Marian University
Marian University is a private, non-profit Catholic university in Indianapolis serving nearly 4,000 students across undergraduate, graduate, medical, and online programs, with a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and Carnegie R2 research classification.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1936
- HeadquartersIndianapolis, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Marian University does
Marian University is a private, non-profit Roman Catholic university headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg. Founded in 1936 and renamed from Marian College in 2009, it is Indiana's only Catholic university and holds Carnegie R2 research classification as the nation's first Franciscan research university. The institution serves nearly 4,000 students from 45 states and 23 nations across multiple academic units: the College of Arts & Sciences, School of Business, Educator's College, E.S. Witchger School of Engineering (a $81 million facility), School of Nursing, College of Osteopathic Medicine (MU-COM), and Health Sciences programs, with a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
The university delivers education through three primary channels: a residential Indianapolis campus (3200 Cold Spring Road), a Plymouth location offering 2-year associate degrees and NJCAA athletics, and an online/accelerated program portfolio (including an ABSN option and a Nashville nursing site). Specialized research and training infrastructure includes engineering labs (wind tunnel, maker space, robotics, biomedical), a healthcare simulation center, and the Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab. Athletic programs (Marian Knights, Marian Chargers) have produced national champion titles in five sports. Auxiliary services include K-12 summer camps (Healthcare Camp, Engineering Camp), faith-based community programs (Fraternitas), career services through The Exchange, and a Global Engagement Office coordinating study abroad.
Marian's business model centers on tuition and fees from undergraduate, graduate, medical, and online programs, supplemented by philanthropic donations and grants. Notable funding partners include Lilly Endowment Inc. ($25M for REID, $1.16M for Preach All Ways), Indiana University Health ($500K for City Connects), and the Green Bay Packers Foundation ($250K). A flagship 2026 statewide initiative, the Crossroads Academic Medical Institute, partners Marian with Purdue University, Daviess Community Hospital, and Parkview Health to expand healthcare workforce and residency programs in Indiana. The university is governed by a Board of Trustees and operates without public equity ownership.
Marian University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Marian University
- Legal name
- Marian University
- Website
- https://marian.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1936
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Marian University is a private, non-profit Catholic university in Indianapolis serving nearly 4,000 students across undergraduate, graduate, medical, and online programs, with a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and Carnegie R2 research classification.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Marian University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Junior Colleges (6112)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities (EDAHABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK), STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB), Schools of Nursing (EDAHAGAC)
Keywords
Where Marian University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Indianapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Marian University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Marian University generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees from undergraduate, graduate, medical school, and online programs. Financial aid and scholarships are offered to support student enrollment.
- Lilly Endowment Grants: Received $25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. for Riverside Education Innovation District development. Also received $1.16 million grant for Preach All Ways Initiative. Part of broader Lilly Endowment initiative to support Indiana colleges.
- Healthcare Grants: Received $500,000 grant from Indiana University Health Community Impact Investment Fund to expand City Connects program at Muncie Community Schools.
- Donations and Gifts: The Marian Leadership Initiative launched with a $1 million gift. The university operates a fundraising office (Advancement) and accepts donations through 'Give to Marian' campaigns.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Healthcare Camp cost for high school students |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Career Development Fund stipend |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Summer Camp meal service pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Summer Housing Accommodations |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Marian University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Marian University is a private, nonprofit Roman Catholic university that grants associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degrees across colleges and schools of Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Nursing, and Osteopathic Medicine, delivered on the Indianapolis main campus, the Plymouth location, and through online programs. Beyond degree programs, the university operates K-12 pathway and summer camp programs, career development services through The Exchange, and faith-based programs such as Fraternitas, serving nearly 4,000 students from 45 states and 23 nations.
Product overview
Marian University is a Catholic higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs across multiple colleges and schools, including Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Nursing, Health Sciences, and Osteopathic Medicine. The university provides undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and online programs to nearly 4,000 students. Beyond traditional academics, Marian offers youth development programs including K-12 Pathways, summer camps (Healthcare Camp, Engineering Camp), career development services through The Exchange, and faith-based family programs like Fraternitas. The institution recently launched the Crossroads Academic Medical Institute, a statewide healthcare workforce initiative. Marian also operates a Plymouth campus location and provides online education options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- College of Arts & Sciences Provides undergraduate and graduate programs in liberal arts, sciences, and humanities for students pursuing transformational education grounded in Franciscan values.
- School of Business Offers business degree programs at undergraduate and graduate levels for students preparing for careers in business and management.
- Educator's College
Quantifiable outcome
- 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio enabling exceptional student support
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Marian University
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Marian University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Marian University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Purdue UniversityflagshipPartnership through Crossroads Academic Medical Institute - a statewide collaboration aimed at increasing healthcare access and workforce across Indiana. Non-competitive structure bringing together universities, healthcare systems, and industry partners to develop residency programs and serve rural and underserved communities. 10-year goals include attracting over $500 million in external grant funding and receiving 1,300 medical residency applications.
- Daviess Community HospitalcorePartner in Crossroads Academic Medical Institute focused on developing residency programs and serving rural and underserved communities across Indiana.
- Parkview HealthcorePartner in Crossroads Academic Medical Institute focused on increasing healthcare access and workforce development in Indiana through residency program development.
- Governor Mike BraunminorGovernor joined representatives from Purdue University, Marian University, Daviess Community Hospital, and Parkview Health to announce the Crossroads Academic Medical Institute initiative.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Marian University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- University of Indianapolis: Private, nonprofit university in Indianapolis with comparable mid-size enrollment (~5,500 students) and a comprehensive portfolio including nursing, engineering, business, and health sciences. Most direct local competitor for traditional undergraduate and graduate students.
- Butler University: Private Indianapolis university with similar enrollment scale (~5,000 students) and broad program offerings across arts, sciences, business, pharmacy, and health sciences. Competes head-to-head for Indiana resident students and graduate program applicants.
- Bellarmine University: Catholic, private university in Louisville, KY with comparable enrollment scale and comprehensive offerings including nursing, business, education, and sciences. Closest analogue as a faith-based comprehensive university with similar size and program mix.
- Mount St. Joseph University: Catholic, private university in Cincinnati with comparable mid-size enrollment and emphasis on nursing, health sciences, education, and liberal arts. Highly comparable faith-based institution with similar academic portfolio.
- Anderson University (Indiana): Private Christian university in central Indiana with comparable enrollment (~2,000-3,000 students) and similar comprehensive offerings including nursing, business, education, and theological programs. Competes for faith-oriented Indiana students.
- Saint Mary's College: Catholic women's college in Notre Dame, Indiana sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross. Comparable faith-based identity and similar regional draw for mission-aligned students, though narrower in scope (single-gender liberal arts).
- Franklin College: Small private liberal arts college in Indiana with ~1,000 students. Competes for traditional Indiana undergraduates in a similar market segment and price point.
- Wabash College: Private liberal arts college in Indiana with strong brand and athletic tradition. Competes for high-achieving Indiana undergraduates in a similar private-college segment.
- DePauw University: Highly ranked private liberal arts college in Indiana with strong brand. Competes for top-tier Indiana high school graduates in the same private-college price band.
- Indiana Wesleyan University: Large private Christian university in Indiana with extensive online programs and adult learner focus. Comparable in faith-based identity but significantly larger, with similar online ABSN and graduate offerings that compete nationally.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Marian University social profiles
Digital presenceMarian University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Marian University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Marian University subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Marian University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Marian 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 Marian University
What does Marian University do?
Marian University is a private, nonprofit Roman Catholic university that grants associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degrees across colleges and schools of Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Nursing, and Osteopathic Medicine, delivered on the Indianapolis main campus, the Plymouth location, and through online programs. Beyond degree programs, the university operates K-12 pathway and summer camp programs, career development services through The Exchange, and faith-based programs such as Fraternitas, serving nearly 4,000 students from 45 states and 23 nations.
Is Marian University a public or private company?
Marian University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Marian University founded?
Marian University was founded in 1936. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Marian University based?
Marian University is headquartered in Indianapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Marian University make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are lilly Endowment Grants, healthcare Grants and donations and Gifts.
Who are Marian University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are University of Indianapolis, Butler University, Bellarmine University, Mount St. Joseph University, Anderson University (Indiana), Saint Mary's College, Franklin College, Wabash College, DePauw University and Indiana Wesleyan University.
Does Marian University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Marian University.
What industry is Marian University in?
Marian University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHABAJ, Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities, with a secondary code of EDAHALAK, Online Nonprofit Universities. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.