Martin University

What Martin University does

Martin University is a private nonprofit Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) of higher education founded in 1977 and headquartered at 2186 North Sherman Drive in Indianapolis, Indiana. The university serves adult learners aged 35+, first-generation college students, and underserved communities — predominantly Black and African American populations historically underrepresented in higher education — through undergraduate and graduate programs delivered on-campus and online via the MU Global Campus. Core offerings include the School of Education, Master of Organizational Leadership, the Martin WORKS urban work-college apprenticeship program (claiming a 92% graduate placement rate), the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) assessment that allows students to earn up to 60 credits for prior experience, and the National Center for Racial Equity and Inclusion (NCREI). Pricing is structured as banded annual tuition (12–18 credit hours) with reductions of up to 45%, supplemented by employer-partner rates and grant-funded scholarships.

The business model is tuition-driven with significant philanthropic subsidy: cumulative disclosed grants of approximately $10.66 million (including $1M from Lilly Endowment in 2020, $1M from Indiana University Health in 2023, and $8.66M from the NBA Foundation in 2024) supported the Martin WORKS program and broader operations. Distribution is hybrid — direct on-campus enrollment, self-serve online enrollment through online.martin.edu, and employer-referred enrollment through Martin WORKS partners such as Eskenazi Health, USA Track & Field, Circle City Broadcasting, and First Financial Bank. The institution held Higher Learning Commission accreditation and Good Wages Initiative certification as of May 2025.

Critically, as of December 2025, the Board of Trustees voted to pause operations at year-end, terminate all staff, and advise students to transfer to other institutions following years of financial struggles — the university could not pay employees for hours already worked. President Dr. Sean L. Huddleston had stepped down effective November 28, 2025. The board is exploring reopening as an online-only institution, which would require reaccreditation. As of the latest data, the institution's operating status is closed, and only 48 degrees were conferred at the May 2025 commencement (26 undergraduate, 22 master's).

Name

Martin University

Legal name

Martin University

Website

https://martin.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Martin University is a private nonprofit Predominantly Black Institution in Indianapolis offering undergraduate and graduate degrees to adult, first-generation, and underserved learners via on-campus and MU Global Campus online delivery, anchored by the Martin WORKS apprenticeship and Credit for Prior Learning programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Nonprofit HBCUs (EDAHAMAB)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Adult degree programs
• Work-college apprenticeship
• Online degree programs
• Workforce development

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, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition. Banded tuition structure for 12-18 credit hours per semester. Special corporate partner tuition rates and significant tuition reductions (up to 45%) available for eligible students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Martin University is a private nonprofit higher education institution offering undergraduate and graduate academic degree programs delivered both on-campus in Indianapolis and online through the MU Global Campus. Its portfolio includes the Martin WORKS urban work-college apprenticeship program, Credit for Prior Learning assessments, the School of Education, and the Master of Organizational Leadership degree, with banded tuition and reductions of up to 45% to support adult and first-generation learners.

Product overview

Martin University is a higher education institution offering undergraduate and graduate academic programs through both traditional on-campus and online delivery via the MU Global Campus. The university's portfolio includes the Martin WORKS work-study program, Credit for Prior Learning assessment, School of Education with teacher preparation tracks, and the Reset and Re-Emerge Triple A initiative providing affordable tuition options. Additional offerings include the National Center for Racial Equity and Inclusion and the STRADA Scholars program. The institution positions itself as Indiana's only Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) focused on workforce-ready education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Martin WORKS: Indiana's only urban work college program providing students with paid internships and career development experiences
• MU Global Campus
• National Center for Racial Equity and Inclusion (NCREI)

Products and services

• MU Global Campus Martin University's online learning platform offering flexible, accessible undergraduate and graduate education for remote students via online.martin.edu.
• Martin WORKS Indiana's only urban work-college program enabling students to earn and learn while gaining paid work experience with employer partners; reports a 92% graduate placement rate.
• Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Academic program allowing students to earn up to 60 college credits for learning gained outside traditional classrooms through work history, military service, certifications, and life experiences.
• School of Education Academic division offering teacher preparation programs at undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Master of Organizational Leadership Graduate degree program focused on leadership development and organizational management.
• Reset and Re-Emerge Triple A Program Initiative focused on making education Accessible, Affordable, and Applicable, offering tuition reductions of up to 45% combined with Prior Learning Assessment to reduce time and cost to degree.
• National Center for Racial Equity and Inclusion (NCREI) Center dedicated to assisting leaders and organizations in strengthening diversity, equity, and inclusion through workshops, seminars, and consulting engagements.
• STRADA Scholars Program Scholarship program for academically high-achieving Indianapolis students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% graduate placement rate through Martin WORKS program
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and support.

• Marion County Sheriff's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 July 2022Partnership for the Martin WORKS Apprenticeship program, providing employment opportunities for students while they pursue their education. The collaboration creates a pathway from incarceration to employment through education.
• UNCF Institute for Capacity BuildingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership through UNCF (United Negro College Fund) for institutional capacity building as a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI).
• NAACPmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership for hosting Town Hall events and engaging the Black community in educational opportunities. Co-advocacy on equity and inclusion issues.
• Indiana Civil Rights CommissionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosting partnership for MLK celebration events and ongoing collaboration on civil rights education and community engagement.
• Eskenazi HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor employer partner in the Martin WORKS program, providing apprenticeship positions and career pathways for students in the healthcare sector.
• USA Track & FieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner providing Martin WORKS apprenticeship opportunities and employment pathways for students in sports and athletics administration.
• Circle City BroadcastingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner for Martin WORKS program offering media and broadcasting career pathways for students.
• First Financial BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner providing financial services career pathways through the Martin WORKS apprenticeship program.
• Ascend IndianamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development partner connecting Martin WORKS students with employment opportunities and career development resources.
• Department of Workforce DevelopmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState workforce agency partner supporting Martin WORKS program with workforce development resources and employment services.
• Eleven Fifty AcademymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoding bootcamp and technology training partner providing skills development pathways for Martin University students.
• Ivy Tech Community CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing transfer pathways and academic collaboration opportunities for students.
• Intend IndianasupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the Trent Garrett Fellowship, providing leadership development and workforce connection opportunities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Paul Quinn College: Small private nonprofit HBCU in Dallas with a work-college model and a focus on serving low-income and first-generation students. Closest peer on the combination of PBI/HBCU status, work-college approach, and small-scale private nonprofit operation.
• Marian University: Private Catholic university in Indianapolis with a School of Education and graduate professional programs, including adult-friendly formats. Directly comparable as a small private Indianapolis university offering undergrad and master's-level programs.
• Spelman College: Private nonprofit HBCU in Atlanta focused on undergraduate education for Black women, with strong outcomes and brand equity. Directly comparable on Black-serving mission, private nonprofit status, and emphasis on student support for underrepresented populations.
• University of Indianapolis: Private nonprofit university in Indianapolis offering undergraduate and graduate programs with strong adult-learner and workforce-aligned offerings. Comparable on geography, private nonprofit status, and a similar mix of professional and graduate programs.
• National Louis University: Private nonprofit urban university in Chicago with a strong focus on adult learners, prior learning assessment, and workforce-aligned programs. Highly comparable on adult-learner focus, prior learning credit model, and urban nonprofit structure.
• IU Indianapolis (formerly IUPUI): Major public research university in Indianapolis with broad undergraduate and graduate programs and significant adult-learner enrollment. Closest large-scale Indianapolis peer for higher education offerings, although nonprofit status differs.
• Voorhees College: Small private nonprofit HBCU in South Carolina with a historic mission of serving underserved African American populations. Comparable on private nonprofit HBCU/PBI alignment and small-scale operation, though geographic markets differ.

Emerging players

• Walden University: Online-focused university serving adult learners with applied and professional graduate programs. Comparable on adult-learner targeting and flexible online delivery (akin to MU Global Campus), though operating model and ownership structure differ.

Broad incumbents

• Tuskegee University: Established private nonprofit HBCU offering undergraduate and graduate programs across multiple disciplines. Comparable on Black-serving mission and private nonprofit status, but operates at substantially larger scale and broader research footprint.

Regional players

• Ivy Tech Community College: Indiana's community college system with extensive Indianapolis presence and a strong focus on workforce development, adult learners, and transfer pathways. Competes for the same adult-learner and first-generation student segments in Indianapolis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MartinU1977
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCp7cqBLljRIo6HoCc5vu34A
• Facebookfacebook.com/1420867741510429
• Instagraminstagram.com/martin_university1977
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/martin-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Martin University