What Anna Maria College does

Anna Maria College was a private Catholic institution of higher education located on a 260-acre campus at 50 Sunset Lane in Paxton, Massachusetts, minutes from Worcester. Founded in 1946 by the Sisters of Saint Anne with a mission to serve students who might not otherwise have the means to attend college, the college offered undergraduate and graduate degree programs across nursing, business, education, emergency management, fire science, social work, criminal justice, psychology, and forensics. It served a primarily regional student base of recent high school graduates, transfer students, working adults, and professionals seeking advanced degrees, and supported co-curricular engagement through 13 NCAA Division III sport programs and an esports program launched in 2020.

The college's core technology stack consisted of standard educational systems — a learning management system (Engage), a student information system (WebAMC / Online Student Services), and a campus-wide wireless network — alongside specialized clinical simulation labs for nursing that received a $1 million federal facility upgrade in 2023. Most notably, in October 2025 the School of Business launched an AI for Business major and minor pairing traditional business administration with AI courses in decision making, creativity, and ethics. Compliance posture included WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility alignment, FERPA-protected student records, and HIPAA/PCI DSS-aligned data handling. Strategic partnerships included federal funding secured via Congressman James P. McGovern and recurring local sponsorships (UniBank, Sodexo, Congress Asset Management, Boston Mutual, Hanover Insurance, Risk Strategies).

Revenue was generated primarily through tuition and mandatory fees supplemented by charitable donations and fundraising managed by the Office of Institutional Advancement under VP Ryan Murphy. The college provided scholarship aid to 99% of its students, indicating a heavy discount rate and limited pricing power typical of small, tuition-dependent private institutions. The Class of 2025 produced 355 graduates. On the corporate side, Anna Maria College had no parent company, no outside venture or private equity backing, and was not publicly traded. Operating status is closed: the college ceased academic operations at the end of the Spring 2026 semester and is now in a transition phase providing transcripts, transfer pathways, and alumni support only.

Name

Anna Maria College

Legal name

Anna Maria College

Website

https://annamaria.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Anna Maria College was a private Catholic college in Paxton, Massachusetts, founded in 1946 by the Sisters of Saint Anne, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing, business, education, and related fields. It ceased academic operations at the end of the Spring 2026 semester.

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

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Private higher education
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate studies
• Catholic college education
• Nursing and healthcare programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Paxton

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Anna Maria College generates primary revenue through tuition and mandatory fees charged to undergraduate and graduate students for academic instruction. Students pay comprehensive fees that cover educational services, with financial aid available to support enrollment.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The college actively solicits charitable contributions from alumni, parents, and friends through the Office of Institutional Advancement. Programs include the Anna Maria Fund, Leadership Giving Society, Legacy Society planned giving, annual golf tournaments, and specific campaign initiatives supporting scholarships and facility improvements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Anna Maria College is a private Catholic college offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across disciplines including nursing, business, education, emergency management, fire science, social work, criminal justice, psychology, and forensics. The institution provides on-campus instruction at its Paxton, Massachusetts campus along with online and hybrid program options for working adults. The college ceased academic operations at the end of the Spring 2026 semester.

Product overview

Anna Maria College is a private Catholic college offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The institution's primary educational offerings include traditional academic degree programs across various disciplines including Business, Nursing, Social Work, Education, Criminal Justice, and Psychology. The college recently launched a pioneering AI for Business major (beginning Fall 2025) as both a major and minor, which represents its most significant new academic product. This program is housed within the School of Business and combines core business administration curriculum with specialized AI courses including AI for Decision Making, AI for Creativity, and AI Ethics. The college also operates a clinical simulation lab for nursing and healthcare programs, an esports program, and a student podcast called The AMCAST. Additional offerings include certificate programs in areas such as Marketing and Financial Planning, as well as a 5th Year Masters program and Accelerated Degree Program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AI for Business (BS) An undergraduate degree program combining comprehensive business training with specialized artificial intelligence expertise, available as both a major and minor, emphasizing practical applications of AI for business with hands-on project-based learning and AI ethics.
• Undergraduate Degree Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of students receive scholarship aid
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SodexominorOthers · 2 June 2025Sodexo served as the Official Tournament Sponsor for the 16th Annual Golf Tournament benefiting Anna Maria College.
• Congress Asset ManagementminorOthers · 2 June 2025Congress Asset Management served as the Breakfast & Registration Sponsor for the 16th Annual Golf Tournament.
• Boston Mutual Life Insurance CompanyminorOthers · 2 June 2025Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company served as the Luncheon & Awards Sponsor for the 16th Annual Golf Tournament.
• Hanover Insurance Group FoundationminorOthers · 2 June 2025Hanover Insurance Group Foundation served as the Closest to the Pin Contest Sponsor for the 16th Annual Golf Tournament.
• Risk StrategiesminorOthers · 2 June 2025Risk Strategies served as the Cart Sponsor for the 16th Annual Golf Tournament.
• Congressman James P. McGoverncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2023Congressman James P. McGovern secured $1 million in federal funding for Anna Maria College to enhance nursing and healthcare simulation facilities. The funding supports construction and renovation including new obstetrics, gynecology, pediatric, and paramedic labs as part of a broader $20 million secured for Central Massachusetts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• College of the Holy Cross: Private Jesuit Catholic college located in Worcester, MA — the most direct peer given shared Catholic identity, private non-profit status, Central Massachusetts geography, and undergraduate-focused residential model.
• Assumption University: Private Catholic university in Worcester, MA offering undergraduate and graduate programs with values-based education — closely comparable in faith affiliation, regional footprint, and program mix including business and health sciences.
• Becker College: Former private college in Worcester, MA that closed in 2021 — directly comparable small private non-profit institution in the same region that experienced closure, illustrating the structural pressures facing the segment.
• Nichols College: Small private business-focused college in Dudley, MA — comparable in scale (small enrollment, private non-profit), mission (career-focused undergraduate education), and Central Massachusetts geography.

Regional players

• Fitchburg State University: Public state university in Fitchburg, MA serving North Central Massachusetts — comparable competitor for working-adult and traditional undergraduates in the same regional market as Anna Maria.
• Quinsigamond Community College: Public community college in Worcester, MA offering associate degrees and workforce training — regional competitor for transfer-oriented and adult learners in the same Worcester-area market.
• Worcester State University: Public state university in Worcester, MA serving similar regional undergraduate population with comparable programs in business, education, nursing, and social work — comparable competitor for the same student demographic.
• Mount Wachusett Community College: Public community college serving the same North Central Massachusetts region with two-year degrees, transfer pathways, and workforce programs — competing for the price-sensitive student segment Anna Maria targeted.

Broad incumbents

• Clark University: Private research university in Worcester, MA — overlapping geography and program offerings (business, psychology, education) but operating at a larger scale and more selective admissions tier than Anna Maria.
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Private research university in Worcester, MA — broader STEM-focused incumbent in the same market, competing for the same regional student pool and employer relationships.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/goannamaria
• Facebookfacebook.com/AnnaMariaCollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/anna-maria-college

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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 Anna Maria College