Widener University

What Widener University does

Widener University is a private, non-profit (501(c)(3)) comprehensive university founded in 1821 and headquartered in Chester, Pennsylvania, with additional campuses in Harrisburg, PA (Widener Law Commonwealth) and Wilmington, DE (Delaware Law School). The institution serves prospective undergraduate students, graduate and professional students, working adults, military-affiliated students, and international students across eight colleges and schools: the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Health & Human Services, School of Business Administration (AACSB-accredited), School of Engineering (ABET-accredited), Dwyer School of Nursing (CCNE-accredited), Center for Continuing Studies, Commonwealth Law School, and Delaware Law School.

The university delivers degree programs through on-campus, hybrid, and 100% online modalities using a standard third-party stack — Canvas LMS for course delivery, Zoom for synchronous virtual instruction, and Microsoft Office 365 for productivity — supplemented by on-campus simulation laboratories (the Center for Simulation in the Dwyer School of Nursing, the Clinical Anatomy Lab, the Chester Community Clinic, and the Speech-Language Pathology Clinic) that support hands-on clinical training. Specialized doctoral and master's programs in physical therapy (DPT), occupational therapy (OTD), physician assistant studies, clinical psychology (PsyD), speech-language pathology (MS), health professions education (PhD), and law (JD) carry the relevant programmatic accreditations and report strong licensure pass and graduation rates.

The revenue model is tuition-based across four recurring streams: undergraduate tuition, graduate and law tuition, adult and continuing studies tuition, and financial aid / scholarship funding (with $50M awarded annually, ROTC scholarships covering up to 100% of tuition, transfer scholarships starting at $20,000/year, and 85% of full-time graduate students receiving financial aid). The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via segmented admissions processes (undergraduate, graduate, adult and continuing studies, transfer, international, military/veteran) deployed across the website, social channels, campus events (Twilight Tours, robotics summer camps), email communications, the Far & Widener podcast, and earned media. Pricing is subscription/recurring per credit ($730–$1,090 per credit depending on program), with employer and alumni discounts (20% for Widener graduates) layered on top. Articulation partnerships with Bloomsburg, Gwynedd Mercy, and Immaculata universities extend Widener's clinical-training role into partner-institution degree pipelines.

Name

Widener University

Legal name

Widener University

Website

https://widener.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1821

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Widener University is a private, non-profit comprehensive university founded in 1821, operating across campuses in Chester, PA, Harrisburg, PA, and Wilmington, DE, and serving undergraduate, graduate, professional, and adult students through accredited programs in business, engineering, nursing, law, and health sciences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Land-Grant–Like/Extension-Oriented Private Research Universities (Applied Outreach) (EDAHABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate professional programs
• Law school education
• Continuing adult studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Chester Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition: Full-time undergraduate degree programs with annual tuition based on credit load and program of study
2. Graduate & Law Tuition: Graduate and professional degree programs including master's, doctoral, and law degrees with per-credit pricing
3. Adult & Continuing Studies: Flexible online and hybrid programs designed for working adults, including associate's, bachelor's, and certificate programs
4. Financial Aid & Scholarships: University offers $50 million in scholarships and grants annually; ROTC scholarships cover up to 100% of tuition; transfer scholarships start at $20,000 per year for undergrads; 85% of full-time grad students receive financial aid

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Widener University is a private, non-profit institution that delivers accredited undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional degree programs across eight colleges and schools, including Arts & Sciences, Health & Human Services, AACSB-accredited Business, ABET-accredited Engineering, CCNE-accredited Nursing, two ABA-accredited law schools, and a Center for Continuing Studies for adult learners. Programs are offered on campus in Chester, PA and at two law campuses (Harrisburg and Wilmington), as well as in fully online and hybrid formats.

Product overview

Widener University is a private comprehensive university offering a multi-campus portfolio of academic programs across eight colleges and schools. The institution provides undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional degree programs through its College of Arts & Sciences, College of Health & Human Services, School of Business Administration (AACSB-accredited), School of Engineering (ABET-accredited), Dwyer School of Nursing (CCNE-accredited), Center for Continuing Studies, Commonwealth Law School, and Delaware Law School. Specialized professional programs include speech-language pathology (CAA-accredited), health professions education (PhD), radiologic technology (JRCERT-accredited), physical therapy (CAPTE-accredited), occupational therapy (ACOTE-accredited), physician assistant studies (ARC-PA accredited), clinical psychology (APA-accredited), and two ABA-accredited law schools. Programs are offered in on-campus, online, and hybrid formats to serve diverse student populations including traditional undergraduates, working adults, and graduate professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• College of Arts & Sciences Academic college offering undergraduate programs in humanities, sciences, and liberal arts, including ACS-accredited chemistry, biology, and social sciences majors, serving residential undergraduate students on the Chester campus.
• College of Health & Human Services Graduate and professional college offering degree programs in speech-language pathology, clinical psychology, social work, and counselor education for students pursuing health and human services careers.
• School of Business Administration AACSB-accredited business school offering undergraduate and graduate programs in accounting, finance, marketing, and management, held by only 5% of business schools worldwide.
• School of Engineering ABET-accredited engineering school offering undergraduate programs in biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, and robotics engineering disciplines.
• Dwyer School of Nursing CCNE-accredited nursing school offering bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and certificate programs in nursing, including accelerated BSN, nurse practitioner, and DNP pathways, supported by the Center for Simulation and disaster simulation exercises.
• Commonwealth Law School (Widener Law Commonwealth) ABA-accredited law school located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, offering Juris Doctor and joint degree programs serving the central Pennsylvania region.
• Delaware Law School ABA-accredited and CCB-accredited law school located in Wilmington, Delaware, offering JD and master's degree programs in law serving the Delaware region.
• Center for Continuing Studies Adult education division offering online and hybrid associate's, bachelor's, and certificate programs designed for working adults, including allied health programs such as radiologic technology.
• Speech-Language Pathology (MS) CAA-accredited Master of Science program preparing students for careers as speech-language pathologists, featuring clinical training through the SLP Clinic and Chester Community Clinic; tuition $1,090 per credit, 67 credits, $73,030 total program cost.
• Health Professions Education (PhD) Hybrid doctoral program focused on leadership development in health professions education, preparing students for faculty positions and educational research roles; tuition $1,020 per credit, 57 credits, $58,140 total program cost.
• Radiologic Technology (AS) JRCERT-accredited associate degree program combining online prerequisite coursework with 24 months of on-campus clinical training in radiologic technology; prerequisites $720 per credit (12 credits, $8,640), program $730 per credit (45 credits, $32,850); 92% first-time certification pass rate.
• Physical Therapy (DPT) CAPTE-accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy program preparing students for physical therapy practice, with 91% two-year average graduation rate and 95% first-time NPTE pass rate.
• Occupational Therapy (OTD) ACOTE-accredited occupational therapy doctorate preparing students for certification and licensure as occupational therapists via the NBCOT examination.
• Physician Assistant Studies (MS) ARC-PA accredited physician assistant program preparing students for the PANCE certification exam.
• Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology (PsyD) APA-accredited Doctor of Psychology program preparing students for careers in clinical psychology practice.
• Online Degree Programs Collection of online and hybrid degree programs across multiple disciplines delivered via Canvas LMS, offering flexibility for working adult students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of undergrad Class of 2025 achieved career goals within 6 months of graduation
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bloomsburg UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArticulation partnership allowing Bloomsburg University students to complete the clinical portion of their radiologic technology degree at Widener's Chester campus. Students receive a certificate from Widener and their degree from Bloomsburg.
• Gwynedd Mercy UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArticulation partnership allowing Gwynedd Mercy University students to complete the clinical portion of their radiologic technology degree at Widener's Chester campus. Students receive a certificate from Widener and their degree from Gwynedd Mercy.
• Immaculata UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArticulation partnership allowing Immaculata University students to complete the clinical portion of their radiologic technology degree at Widener's Chester campus. Students receive a certificate from Widener and their degree from Immaculata. Widener also maintains a 3+2 and 4+2 articulation agreement for speech-language pathology.
• Coalition of Culturally Competent Providers (CCCP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between Widener and CCCP invites new conversations about community care and creates opportunities for health and human services students to engage with culturally competent care practices.
• Philadelphia Union / WSFS SportsplexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWidener lacrosse team utilizes the WSFS Sportsplex at Philadelphia Union for practice when campus fields are snow covered, demonstrating community partnership with professional sports organization.
• Regional Healthcare FacilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with select regional institutions for clinical education, allowing radiologic technology students to complete clinical training at Widener's Chester campus. Also includes partnerships for nursing clinical rotations and disaster simulation exercises with Chester first responders.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of the Sciences (now part of Saint Joseph's University): Philadelphia-area private nonprofit university with a strong health-sciences portfolio (pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy) and similar mix of undergraduate and graduate professional programs. The 2022 merger with Saint Joseph's illustrates both the value and the scale pressure facing Philadelphia private universities of Widener's profile.
• La Salle University: Philadelphia private nonprofit university offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs with a comparable mid-size enrollment profile, similar tuition model, and overlapping health-sciences and business programs. Direct competitor for Philadelphia-area students in the same tri-state market.
• Holy Family University: Small Philadelphia-area Catholic private nonprofit university with undergraduate and graduate programs including nursing and education, similar size and pricing tier. Comparable in scale, tuition dependence, and regional draw.
• Gwynedd Mercy University: Small private Catholic university in suburban Philadelphia with strong nursing and health-sciences programs, articulation partnership with Widener. Comparable in size, tuition model, and program mix, and operates in the same regional admissions market.
• Immaculata University: Small private Catholic university in suburban Philadelphia with traditional undergraduate and adult/graduate programs, with an existing articulation agreement with Widener for radiologic technology and speech-language pathology. Directly comparable in size, mission, and regional positioning.
• Arcadia University: Private nonprofit university in suburban Philadelphia with strong physical therapy and other health-sciences graduate programs, comparable mid-size enrollment, similar tuition tier, and overlapping program portfolio including pre-professional and graduate health sciences.

Broad incumbents

• Drexel University: Larger Philadelphia private research university with a co-op model that is the benchmark Widener references in its 14%-above-national-average claim. Competes for similar Philadelphia-area students and in health-sciences graduate programs at a higher price tier.
• Temple University: Large Philadelphia-area public research university with broad undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs including law. Competes for the same tri-state student pool across both undergraduate and graduate/law segments but at a meaningfully lower price point as a public institution.

Emerging players

• Western Governors University: Large, fully online nonprofit university specializing in adult-learner undergraduate and graduate degrees at a flat tuition model. Direct competitor for Widener's adult & continuing studies and online programs, applying structural pricing pressure across the segment.
• Southern New Hampshire University: Large nonprofit university with a fast-growing online division serving adult learners nationwide at low per-credit pricing. Competes with Widener's online and adult continuing studies programs and represents the most aggressive volume-based threat in online adult education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wideneruniv
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WidenerUniv
• Facebookfacebook.com/104036902966802
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/widener-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/wideneruniversity
• TikToktiktok.com/@wideneruniversity

Compliance13 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Widener University