Pacific Oaks College

What Pacific Oaks College does

Pacific Oaks College is a private nonprofit higher education institution founded in 1958 in Pasadena, California, with organizational roots in the 1945 founding of Pacific Oaks Children's School by six local families under Quaker principles. The college serves adult and non-traditional learners through both online programs and its Pasadena campus, delivering undergraduate and graduate degrees across Early Childhood Education, Education, Teacher Credentialing, Human Development, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, Business and Management, and Social Work. It operates as an affiliate of The Community Solution Education System, a nonprofit college system joined in 2010, and is institutionally accredited by the WSCUC. The college is recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education.

The academic experience centers on culturally responsive pedagogy (notably the anti-bias curriculum framework developed by Faculty Emeritus Louise Derman-Sparks), cohort-based learning, and the proprietary Credit for Learning from Experience (CLE) program that lets students earn up to 24 prior-learning credits. Distribution occurs through three channels: the Pasadena campus, online programs (synchronous and asynchronous LMS delivery), and off-site cohort locations across Northern and Southern California. Revenue is generated primarily through annual tuition and fees, supplemented by federal grants (a $2.6 million U.S. Department of Education award in October 2023 supports the Latinx+ Student Success Initiative), donations, and partnership tuition discounts. The student population is 87.7% female with an average age of 36.3 years and 48.9%-55.7% Hispanic/Latino enrollment, addressing documented California workforce shortages in education, social work, and mental health.

Name

Pacific Oaks College

Legal name

Pacific Oaks College

Website

https://pacificoaks.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Pacific Oaks College is a Pasadena-based private nonprofit higher education institution serving adult and non-traditional learners through online programs and on-campus instruction in education, social work, marriage and family therapy, and human development, with a strong Hispanic-serving mission and 60+ year progressive-education heritage.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Online degree programs
• Teacher credentialing
• Social work education
• Marriage and family therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasadena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: The college generates primary revenue through tuition charges for undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Tuition and fee schedules are published on the college website with various financial aid options available including scholarships, grants, and federal student loans.
2. Federal Grants: Pacific Oaks College receives federal grant funding from government agencies, including a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support Hispanic and Latinx+ student success initiatives.
3. Donations and Philanthropy: The college operates a giving program supporting scholarships and institutional advancement, accepting donations from alumni, community members, and supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pacific Oaks College is a nonprofit, institutionally accredited institution of higher education that delivers bachelor's completion, master's, certificate, and credential programs. Programs are offered on campus in Pasadena, California and online, with concentrations in human development, early childhood education, social work, marriage and family therapy, and organizational leadership.

Product overview

Pacific Oaks College is a nonprofit, institutionally accredited higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate and graduate degree programs primarily focused on human development, education, and family studies. The academic offerings are organized as eight core degree programs (Early Childhood Education, Education, Teacher Credentialing, Human Development, Business and Management, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, and Social Work) delivered both on-campus in Pasadena and online. Supporting the core academic products are specialized modules including Credit for Learning from Experience (allowing up to 24 experiential credits), the Center for Achievement, Resources, and Enrichment (CARE) for student support services, and the Center for Community & Social Impact for community engagement initiatives. The institution also operates Pacific Oaks Children's School as a lab school for practical training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor's Completion Programs
• Master's Degree Programs
• Teaching Credentials
• Continuing Education and Certificate Programs
• Master of Social Work (MSW) Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 421 graduates celebrated at 2026 commencement entering workforce during California schools and mental health workforce shortages
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Community Solution Education SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Nonprofit system of colleges advancing student success and community impact. Pacific Oaks College and Children's School became part of TCEDS in 2010, sharing mission of training change agents to serve a global community.
• Young & HealthycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPasadena-based organization focused on children's health and wellness. Pacific Oaks' Center for Community & Social Impact collaborates on trauma-informed care training evaluation and school safety surveys.
• Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership through Student Success Collaborative addressing wide range of issues interfering with student educational success. Partnership includes parent engagement planning, support for low-performing students, and community schools initiatives.
• Heritage Housing Partners (HHP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit housing organization. Pacific Oaks assists in developing community needs assessments for low to middle income new home owning families and provides educational workshops.
• Leadership PasadenaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal leadership development organization. Pacific Oaks collaborates on data and outcomes development for veterans reintegration and employment preparation programs.
• Collaborate PASadenacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective impact initiative bringing together individuals, organizations, and businesses from Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre to improve lives of children and families. Pacific Oaks' CCSI serves as backbone organization.
• Pasadena: City of LearningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium of Pasadena organizations involved in education and learning. Pacific Oaks has served as host and facilitator since 2019.
• California Hispanic Chambers of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide organization representing over 800,000 Hispanic business owners. Partnership supports educational opportunities for Hispanic professionals and business community.
• Alma Fuerte Public SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic school with entrepreneurship focus in Pasadena area. Partnership provides educational pathways and learning opportunities for students.
• The LGBTQ Center Long BeachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization advancing equity for LGBTQ people through education, advocacy, and services. Partnership supports diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• American English CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnglish language school in Monterey Park and Rowland Heights, CA. Pacific Oaks applicants receive $350 partner scholarship toward English studies.
• California Head Start AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState association providing leadership and advocacy for Head Start community. Builds on Pacific Oaks' history as one of first institutions to launch Head Start training programs.
• CAPSESminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization of nonpublic schools and agencies specializing in private special education services. Partnership supports professional development and educational opportunities.
• Learning for Equity (L4E)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization addressing systemic racism through community-based participatory models. Partnership supports JEDI framework implementation and policy change initiatives.
• YWCA-Greater Los AngelesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNonprofit eliminating racism and empowering women. Partnership provides special tuition rate for YWCA employees in any degree program on campus or online.
• Total Education Solutions (TES)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvider of education and therapeutic services for children and adults with special needs. Partnership offers tuition benefits for TES employees and partner organizations.
• International Child Resource Institute (ICRI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization focused on early childhood care and education worldwide. Partnership aligns with Pacific Oaks' mission in child development and education.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Alliant International University: Nonprofit university specializing in psychology, MFT, counseling, education, and social work with hybrid and online delivery. Comparable to Pacific Oaks in its concentration in mental-health practitioner programs and adult-learner focus.
• Saybrook University: Nonprofit humanistic university offering graduate programs in psychology, counseling, and human services with a strong online and low-residency model. Comparable to Pacific Oaks in its focus on humanistic and culturally responsive graduate education for adult learners.
• Fielding Graduate University: Nonprofit graduate university offering low-residency and online programs in psychology, education, and human development for mid-career professionals. Comparable in its adult-learner focus, graduate-level program mix, and progressive educational philosophy.
• Phillips Graduate University: Small nonprofit graduate school focused on psychology, MFT, and counseling with a practitioner-oriented, adult-learner focus. Closely comparable to Pacific Oaks in size, mission, and concentration on mental-health practitioner training.
• Antioch University: Nonprofit university system with a progressive, social-justice-oriented mission and a focus on adult and nontraditional learners across multiple U.S. campuses and online. Highly comparable to Pacific Oaks in mission, learner demographic, and program mix in education, counseling, and human services.
• The Chicago School: Nonprofit professional university focused on psychology, counseling, MFT, and education with multiple U.S. campuses and online programs. Comparable in mission and in heavily serving adult learners seeking practitioner credentials.

Broad incumbents

• University of Phoenix: Large for-profit online university historically focused on working adults across business, education, and human services. A broad incumbent with overlapping target market but a much larger operating scale and national footprint.
• National University: Large nonprofit university with extensive online programs serving adult learners, including education, social work, and counseling. Operates at a much larger scale but addresses the same adult-learner segment with overlapping program offerings.
• Walden University: Large for-profit online university specializing in graduate programs in counseling, social work, education, and psychology for adult professionals. Overlapping program mix with Pacific Oaks but operating at significantly greater scale.
• Brandman University (UMass Global): Nonprofit online and hybrid university serving adult learners with programs in education, social work, business, and psychology. Comparable in serving working adults, with a larger footprint and similar credential-bearing degree offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pacific-oaks-college
• Xx.com/pacificoaks
• Facebookfacebook.com/42224809904

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Pacific Oaks College