Marian University

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.

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

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

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate and medical education
• Online degree programs
• K-12 pathway programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Healthcare Grants: Received $500,000 grant from Indiana University Health Community Impact Investment Fund to expand City Connects program at Muncie Community Schools.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Purdue UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Partnership 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 HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Partner in Crossroads Academic Medical Institute focused on developing residency programs and serving rural and underserved communities across Indiana.
• Parkview HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Partner in Crossroads Academic Medical Institute focused on increasing healthcare access and workforce development in Indiana through residency program development.
• Governor Mike BraunminorOthers · 20 May 2026Governor 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/munewsroom
• Facebookfacebook.com/timeline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marian-university-indianapolis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

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 Marian University