Baker University
Baker University is a private, nonprofit university founded in 1858 in Baldwin City, Kansas, offering 50-plus undergraduate and graduate programs across three campuses and online, serving traditional students, working adults, and military veterans.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1858
- HeadquartersBaldwin City, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Baker University does
Baker University is a private, nonprofit university founded in 1858 in Baldwin City, Kansas, and is the oldest university in the state. It operates three academic units: the College of Arts and Sciences (main undergraduate college on the Baldwin City campus), the School of Nursing (Topeka campus offering BSN and MSN programs), and the School of Professional and Graduate Studies (Overland Park campus for working adults). The institution serves five primary customer segments: traditional undergraduate students, graduate students, online/distance learners, adult learners and transfer students, and military veterans and service members. Across these segments, Baker delivers more than 50 academic programs spanning liberal arts, business, nursing, education, computer science, data analytics, sports administration, mass media, and fine and performing arts.
The university's product portfolio includes degree programs (BA/BS, MBA, MSN, MS in Sport Management), graduate certificates (e.g., Advanced Data Analytics), and continuing education, alongside 27 NCAA Division III athletic programs and 40-plus student organizations. Digital infrastructure is built on standard higher-education platforms: Moodle LMS (bumoodle.bakeru.edu), Microsoft 365/Outlook for email, a self-developed MyBaker student portal, and a SharePoint intranet for faculty and staff. The operational signature is a 3:1 student-to-faculty ratio that supports personalized faculty mentorship. Marketing and recruitment are conducted through a sales-led, traditional admissions motion using campus visits, college fairs, high school recruitment, scholarship competition days, and digital channels including a website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok.
Baker's business model is tuition-driven, with revenue streams from tuition and fees, room and board, athletics, continuing education, and donations. Pricing follows a subscription/annual model, with merit-based scholarships ranging from $16,000 (Wildcat Scholar, 2.0+ GPA) to $20,000 (Honors, 3.7+ GPA) per year, plus full-tuition awards such as the Edward Lin Harter Scholarship and the Ada Hopkins Lake Endowed Scholarship, and discipline-specific awards like the Noyce STEM Teacher Scholarship ($11,000/year). The university awards $26 million in scholarships and aid annually. Cross-state online delivery is enabled by NC-SARA membership. The institution is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, operates as an independent nonprofit governed by its own Board of Trustees, and has no parent company or external equity ownership.
Baker University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Baker University
- Legal name
- Baker University
- Website
- https://bakeru.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1858
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Baker University is a private, nonprofit university founded in 1858 in Baldwin City, Kansas, offering 50-plus undergraduate and graduate programs across three campuses and online, serving traditional students, working adults, and military veterans.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Baker University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- General Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAA)
Keywords
Where Baker University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Baldwin City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Baker University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition for campus, online, and professional programs. Merit-based scholarships ($16,000-$20,000/year) and need-based aid are awarded to students. Total scholarships and aid awarded annually is $26M.
- Room and Board: On-campus housing and dining services revenue from residential students on the Baldwin City campus
- Athletics: Revenue from intercollegiate athletics programs including 27 athletic programs competing in NCAA Division III
- Continuing Education and Professional Programs: Revenue from graduate certificates, professional development, and continuing education programs for working adults
- Donations and Alumni Giving: Annual giving program with $247k awarded during Scholars Symposium. Alumni donation program supporting various university initiatives.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Honors Scholarship: $20,000 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Baker Scholar Scholarship: $18,000 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Academic Merit Scholarship: $17,000 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Wildcat Scholar Scholarship: $16,000 per year |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Graduate Business Certificate in Data Analytics: 30% discount (off $650 per credit hour) |
| Subscription | Annual | Edward Lin Harter Scholarship: Full tuition for four years |
| Subscription | Annual | Ada Hopkins Lake Endowed Scholarship: Full tuition, fees, housing, meals, and books for four years |
| Subscription | Annual | Noyce Scholarship: $11,000 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Joanne M. Howard, PhD, Endowed Scholarship: Full tuition |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Baker University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Baker University is a private higher education institution that delivers undergraduate liberal arts education, graduate degrees, nursing programs, and professional certificates. Academic programs are organized across three schools: the College of Arts & Sciences (residential undergraduate college in Baldwin City with 50+ programs), the School of Nursing (BSN/MSN programs in Topeka), and the School of Professional & Graduate Studies (graduate degrees and online programs for working adults in Overland Park and online).
Product overview
Baker University is a private university offering undergraduate and graduate education through three academic schools: the College of Arts & Sciences (main undergraduate college with 50+ programs), the School of Nursing (professional nursing programs), and the School of Professional & Graduate Studies (online and evening programs for working adults). The university's product portfolio includes degree programs such as MBA, Computer Science, Data Analytics, Sports Administration, Mass Media, and Fine & Performing Arts, along with graduate certificates in specialized fields like Data Analytics. Student media opportunities through Baker Orange provide hands-on experience in journalism, radio, and video production.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- College of Arts & Sciences
Quantifiable outcome
- #1 return on investment among Kansas private colleges
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Baker University
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Baker University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Baker University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Grandview C-4 School DistrictcorePartner school district receiving Noyce Scholars as student-teachers. Part of Baker's STEM teacher preparation program.
- Baldwin City USD 348corePartner school district receiving Noyce Scholars as student-teachers. Part of Baker's STEM teacher preparation program.
- Topeka Public SchoolscorePartner school district receiving Noyce Scholars as student-teachers. Part of Baker's STEM teacher preparation program.
- Kennedy Center American College Theatre FestivalminorAnnual theatre festival where Baker students compete in acting and technical theatre categories. Students have been selected for national festival.
- Kansas City Repertory TheatreminorInternship partner for theatre students providing real-world professional experience.
- Coterie TheatreminorInternship partner for theatre students providing real-world professional experience.
- Disney WorldminorInternship partner for theatre and entertainment business students.
- Johnson County Community CollegeminorOrchestral collaboration partner for joint performances and educational exchange.
- NFL Teams (Internship Partners)minorSports administration internship partners. Baker students have interned with NFL teams and turned internships into careers.
- NBA Teams (Internship Partners)minorSports administration internship partners providing professional experience in sports management.
- Daytona SpeedwayminorSports administration internship partner in motorsports industry.
- Sporting Kansas CityminorFan research partnership for sports administration students. Provided sponsorship recall research experience.
- Chick-fil-A Peach BowlminorSports administration internship partner. Students worked media relations for 2013 and 2014 tournaments.
- Mountain West Basketball TournamentminorSports administration internship partner. Students participated in media relations.
- United Methodist ChurchcoreBaker University operates under the United Methodist Church. As a religious educational institution, Baker is permitted under Title VII exemptions to prefer employees on basis of religion. United Methodist students qualify for additional financial aid support.
- NC-SARAminorBaker University is a member of NC-SARA (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements), enabling it to offer distance education across state lines.
- United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA)minorUNA-USA Baker Chapter established in 2024. Chapter sends delegates to UN leadership events in NYC annually. Opens doors to internship and job opportunities in international affairs and diplomacy.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Baker University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Benedictine College: Private Catholic liberal arts college in Atchison, Kansas, serving traditional undergraduates and offering similar size, religious affiliation, and Midwest regional scope as Baker.
- University of Saint Mary: Private Catholic university in Leavenworth, Kansas, offering undergraduate and graduate programs with comparable scale, faith-based identity, and regional Kansas/Missouri footprint.
- MidAmerica Nazarene University: Private Christian liberal arts university in Olathe, Kansas (Kansas City metro), with similar residential and adult program mix, faith affiliation, and Kansas regional positioning.
- Friends University: Private Quaker-affiliated university in Wichita, Kansas, with comparable undergraduate, graduate, and online offerings serving nontraditional and traditional learners in Kansas.
- Ottawa University: Private Baptist-affiliated university headquartered in Ottawa, Kansas, with adult/online programs and multiple campus locations, comparable in scale and structure to Baker's School of Professional & Graduate Studies.
- Tabor College: Private Mennonite liberal arts college in Hillsboro, Kansas, offering similar undergraduate residential programs with faith-based identity and small Midwestern institutional profile.
- Kansas Wesleyan University: Private Methodist-affiliated university in Salina, Kansas, providing direct comparable: small private Kansas liberal arts institution with religious heritage, traditional and nontraditional programs.
- Sterling College: Private Presbyterian-affiliated liberal arts college in Sterling, Kansas, with similar size, faith-based identity, and rural Kansas residential model.
Regional players
- Emporia State University: Public regional university in Emporia, Kansas, competing for the same pool of Kansas traditional and nontraditional learners but with state funding advantages.
- Washburn University: Public municipal university in Topeka, Kansas, with overlapping nursing, business, and professional programs, competing for the same Kansas workforce and adult learner market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Baker University social profiles
Digital presenceBaker University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Baker University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Baker University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Baker University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Baker University
What does Baker University do?
Baker University is a private higher education institution that delivers undergraduate liberal arts education, graduate degrees, nursing programs, and professional certificates. Academic programs are organized across three schools: the College of Arts & Sciences (residential undergraduate college in Baldwin City with 50+ programs), the School of Nursing (BSN/MSN programs in Topeka), and the School of Professional & Graduate Studies (graduate degrees and online programs for working adults in Overland Park and online).
Is Baker University a public or private company?
Baker University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Baker University founded?
Baker University was founded in 1858. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Baker University based?
Baker University is headquartered in Baldwin City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Baker University make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are room and Board, athletics, continuing Education and Professional Programs and donations and Alumni Giving.
Who are Baker University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Benedictine College, University of Saint Mary, MidAmerica Nazarene University, Friends University, Ottawa University, Tabor College, Kansas Wesleyan University and Sterling College. Regional players are Emporia State University and Washburn University.
Does Baker University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Baker University.
What industry is Baker University in?
Baker University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHACAA, General Liberal Arts Colleges. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.