What Spertus Institute does

Spertus Institute is a private, non-profit institution of higher Jewish learning founded in 1924 and headquartered in a single award-winning campus at 610 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and partners with the Jewish United Fund in serving the Chicago Jewish community. The institution delivers graduate degrees and professional certificates through a hybrid model combining in-person seminars on the Chicago campus with asynchronous and synchronous online coursework, serving working professionals across North America and globally.

The core product portfolio comprises five graduate degree programs (MA in Jewish Professional Studies, Executive MA in Jewish Professional Studies, MA in Jewish Studies, Doctor of Science in Jewish Studies, and Doctor of Hebrew Letters) and five certificate programs (Certificate in Jewish Leadership with Northwestern University, Certificate in Synagogue Executive Leadership with NATA, Leadership Certificate in Combating Antisemitism for Professionals, Leadership Certificate in Combating Antisemitism for Lay Leaders, and Certificate in Israel Leadership with CAJE). Supporting services include the closed-stacks Asher Library, the Feinberg eCollection digital research platform with access to Otzar haHochma, and SpertusNet public subscription access. Faculty are senior practitioners in Jewish studies and communal leadership, including a President & CEO and Chief Academic Officer both holding MIT PhDs.

Spertus operates a cohort-based, admissions-led GTM model with dedicated admissions staff (e.g., Associate Director for Recruitment) handling application requirements including essays, references, transcripts, and interviews. Revenue is generated from tuition (undisclosed), $50–$75 non-refundable application fees, SpertusNet annual subscriptions, and philanthropic support including a Second Century Commitment capital campaign. The institution's customer base consists of Jewish communal professionals (Hillel, JCC, federation, day school, synagogue, and advocacy organization staff), lay leaders/trustees, and Jewish studies scholars; recent alumni placements span 18+ named organizations across the US, Canada, and Israel. Strategic distribution is amplified by the 2026 NJHSA Strategic Supporter partnership, which provides access to 170+ Jewish human service agencies serving over 2 million people annually.

Name

Spertus Institute

Legal name

Spertus Institute

Website

https://spertus.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Spertus Institute is a Chicago-based, non-profit institution of higher Jewish learning founded in 1924 that delivers graduate degrees and professional certificates in Jewish professional studies, Jewish studies, and antisemitism response to working professionals across North America and globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Jewish Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Jewish Theological Seminaries & Rabbinical Colleges (EDAHAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA), Research & Lab-Based Short-Term Programs (Undergraduate/Graduate) (EDAIAIAF)

Keywords

• Jewish higher education
• Graduate degree programs
• Professional leadership certificates
• Communal leadership training
• Jewish studies scholarships

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Graduate Degree Programs: Tuition-based graduate programs including MA in Jewish Professional Studies, Executive MA in Jewish Professional Studies, MA in Jewish Studies, Doctor of Science in Jewish Studies, and Doctor of Hebrew Letters. Programs serve students in Chicago and worldwide with cohort-based and seminar-based formats.
2. Certificate Programs: Professional development certificates including Certificate in Jewish Leadership (in partnership with Northwestern University), Leadership Certificate in Combating Antisemitism for Professionals, Leadership Certificate in Combating Antisemitism for Lay Leaders, Certificate in Synagogue Executive Leadership (in partnership with NATA), and Certificate in Israel Leadership.
3. Library Services: SpertusNet annual subscriptions for public access to the Feinberg eCollection and Asher Library Primo Catalog for non-student public users.
4. Donations and Memberships: Philanthropic support through donations, membership programs, and Second Century Commitment campaign.
5. Application Fees: Non-refundable application fees: $50 for MAJPS and certificate programs, $75 for Doctor of Hebrew Letters. Fees waived for applications submitted by Preferred Admissions deadlines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Spertus Institute is a non-profit academic institution of higher Jewish learning offering graduate degrees (MA in Jewish Professional Studies, Executive MAJPS, MA in Jewish Studies, Doctor of Science in Jewish Studies, Doctor of Hebrew Letters) and professional certificate programs (Jewish Leadership, Synagogue Executive Leadership, Combating Antisemitism, Israel Leadership) for working professionals and scholars. It supports these programs with the Asher Library closed-stacks collection, the Feinberg eCollection digital repository, Otzar haHochma database access, and the SpertusNet public membership subscription service.

Product overview

Spertus Institute is an academic institution of higher Jewish learning offering a portfolio of graduate degrees and certificate programs designed for working professionals. The core academic offerings include MA in Jewish Professional Studies (with an Executive variant), MA in Jewish Studies, Doctor of Science in Jewish Studies, and Doctor of Hebrew Letters. Certificate programs include the Certificate in Jewish Leadership (in partnership with Northwestern University), Certificate in Synagogue Executive Leadership (in partnership with NATA), Leadership Certificate in Combating Antisemitism (for both professionals and lay leaders), and Certificate in Israel Leadership. Supporting services include Asher Library (a closed-stacks academic collection), the Feinberg eCollection (digital access to Biblical/Rabbinic sources and scholarly journals), and SpertusNet (public membership access to digital resources). The institution serves students both in Chicago and worldwide through hybrid and online learning formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Asher Library: Spertus Institute's Asher Library is a closed-stacks, remote-access academic and special collections library providing borrowing privileges to Spertus students, faculty, and staff. Its collection includes Jewish-interest books, periodicals, music, maps, and movies.

Products and services

• MA in Jewish Professional Studies Cohort-driven master's degree program providing values-based professional and leadership development for those serving Jewish organizations across North America.
• Executive MA in Jewish Professional Studies Executive-level master's degree program for senior Jewish communal professionals to advance their leadership credentials and professional competencies.
• MA in Jewish Studies Master's degree program carrying on Spertus Institute's decades-long role as a pioneer in Jewish studies scholarship.
• Doctor of Science in Jewish Studies Doctoral program in Jewish Studies offered by Spertus Institute.
• Doctor of Hebrew Letters Doctoral program for Jewish scholars pursuing advanced studies in Hebrew Letters.
• Certificate in Jewish Leadership Certificate program presented in partnership with Northwestern University for developing Jewish communal leaders.
• Certificate in Synagogue Executive Leadership (CSEL) Certificate program offered in partnership with the National Association for Temple Administration (NATA) for synagogue executives.
• Leadership Certificate in Combating Antisemitism for Professionals Innovative certificate program for executives and senior leaders of Jewish organizations to gain tools and confidence to respond to antisemitism.
• Leadership Certificate in Combating Antisemitism for Lay Leaders Certificate program for trustees and board members of Jewish organizations to gain tools and confidence to respond to antisemitism.
• Certificate in Israel Leadership Certificate program providing Israel leadership training as a blueprint for Jewish communities across North America.
• Asher Library Closed-stacks, remote-access academic and special collections library providing borrowing privileges to Spertus students, faculty, and staff, featuring Jewish-interest books, periodicals, music, maps, and movies.
• Feinberg eCollection Online access providing full-text access to Biblical and Rabbinic sources as well as scholarly journals, including access to Otzar haHochma, available to Spertus students, faculty, and staff.
• SpertusNet Annual subscription service providing public online access to the Feinberg eCollection and Otzar haHochma for non-student members.
• Public Programs Public programs serving students in Chicago and worldwide, featuring thought leadership, research, and educational content addressing issues in Jewish education and community building.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15 graduates in 2026 cohort joining thousands of alumni advancing Jewish organizations worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Network for Jewish Human Service Agencies (NJHSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Spertus Institute announced a formal partnership with NJHSA and is considered a Strategic Supporter. NJHSA represents over 170 nonprofit Jewish service organizations in the United States, Canada, and Israel that serve over 2 million people annually. This partnership enhances Spertus's reach into the Jewish human services sector.
• National Association for Temple Administration (NATA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Certificate in Synagogue Executive Leadership is a partnership between Spertus Institute and NATA. The inaugural cohort culminated in 2026, training synagogue executives in professional leadership skills.
• Northwestern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertificate in Jewish Leadership is presented in partnership with Northwestern University. This collaboration combines Spertus's Jewish educational expertise with Northwestern's academic infrastructure and credentials.
• Jewish United Fund / Jewish Federation of Metropolitan ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpertus Institute is a partner with the Jewish United Fund in serving the Chicago Jewish community. JUF/JFMC collaborates with Spertus on initiatives including antisemitism prevention workshops and community programming.
• Higher Learning CommissioncoreOthersSpertus Institute is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditor for colleges and universities in the United States. This accreditation validates the institution's academic quality and standards.
• CAJE (Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpertus Institute partnered with CAJE on the Certificate in Israel Leadership program, offering a blueprint for other Jewish communities across North America.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Jewish University: American Jewish University in Los Angeles offers graduate degrees and rabbinic training for Jewish professionals. Similar institutional profile to Spertus as a smaller, specialized Jewish higher education institution with multiple professional credentialing programs.
• Gratz College: Gratz College offers graduate degrees in Jewish education, Jewish studies, and Holocaust/genocide education. Closely comparable to Spertus as a niche Jewish-focused graduate institution serving working professionals through hybrid learning.
• Hebrew College: Hebrew College in Boston offers graduate and rabbinical programs, Jewish education training, and interfaith studies. Closely comparable to Spertus as a pluralistic Jewish higher education institution offering professional and lay leader credentialing.
• Yeshiva University: Yeshiva University provides undergraduate, graduate, and rabbinic training with strong Jewish studies offerings and a New York campus. Directly comparable to Spertus in delivering Jewish-focused higher education and professional credentials.
• Reconstructionist Rabbinical College: RRC is a rabbinical seminary that also offers graduate programs in Jewish studies for lay leaders and Jewish professionals. Directly comparable to Spertus in mission and credentials offered, though smaller in alumni reach.
• Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion: Hebrew Union College (HUC) is the primary Reform Jewish seminary in North America offering rabbinic ordination, doctoral, and graduate programs. Directly comparable to Spertus in mission (Jewish professional leadership formation) and target audience (Jewish communal professionals), though HUC is larger and ordination-focused.
• The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS): JTS is the flagship Conservative Jewish seminary offering rabbinic ordination and graduate degrees in Jewish studies, education, and communal service. Closest direct peer to Spertus along academic credentialing, library assets, and Jewish studies focus, though with broader denominational scope.

Emerging players

• Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies: Pardes Institute offers immersive Jewish text study and professional development programming. Comparable to Spertus as a Jewish learning provider serving adult professionals, though more focused on open-curriculum text study rather than degree-granting.

Others

• Jewish National Fund (JNF) University Education Programs: JNF runs education and leadership programs that touch the same Jewish communal professional audience Spertus serves. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem organization supporting Jewish educational outcomes, though not a direct credentialing competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Brandeis University: Brandeis is a research university with the Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry and a prominent Jewish studies department. Spertus faculty previously served at Brandeis's Crown Center — it operates as a broader-incumbent alternative for Jewish studies credentials with greater name recognition and resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Spertus-Institute-of-Jewish-Studie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spertus-institute-for-jewish-learning-and-leadership
• Instagraminstagram.com/spertusinst
• Xx.com/spertus

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Spertus Institute