Pittsburg State University

What Pittsburg State University does

Pittsburg State University is a public state university founded in 1903 and located in Pittsburg, Kansas, governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. It enrolls more than 7,000 students from 36 states and 43 countries across five academic colleges — Arts and Sciences, Kelce College of Business, College of Education, Crossland College of Technology, and Graduate School — plus an Honors College. Academic programs include undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and graduate certificate offerings, with notable specializations in polymers and plastics, diesel and heavy equipment (now extending to electric Class 8 vehicles via a 2026 industry partnership), nursing, education, and business.

The institution operates a technology stack anchored by the GUS (Gorilla University System) student portal for enrollment, financial aid, billing, and academic records, and the Canvas LMS extended with Studio, DesignPLUS, Harmonize, Respondus, Turnitin, UDOIT, and Zoom. Payment processing runs through Transact Campus (PCI-DSS compliant) and loan servicing through ECSI, with FERPA and Gramm-Leach-Bliley compliance enforced across vendors. Digital accessibility conforms to WCAG 2.1 AA.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees, on-campus housing and meal plans, mandatory international student health insurance, and ancillary fees (payment plan activation, credit card convenience fees, late fees). Distribution occurs via direct enrollment (GUS portal), 2+2 transfer agreements with Kansas community colleges, campus tours, online graduate admissions, and the Gorilla Advantage program granting in-state tuition to residents of 32 states. Nearly 80% of students receive some form of financial aid, including federal grants, merit-based Great Gorilla Scholarships ($1,000-$4,000), Honors College awards ($6,000 + $2,000 study abroad stipend), and international student scholarships up to $6,000.

Name

Pittsburg State University

Legal name

Pittsburg State University

Website

https://pittstate.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1903

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pittsburg State University is a public Kansas Board of Regents institution in Pittsburg, Kansas, enrolling 7,000+ students from 36 states and 43 countries across five colleges and an Honors College, with revenue primarily from tuition, housing, and fees, and in-state tuition extended to 32 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate degrees
• Graduate programs
• Scholarship programs
• Online learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, fees, and associated educational costs assessed based on enrollment and course registration.
2. Housing Revenue: Revenue from on-campus student housing including residence halls and meal plans.
3. International Student Health Insurance: Fees for mandatory international student health insurance included in billing.
4. Scholarship Disbursements: Financial assistance programs including grants, scholarships, work-study, and federal student loans distributed to eligible students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Pittsburg State University delivers public higher education through undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs organized across five academic colleges plus an Honors College. It supports learners with the GUS student portal for enrollment, financial aid, billing, and academic records, and offers scholarship, housing, and career-aligned academic programs accredited by CAEP and AACSB. Complementary services include summer camps for youth, online and on-campus graduate study, and 2+2 transfer partnerships with Kansas community colleges.

Product overview

Pittsburg State University offers a comprehensive higher education portfolio through five academic colleges (Arts and Sciences, Kelce College of Business, College of Education, Crossland College of Technology, and Graduate School) plus an Honors College. The university operates GUS (Gorilla University System) as its central student portal for enrollment, financial aid, and billing management. Financial services include student accounts (Cashiers Office), financial assistance (grants, scholarships, loans), and payment processing through Transact Campus. Additional offerings include summer camps and programs for youth and high school students. The university provides in-state tuition for 32 states and maintains accreditation from CAEP and AACSB.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gorilla Athletics: The university's NCAA Division II athletic programs competing in the MIAA conference, known as the Gorillas
• Great Gorilla Scholarship Program
• Gorilla Connection
• Gorilla Dual Credit Program
• MyGUS

Products and services

• Graduate School Programs Nationally recognized and accredited master's, doctoral, and graduate certificate programs with flexible online or on-campus study options, research support, and graduate assistantships. Intended for working professionals and recent undergraduates seeking advanced credentials.
• Kelce College of Business AACSB-accredited business college offering undergraduate and graduate business programs in accounting, marketing, finance, and management. Intended for students pursuing business careers.
• College of Education CAEP-accredited education college offering teaching licensure programs from elementary through secondary education. Intended for students pursuing teaching careers.
• Crossland College of Technology Technology college offering programs including Diesel and Heavy Equipment, plastics technology, and construction management. Includes the electric semi truck training capability supported by The Larson Group's Peterbilt 579EV donation. Intended for students pursuing technical and applied technology careers.
• Honors College Elite honors program offering $6,000 in scholarships for four consecutive years plus a one-time $2,000 study abroad stipend. Requires ACT superscore of 28+ or 3.85 unweighted GPA. Intended for high-achieving high school graduates.
• Cashiers and Student Accounts Office Handles university revenue deposits, student account payments, and financial assistance disbursement. Offers eBill electronic billing, multiple payment options (online, mail, in-person), and tuition/housing payment plans for enrolled students.
• Student Financial Assistance Services Comprehensive financial aid services including federal and state grants (Pell, FSEOG, Kansas Comprehensive, Federal Teach), scholarships (Great Gorilla, departmental, honors, international), loans (Stafford, Perkins, Nursing, PLUS), and Federal Work Study employment. Available to eligible students.
• GUS (Gorilla University System) Portal Student portal providing access to enrollment, financial aid, scholarships, billing, transcripts, and direct deposit management. Includes GUS Classic for legacy student account services. Used by enrolled students to manage academic and financial records.
• Summer Camps and Programs Hands-on camps for children, high school students, and flexible summer classes led by professors, graduate students, and coaches. Covers sports, science and technology, and other activities. Intended for youth exploring campus life and college-level instruction.
• Gorilla Dual Credit Program Dual credit program allowing high school students to earn college credits while still in high school. Intended for high school students seeking early college credit.

Quantifiable outcome

• 394.6 yards per game and 29.2 points per contest in 2024 football season
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The Larson Group (TLG)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2026The Larson Group, a local heavy truck dealer, donated an 82,000 lb. GVWR Peterbilt Model 579EV Class 8 electric semi truck to Pittsburg State University's Crossland College of Technology to support the Diesel and Heavy Equipment program. TLG COO Melissa Larson (Pitt State alumna) stated the skills gained with this equipment directly match employer needs.
• Transact Campus (formerly CASHNet)coreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party vendor providing secure online payment systems for tuition, fees, and housing payments. Handles credit/debit card processing with convenience fees. Contract ensures FERPA and Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act compliance.
• Educational Computer Systems, Inc. (ECSI)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartnered with ECSI for processing and collecting Federal Perkins Loans and Federal Nursing Loans. Students can make payments online, via mobile app, by phone, or through bill pay services.
• Kansas Community Colleges (2+2 Programs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor2+2 agreements facilitate admission and academic transfer of students from participating community colleges throughout Kansas in various majors. Transfer equivalency guides help students plan course sequences.
• Kansas Board of RegentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPittsburg State University is a public institution governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. Board sets policies including organizational membership standards and tuition reciprocity agreements.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Emporia State University: Kansas Board of Regents regional public university with a similar enrollment profile, NCAA Division II athletics, and emphasis on teacher education and online graduate programs. Closest in mission, scale, and oversight structure to Pittsburg State.
• Fort Hays State University: Kansas Board of Regents regional public university known for its large online and distance-learning enrollment through the Virtual College. Competes directly with PSU for adult learners across the same multi-state reciprocity footprint.
• Washburn University: Kansas municipal regional public university serving a comparable mix of traditional and transfer students with applied programs in business, technology, and law enforcement. Similar mid-size enrollment and tuition-reciprocity positioning.
• Missouri Southern State University: Regional public university in Joplin, MO, just minutes from Pittsburg, KS, competing for the same southeast Kansas / southwest Missouri student market. Operates similar technology, business, and education programs with NCAA Division II athletics.
• University of Central Missouri: Regional public university in Warrensburg, MO, with a comparable mix of technology, business, and education programs and NCAA Division II athletics. Competes with PSU for transfer students from Missouri community colleges under similar 2+2 frameworks.
• Northeastern State University: Oklahoma regional public university with strong education and health science programs. Comparable enrollment size, NCAA Division II membership, and a focus on transfer and non-traditional student pathways.
• Missouri Western State University: Regional public university in St. Joseph, MO, with applied technology and professional programs comparable in scope and scale. Direct competitor for northwest Missouri and adjacent Kansas transfer students.
• Rogers State University: Oklahoma regional public university serving a similar mix of traditional, transfer, and online students with applied bachelor's programs and NCAA Division II athletics. Comparable scale and tuition-reciprocity strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Wichita State University: Larger Kansas Board of Regents urban research university offering overlapping business, engineering, and education programs. Operates as a broader incumbent competing for the same Kansas-resident and transfer pool with greater resources.
• Kansas State University: State's flagship land-grant university offering comprehensive academic and technology programs. Sets the tuition, research, and brand benchmark that smaller Kansas regionals like Pittsburg State compete against.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pittstate
• Facebookfacebook.com/66549515976
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pittsburg-state-university

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Pittsburg State University