studies and is one of the largest mainstream universities serving a significant deaf and hard of hearing student body, including a National Center on Deafness. Directly comparable as a competing higher education destination for deaf students outside the Gallaudet/NTID monopoly.

Broad incumbents

• Rochester Institute of Technology: RIT is the larger university that houses NTID and offers a broad portfolio of degree programs including engineering, computing, and business with substantial deaf/hard of hearing enrollment and support services. Comparable as the parent institution housing the largest deaf-technical education program in the country.

Regional players

• California School for the Deaf (Fremont / Riverside): California state-run K-12 residential school for deaf students, comparable to Gallaudet's Clerc Center operating model. Operates two campuses (Fremont and Riverside) and produces a stream of graduates who could feed into Gallaudet's undergraduate programs.
• Indiana School for the Deaf: State-supported K-12 residential school for deaf students in Indianapolis, comparable in function to Gallaudet's Kendall Demonstration Elementary School and Model Secondary School for the Deaf. Contributes to regional pipeline dynamics.
• Texas School for the Deaf: Texas state-supported K-12 school for the deaf in Austin, comparable as a peer state institution serving the deaf K-12 pipeline. Operates an Early Childhood through Grade 12 continuum similar to Clerc Center's structure.

Emerging players

• American School for the Deaf: Founded in 1817, ASD is the oldest permanent school for the deaf in the U.S. and offers K-12 education to deaf and hard of hearing students. Comparable as a historical peer institution in deaf education and a likely source of pipeline students to Gallaudet.
• National University of Cordoba (Argentina) — Programa de Sordos: Several non-U.S. universities (e.g., Universidad Nacional de Córdoba in Argentina, University of Wolverhampton in the UK) operate bilingual deaf education programs. These are emerging players in the global ASL/sign-language university space analogous to Gallaudet.
• Start ASL: Online subscription-based ASL learning platform offering structured courses for hearing learners. Comparable as a competing entry point in the ASL continuing education market that ASL Connect targets.
• Lifeprint (ASL University): Free, ad-supported online ASL curriculum operated by Dr. Vicars at California State University, Sacramento. Comparable as a low-cost/digital alternative to Gallaudet's paid ASL Connect courses in the broader ASL learner segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gallaudetu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/GallaudetU
• Facebookfacebook.com/62082505853
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gallaudet-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/GallaudetU
• TikToktiktok.com/@gallaudetu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Gallaudet University