Elmhurst University

What Elmhurst University does

Elmhurst University is a private, nonprofit liberal arts institution located in Elmhurst, Illinois, approximately 30 minutes from downtown Chicago. Founded in 1871 (institutional lineage; the institution was chartered as a college in 1924 and rebranded to Elmhurst University in 2021 to reflect its expanded graduate and doctoral footprint), the university enrolls more than 3,990 students across more than 70 undergraduate majors, 17 graduate degree programs, multiple graduate certificates, the Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy (ELSA) for young adults with differing abilities, and accelerated degree-completion tracks. Programs are delivered on campus, fully online (e.g., RN-to-BSN, DNP), and in hybrid/evening formats (EU Flex) through six academic schools spanning business, health sciences, arts and humanities, science and technology, education, and graduate studies.

The university's core technology footprint centers on a learning management system supporting online and hybrid course delivery and virtual simulation technology for nursing education housed in a newly opened $30 million Health Sciences Building (October 2025). It operates with a multi-channel enrollment model: direct admissions via the university website, admission-counselor-led campus visits and webinars, articulation/2+2 partnerships with 9+ Illinois community colleges channeling 500+ transfer students annually, dedicated military/veteran recruitment (Yellow Ribbon Program, Military Friendly Gold 2025), and international student services. A small-class, faculty-taught liberal arts model is reinforced by the Russell G. Weigand Career Center for Professional Excellence (WCCPE) and a study abroad program spanning 44 countries.

Revenue is driven primarily by tuition and fees (undergraduate, graduate, certificate, ELSA, and degree-completion programs), room and board for residential students, and financial aid flows (including federal aid and GI Bill benefits). Average financial aid is $25,830 per student, and 100% of admitted students receive scholarships, indicating significant institutional discount rates. Auxiliary revenue from auxiliary services, gifts (e.g., $300,000+ Jay It Forward Giving Day), and grants (including a 2019 NSF award of $2.75 million) supplement the tuition base. The institution holds regional accreditation, programmatic accreditations including for nursing, and is recognized by U.S. News & World Report (#7 Regional Universities Midwest, #3 Social Mobility, #3 Veterans, #14 Best Value, 2026).

Name

Elmhurst University

Legal name

Elmhurst University

Website

https://elmhurst.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Elmhurst University is a private liberal arts institution near Chicago serving 3,990+ students across 70+ undergraduate majors, 17 graduate programs, certificates, and accelerated degree-completion tracks, with revenue driven by tuition, room and board, and financial aid flows.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC), Undergraduate Teacher Education Colleges (EDAHAFAA)

Keywords

• Undergraduate education
• Graduate education
• Liberal arts programs
• Nursing programs
• Certificate programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Elmhurst

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition and Fees: Revenue from tuition and fees charged to undergraduate students for degree programs, with financial aid reducing actual costs for most students.
2. Graduate Tuition and Fees: Graduate programs charge tuition per credit hour or program, with stackable certificate programs providing additional revenue streams.
3. Room and Board (Auxiliary Services): On-campus housing and dining services generate auxiliary revenue from residential students.
4. Financial Aid (Government and Institutional): Federal and state financial aid programs, including GI Bill benefits for military veterans, flow through the institution to support student enrollment.
5. Certificate and Continuing Education Programs: Professional certificate programs in areas like data science, project management, and nursing provide non-degree revenue streams.
6. ELSA Program Tuition: The Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy (ELSA) charges tuition for its four-year post-secondary certificate program for young adults with differing abilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Elmhurst University is a private liberal arts university offering more than 70 undergraduate majors, 17 graduate degree programs, and graduate certificate programs across schools of business, health sciences, science/technology/mathematics, arts/humanities/social sciences, and graduate studies. Programs are delivered on campus, online, and in hybrid formats, and include accelerated degree-completion and specialized offerings such as the Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy (ELSA) for young adults with differing abilities.

Product overview

Elmhurst University is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs. The institution operates as a multi-school structure (School of Business, School of Arts/Humanities/Social Sciences, School of Health Sciences, School of Science/Technology/Mathematics, and School of Graduate Studies) providing over 70 undergraduate majors, 17 graduate degree programs (including MBA, Master of Project Management, M.S. in Supply Chain Management, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and various health sciences programs), and graduate certificate programs in fields like Data Science, Generative AI in Business Transformation, and Supply Chain Management. Additionally, the Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy (ELSA) offers a specialized four-year post-secondary certificate for young adults with differing abilities. The university serves diverse student populations through undergraduate, graduate, degree completion, and certificate pathways, with programs delivered in on-campus, online, and hybrid formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs More than 70 undergraduate majors across six academic schools, delivered through small classes with faculty mentorship, available on campus. Designed for first-year students, transfer students, and adult learners.
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) Graduate business degree program offered by the School of Business, preparing students for leadership roles with options for existing Elmhurst master's degree holders.
• Master of Project Management Graduate degree program designed to develop strategic mindset, technical skills, and leadership expertise for project management professionals in evolving fields.
• M.S. in Supply Chain Management Master's program addressing supply chain management careers with projected 11.2% annual market growth, preparing graduates for AI specialist and data scientist roles in logistics.
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Online doctoral program preparing nurses to manage complexity and lead change in healthcare settings.
• Master's Entry in Nursing Practice (MENP) Accelerated entry pathway for non-nursing bachelor's degree holders to become registered nurses; available in on-campus and online formats.
• M.S. in Nursing (MSN) Traditional Master of Science in Nursing program designed for current registered nurses seeking advanced practice roles.
• M.S. in Computer Information Systems Graduate program in the School of Science, Technology and Mathematics focused on computer information systems and technology management.
• M.S. in Data Science and Analytics Graduate degree program in data science and analytics offered through the School of Science, Technology and Mathematics.
• Master of Occupational Therapy Graduate program in the School of Health Sciences preparing students for occupational therapy practice.
• Master of Public Health Graduate public health degree program offered within the School of Health Sciences.
• M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders Graduate program focusing on communication sciences and disorders within the School of Health Sciences.
• M.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology Graduate program focused on industrial/organizational psychology, part of the psychology department offerings.
• M.S.Ed. in Special Education Master of Science in Education focused on special education within the Department of Education.
• M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership Master of Education program designed to develop teacher leadership competencies.
• Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy (ELSA) Four-year post-secondary certificate program for young adults ages 18-28 with differing abilities, focusing on independent living and employment skills.
• Data Science Certificate Graduate certificate program in data science, available online and designed for working professionals.
• Executive Coaching Certificate Graduate certificate program in executive coaching within the School of Business.
• Generative AI in Business Transformation Certificate Graduate certificate focusing on generative AI applications for business transformation and innovation.
• Marketing and Consumer Insights Certificate Graduate certificate program in marketing research and consumer insights.
• Network Administration Certificate Graduate certificate in network administration within the computer science and information systems department.
• Project Management Certificate Graduate certificate in project management, part of the Master of Project Management program offerings.
• Supply Chain Management Certificate Graduate certificate in supply chain management, aligned with the M.S. in Supply Chain Management degree.
• Elmhurst Management Program (Business Administration) Accelerated bachelor's degree completion program for adult students, designed to be completed in 18 months with classes one night per week.
• Distance Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program 100% online RN to BSN completion program with clinical locations near students' homes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average financial aid award of $25,830 per student
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City Colleges of ChicagocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArticulation agreement enabling seamless transfer of credits from City Colleges of Chicago to Elmhurst University. Partnership includes transfer guides and direct admission pathways.
• College of DuPagecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor2+2 programs and degree maps allowing students to complete first two years at COD then transfer to Elmhurst for bachelor's degree completion.
• College of Lake CountycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor2+2 program partnership facilitating transfer from College of Lake County to Elmhurst University.
• Elgin Community CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor2+2 program partnership enabling students to transfer from Elgin Community College to Elmhurst.
• Harper CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor2+2 programs and degree maps for Harper College students transferring to Elmhurst.
• Moraine Valley Community CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor2+2 program partnership with Moraine Valley Community College for transfer students.
• Oakton CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor2+2 program enabling Oakton College students to transfer to Elmhurst University.
• Triton CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor2+2 programs and degree maps for Triton College students transferring to Elmhurst.
• Waubonsee Community CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor2+2 program partnership with Waubonsee Community College for transfer pathways.
• Verto EducationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDirect transfer pathway partnership allowing Verto Education students to transfer to Elmhurst University.
• Kansai Gaidai University (Japan)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy abroad partnership in Japan allowing Elmhurst students to study at Kansai Gaidai University near Kyoto and Osaka.
• Liverpool Hope University (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy abroad partnership with Liverpool Hope University in England, UK.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wheaton College: Highly ranked private Christian liberal arts college in Wheaton, IL — comparable in geographic market and mission but with a stronger brand and higher selectivity; useful as an aspirational benchmark.
• Benedictine University: Private Catholic university in Lisle, IL serving ~2,500-3,000 students with comparable mix of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs in the same Chicago western-suburban market.
• North Central College: Private liberal arts college in Naperville, IL — a direct peer to Elmhurst in size, mission, Chicago suburban market, transfer/adult learner focus, and NCAA D-III athletics.
• Lewis University: Private Catholic university in Romeoville, IL with comparable size, faith-based identity, aviation/nursing/education programs, and Chicago-area adult learner recruitment model.
• Dominican University: Private Catholic university in River Forest, IL offering a similar portfolio of undergraduate majors, graduate degrees, and adult learner programs to students across the Chicago metro.
• Concordia University Chicago: Private Lutheran university in River Forest, IL with similar enrollment scale, strong education and health sciences programs, and overlapping Chicago suburban recruitment territory.
• Aurora University: Private university in Aurora, IL with similar enrollment scale (~5,000 students), strong transfer pipeline from local community colleges, and comparable graduate/health sciences emphasis.
• National Louis University: Private non-profit university in Chicago with a strong adult learner, education, and applied behavioral science focus, competing directly with Elmhurst's graduate and degree-completion offerings.
• Lake Forest College: Private liberal arts college in Lake Forest, IL with similar size (~1,700-2,000 students), small-class teaching model, and Chicago-area undergraduate focus, though more residential and selective.

Broad incumbents

• DePaul University: Larger private Catholic university in Chicago (20,000+ students) that competes with Elmhurst for graduate, transfer, and adult students across business, health, and education programs at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/elmhurstcollege
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ECvids
• Facebookfacebook.com/86293358032
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elmhurst-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/elmhurst.university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Elmhurst University