What Niagara University does

Niagara University is a private Catholic university in the Vincentian tradition, founded in 1856 and located on a 160-acre campus on Monteagle Ridge in Lewiston, Niagara County, New York. It operates a second graduate-only campus in Vaughan, Ontario, and serves a student body drawn from more than 70 countries, including a Canadian cohort of 400+ currently enrolled students and 6,000+ Canadian alumni. The institution delivers education across five academic colleges (Arts and Sciences; Education; Nursing; Holzschuh College of Business Administration; and Hospitality, Sport, and Tourism Management) with 80+ undergraduate programs, 50+ minors, and 30+ graduate programs including a Ph.D. in Policy and Leadership and accelerated 4+1/4+2 master's pathways.

The core product platform consists of degree-bearing academic programs delivered in-person at both campuses and fully online via the eCampus.niagara.edu learning management system (Canvas), supplemented by specialized offerings: the Niagara University Theatre (eight productions annually), the Castellani Art Museum (5,000+ works), the Biomedical Research Institute, NCAA Division I athletics (19 teams in the MAAC conference) plus 20+ club sports, Army ROTC, and student-support programs such as the Academic and Career Exploration Program (ACEP) and the University Honors Program. Non-degree workforce credentials are delivered through a Workforce Training Center focused on data analytics and cybersecurity, funded by a $1.3M U.S. EDA grant.

The business model is tuition-driven with diversified revenue streams: undergraduate block tuition at $19,630/semester (12–18 credits) with locked Level Tuition Plans for freshmen, per-credit graduate tuition ranging $670–$1,165, on-campus housing ($4,670–$7,750/semester), meal plans ($640–$3,840/semester), and distance-learning programs (NUSTEP at $105/credit). Distribution is direct-to-consumer via segmented admissions teams (first-year, transfer, international, Canadian, graduate, and athletics), supported by college fairs, high school visits, campus tours, and digital marketing. 100% of incoming freshmen receive financial aid, and the university distributes $45M+ annually in scholarships and grants, with additional support from philanthropic donations, endowment income, and external grants. The institution is MSCHE-accredited, SEVIS-authorized for international students, and OSAP-eligible for Canadian students.

Name

Niagara University

Legal name

Niagara University

Website

https://niagara.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1856

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Niagara University is a private Catholic Vincentian university founded in 1856 in Lewiston, NY, serving undergraduate and graduate students from 70+ countries through 85+ degree programs, a binational U.S./Canada campus footprint, NCAA Division I athletics, and online graduate delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Graduate Schools (Master’s & Doctoral Programs) (EDAHALAD), Graduate Schools of Education (M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D.) (EDAHAFAB), Graduate & Professional School Preparation (EDALABAI)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Online learning programs
• NCAA Division I athletics

Headquarters

HQ city

Niagara University

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. Undergraduate Tuition and Fees: Block tuition model for 12-18 credit hours at $19,630 per semester. Level tuition plans available for new freshmen locking rates for 8 consecutive semesters. Additional program fees for Nursing ($875/semester), Business ($620/semester), ISDF/CIS ($575/semester), and Education ($75/semester) programs.
2. Graduate Tuition and Fees: Per-credit-hour tuition ranging from $670/credit (MA Interdisciplinary Studies) to $1,165/credit (Ph.D. Policy and Leadership). Business graduate programs at $910/credit. Education programs at $850-$920/credit depending on specialization.
3. Room and Board: On-campus housing ranging from $4,670/semester (Varsity Village apartments with kitchens) to $7,750/semester (single rooms). Meal plans available including Carte Blanche unlimited at $3,840/semester.
4. Philanthropic Donations: Private support from alumni and friends through Niagara Fund, planned giving, endowment opportunities, and scholarship donations. Annual President's Dinner generates over $45 million in scholarships and grants distributed to students.
5. External Programs (NUSTEP): Distance education programs including NUSTEP at $105/credit hour and GEM professional education certificates at $1,200/course.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Niagara University delivers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral education across five academic colleges, offering 85+ undergraduate majors and 30+ graduate programs including MBA, M.S. in Finance, M.S. in Information Security and Digital Forensics, and a Ph.D. in Policy and Leadership. It supplements academic instruction with Division I athletics (19 teams, MAAC conference), 20+ club sports, the Biomedical Research Institute, the Niagara University Theatre, and the Castellani Art Museum, plus fully online graduate delivery via its eCampus platform.

Product overview

Niagara University operates as a comprehensive private Catholic university offering a multi-level educational platform spanning undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across five academic colleges. The core product portfolio consists of over 85 undergraduate degree programs and 30+ graduate programs (including 4+1/4+2 accelerated master's pathways), supplemented by online delivery through its eCampus platform. Specialized offerings include the Niagara University Theatre (with 8 annual productions), Castellani Art Museum, Biomedical Research Institute, Division I athletics (19 teams), and over 20 club sports programs. The Academic and Career Exploration Program (ACEP) and Honors Program serve as distinctive support products, while the institution's athletic facilities (Gallagher Center, Dwyer Arena, Kiernan Recreation Center, Oxy Aquatic Center) and Purple Perks enrollment incentive round out the portfolio. Together, these products form a unified educational ecosystem delivering undergraduate and graduate education alongside experiential learning, research, and co-curricular activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Niagara University Theatre: The producing entity of the Department of Theatre and Fine Arts, entertaining and educating audiences since 1964
• Castellani Art Museum
• Academic and Career Exploration Program (ACEP)
• University Honors Program

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs Over 85 undergraduate degree programs and 50 minors across five academic colleges covering arts, sciences, business, education, nursing, and hospitality management for traditional and transfer students.
• Graduate Programs Over 30 graduate degree and certificate programs including MBA, M.S. in Finance, M.S. in Accounting, M.S. in Information Security and Digital Forensics, education master's, nursing master's, criminal justice, sport management, and a Ph.D. in Policy and Leadership for working professionals and recent graduates.
• Online Graduate Programs (eCampus) Fully online graduate degree offerings accessible through the ecampus.niagara.edu platform, including M.S.Ed. programs, applied behavior analysis, and nursing education programs for remote learners and working professionals.
• Accelerated Master's Programs (4+1/4+2) Combined undergraduate-graduate degree pathways allowing students to complete bachelor's and master's degrees in 4+1 or 4+2 years by applying graduate credits taken during undergraduate study to both degrees; available in education, business, criminal justice, information security, sport management, and clinical mental health counseling.
• Academic and Career Exploration Program (ACEP) Program for undeclared students providing personalized academic advisement linked to career discovery, with dedicated advisors and the Gacioch Center for Career and Professional Development connecting skill sets with personal and professional interests.
• University Honors Program Academic honors program for high-achieving students featuring year-long thesis projects conducted one-on-one with faculty, specialized honors-exclusive classes, and research opportunities.
• Niagara University Theatre The producing entity of the Department of Theatre and Fine Arts, offering eight student productions per season since 1964, providing practical training in performance, design, and production for BFA candidates.
• Castellani Art Museum On-campus art museum housing over 5,000 works including modern and contemporary art, Niagara Falls-themed pieces, and regional folk art with year-round exhibitions and educational programs.
• Holzschuh College of Business Administration Business college offering undergraduate majors in accounting, finance, management, marketing, and food industry management, as well as MBA and Master of Science in Finance programs.
• College of Nursing College offering pre-licensure and RN-to-BS nursing programs, family nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, and nursing education graduate programs.
• College of Education One of five academic colleges offering teacher certification programs across early childhood, childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence education levels, as well as special education and educational leadership.
• College of Hospitality, Sport, and Tourism Management College providing education in hospitality operations, hotel management, sport management, tourism, and event management, with connections to industry employers and club management.
• College of Arts and Sciences The largest academic college covering humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and interdisciplinary studies, including biology, chemistry, psychology, theatre, and art programs.
• M.S. Information Security and Digital Forensics (ISDF) Master's degree program designed to prepare students for CISSP certification, featuring hands-on experience in cybersecurity labs aligned with industry certifications.
• Niagara University Biomedical Research Institute Research institute conducting cancer research and drug delivery studies, collaborating with international institutions including Universidad CEU San Pablo on cholestosome-based drug delivery strategies.
• Workforce Training Center Workforce training center funded by a $1.3 million Economic Development Administration grant focusing on data analytics, cybersecurity, and related professional training fields.
• Study Abroad Programs International education opportunities including study abroad in London, Florence, and Rome, with theatre programs offering experiences at the Powerhouse Theatre at Vassar College.
• Army ROTC (Purple Eagle Battalion) Military leadership training program offering scholarships for tuition while preparing students to become Army Officers, with courses available as electives.
• Division I Athletics 19 NCAA Division I men's and women's sports teams competing in the MAAC conference, including basketball, hockey, soccer, swimming, tennis, lacrosse, and volleyball.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of graduates employed or in grad school within 1 year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Universidad CEU San PablocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Niagara University Biomedical Research Institute (Dr. Mary McCourt's research group) collaborating with Universidad CEU San Pablo's Prof. Beatriz de Pascual-Teresa and Dr. Irene Ortín Remón on cholestosome-based drug delivery strategies for cancer research.
• Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)coreOthersBoth Niagara University campuses (Lewiston, NY and Vaughan, Ontario) qualified for OSAP funding for Canadian students.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• St. Bonaventure University: Private Catholic (Franciscan) university located in Western New York with a comparable enrollment scale and similar mix of undergraduate, graduate, and Division I athletics programs.
• Canisius University: Private Jesuit university in Buffalo, NY, comparable in size, religious affiliation, Division I status, and undergraduate/graduate program mix; directly competes for the same Western New York student pool.
• D'Youville University: Private health-sciences-oriented university in Buffalo, NY, with overlapping programs in nursing, education, and business and a similar regional recruitment footprint.
• Nazareth University: Private Catholic university in Rochester, NY with comparable size, Division III athletics, and a similar mix of liberal arts, nursing, and education programs serving the same upstate New York market.
• Hilbert College: Private Catholic college in Hamburg, NY, similar in religious heritage and regional recruitment to Niagara, though smaller and focused more narrowly on professional and criminal justice programs.
• Daemen University: Private university in Amherst, NY, comparable in size and program mix (nursing, business, education), competing in the same Western New York undergraduate and graduate market.

Broad incumbents

• DePaul University: Largest Vincentian Catholic university in the U.S., sharing Niagara's founding religious tradition (Congregation of the Mission) and Catholic identity, but operating at a much larger scale and with national brand reach.
• Marquette University: Larger private Jesuit university in Milwaukee with overlapping programs (business, nursing, education) and Division I athletics; serves as a benchmark for what a well-resourced Catholic private university can scale to.
• Sacred Heart University: Private Catholic university in Fairfield, CT with strong graduate and online enrollment growth, comparable mix of professional programs and a useful benchmark for scaling graduate and workforce-aligned offerings.
• University at Buffalo (SUNY): Large public research university in the same Buffalo metropolitan area; competes for regional talent and provides a benchmark for research output, faculty depth, and tuition price competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@niagarauniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/155936551229
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/niagara-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/niagarauniversity
• Xx.com/niagarauniv

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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 Niagara University