What Kettering University does

Kettering University is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) institution of higher education founded in 1919 in Flint, Michigan. Originally established as a night school for automotive engineers under the name School of Automotive Trades, it was later known as General Motors Institute (GMI) from 1926 before adopting its current name in 1998 in honor of Charles Kettering. The university operates a single main campus at 1700 University Avenue in Flint and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1962. Its core identity is the cooperative education (co-op) model, which is integrated structurally into a 4.5-year undergraduate experience: students alternate 11-week academic terms with full-time paid co-op rotations at employer partners, producing graduates with approximately 2.5 years of professional experience before completing their degree.

Kettering offers nine undergraduate degree programs (including Business Management, Chemical, Computer, Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronic Systems, Robotic Systems, and Manufacturing Systems), eight graduate programs, and eleven online certificate programs. The product portfolio also includes English as a Second Language (ESLP), customized international summer camps, and study-abroad exchanges with partner institutions in Spain, South Korea, Austria, Germany, Taiwan, Ireland, and the Dominican Republic. Research output includes 102 student-held patent applications filed over the past 14 years and an industrial robotic cell developed with Patti Engineering and Mitsubishi Electric, with expansion funded by a 2026 DENSO North America Foundation grant.

Revenue derives primarily from tuition and fees (recurring subscription model), supplemented by corporate and foundation grants and planned giving/donations. The university maintains a network of 570+ co-op employer partners nationwide — including General Motors, Ford, Boeing, Bosch, Magna, Toyota, NVIDIA, Intel, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Rockwell Automation, Caterpillar, BorgWarner, and Eaton — that employ students through the co-op program and serve as a primary downstream hiring channel. Go-to-market follows a direct-to-consumer admissions model targeting prospective undergraduate and graduate students through digital channels, campus visits, recruitment events, and a multi-platform social media presence.

Name

Kettering University

Legal name

Kettering University

Website

https://kettering.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Kettering University is a private nonprofit STEM institution in Flint, Michigan, founded in 1919, serving undergraduate and graduate students through a cooperative education model that integrates paid 22-week employer co-op rotations across a 4.5-year degree, supported by 570+ corporate partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Technical Universities (EDAHAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB)

Keywords

• Engineering education
• Cooperative education
• STEM degree programs
• Higher education services
• Professional co-op programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Flint

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, fees, and related educational services. The university is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt institution.
2. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Gifts and grants from corporations and foundations supporting scholarships, research, facilities, and programs.
3. Planned Giving and Donations: Charitable contributions including bequests through Wills or Trusts, IRA charitable distributions, donor advised funds, and gifts of assets.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Kettering University is a private nonprofit institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering, computer science, and business, integrated with a cooperative education (co-op) model where students alternate between academic terms and full-time paid professional work experience with 570+ corporate employer partners over a 4.5-year degree. Students graduate with 2.5 years of paid professional experience, while the institution also offers online certificates, English as a Second Language programs, study abroad, and research programs.

Product overview

Kettering University is a career-connected STEM educational institution offering a portfolio of academic programs. The core offerings include 9 undergraduate degree programs in engineering, computer science, and business, 8 graduate programs, and 11 online certificates. A distinctive feature is the cooperative education (co-op) model where students alternate between academic study and paid professional experience, working with over 570 employer partners. The university also offers English as a Second Language programs, study abroad opportunities with partner institutions in multiple countries, and research programs. Students can pursue programs including Business Management, Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronic Systems, Robotic Systems, and Semiconductor Materials and Devices. The institution has an industrial robotic cell for hands-on training and was awarded a DENSO Foundation grant to expand its robotics facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Academic Programs Undergraduate degree programs (9 total) in engineering, computer science, and business, including Business Management, Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Management, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Systems, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronic Systems, Robotic Systems, and Semiconductor Materials and Devices. Designed for high school graduates and transfer students seeking career-connected STEM education.
• Graduate Programs Graduate-level degree programs offered through the Graduate School, with 8 graduate programs available in engineering, computer science, and related fields for students seeking advanced degrees.
• Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program A cooperative education model where students alternate between 11-week academic terms and full-time paid professional co-op roles across 4.5 years, partnering with over 570 corporate employers. Students graduate with 2.5 years of professional experience and can earn up to $100,000 while in school.
• Online Certificates Eleven online certificate programs available for professional development and skill enhancement in engineering and technology disciplines.
• English as a Second Language Program (ESLP) English language instruction and cultural immersion program for international students within Kettering's STEM-focused campus community, including online short-term programs and summer camps.
• Study Abroad Program International exchange programs with partner institutions in Spain, Korea, Austria, Germany, and short-term programs in Taiwan, Ireland, and Dominican Republic. Students receive a $1,500 stipend for study abroad terms.
• Summer Camps Customized short-term programs for international groups focusing on English and Robotics, English and Business, English and American Culture, or other customized areas.
• Research Programs Research opportunities across engineering, science, and technology disciplines, with 102 patent applications filed and held by Kettering students in the past 14 years.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked #1 for career outcomes among 780 undergraduate institutions for 2025 by Launchpad Rankings
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Patti EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry collaborator in developing the industrial robotic cell that mirrors real-world automotive and industrial automation environments. The robotic cell provides engineering students with hands-on experience in automation and robotics.
• Mitsubishi ElectriccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry collaborator in developing the industrial robotic cell. The robotic cell was developed through industry collaboration and mirrors real-world automotive and industrial automation environments.
• 570+ Employer Co-op PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partners across the U.S. who employ Kettering students for 22 weeks each year throughout their 4.5-year degree, allowing graduates to earn up to $100,000 while in school and enter the workforce with 2.5 years of professional experience.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Northeastern University: Northeastern is the largest and best-known U.S. co-op university, directly comparable to Kettering for its century-old cooperative education model, employer-paid work terms, and career-outcomes focus. It offers a much larger and more global version of Kettering's model.
• Drexel University: Drexel runs one of the largest cooperative education programs in the U.S., alternating academic study with full-time paid co-op terms, similar to Kettering. Both institutions emphasize STEM and engineering with deep employer integration.
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute: WPI is a private STEM-focused university known for project-based learning and required industry project experiences, making it functionally comparable to Kettering's co-op-driven model. Both compete for engineering-minded students prioritizing applied learning.
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI): RPI is a private research university focused on engineering, computing, and applied sciences, with co-op and internship pipelines similar to Kettering's. Both emphasize industry-connected STEM education with strong employer recruitment.
• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology: Rose-Hulman is a small, highly ranked private engineering and applied science college, comparable to Kettering for its focus, size, and STEM-centric undergraduate mission. It competes with Kettering for top engineering students seeking a tight, career-oriented experience.
• Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE): MSOE is a small private university in the Midwest focused on engineering, computer science, and business with strong industry partnerships, similar to Kettering's positioning. Both institutions emphasize hands-on, employer-connected STEM education in the Midwest.
• Lawrence Technological University: Lawrence Tech is a Michigan-based private university focused on engineering, architecture, and applied sciences with co-op programs, comparable to Kettering in size and regional Midwest positioning. Both compete for similar students and employer partners in southeast Michigan.

Broad incumbents

• Georgia Institute of Technology: Georgia Tech is a much larger public STEM powerhouse with strong co-op and internship programs. It is a broader incumbent that competes for the same engineering students Kettering targets but offers a wider research portfolio and stronger brand.
• Carnegie Mellon University: Carnegie Mellon is a leading private research university with top engineering and computer science programs, overlapping with Kettering's STEM focus. It is a broader incumbent that competes for elite STEM talent and major industry partnerships at a much larger scale.

Regional players

• University of Detroit Mercy: Detroit Mercy is a private Detroit-Michigan university offering engineering and business programs with co-op opportunities, comparable to Kettering on geography and mission. It competes regionally for similar Michigan students and co-op employer relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ketteringu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/kumedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/KetteringUniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kettering-university-18607
• Instagraminstagram.com/ketteringu1919

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 Kettering University