What Westcliff University does

Westcliff University is a private, for-profit higher education institution founded in 1993 and headquartered in Irvine, California. It operates across five colleges — Business, Technology & Engineering, Education, Nursing, and Law (through Western State College of Law) — and a vertically adjacent Westcliff Early Learning Academy. The institution holds WSCUC regional accreditation and ACBSP global accreditation for its College of Business, and is recognized as a Silver Military Friendly school.

The university's core technology stack is a conventional higher-ed Learning Management System, Student Information System, and Global Academic Portal (GAP), supplemented by differentiated programmatic features including the SMART MBA Consulting Capstone (placing students on real consulting engagements with C-suite mentors) and the LITE Center for faculty development. The catalog spans undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees (MBA, DBA, MSAI, MSCS, MSIT, MIST, MSEM, BSN, JD, EdD), certificate programs, and a coding bootcamp, delivered online, in hybrid formats, and at nine physical campuses across the U.S. and Canada.

Revenue is generated almost exclusively through tuition and fees under a subscription-style annual billing model, with pricing varying by program and modality. The go-to-market is sales-led and multi-channel, targeting four primary segments — working professionals, military/veterans, international students (F-1 visa), and online learners — through SEO, organic social (including Xiaohongshu for Chinese reach), chamber-of-commerce partnerships, and channel resellers such as King's College Nepal, Presidential Graduate School Nepal, and Beijing Saiyou. The institution serves 9,000+ students from 110+ countries, employs 1,001-5,000 staff, and is led by President and CEO Dr. Anthony Lee.

Name

Westcliff University

Legal name

Westcliff University

Website

https://www.westcliff.edu/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Westcliff University is a private, for-profit, regionally accredited institution founded in 1993 that serves 9,000+ students across five colleges (Business, Technology & Engineering, Education, Nursing, Law) at nine U.S. and Canadian campuses, with online delivery and international channel partnerships.

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

Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Degree programs
• Graduate business degrees
• Online learning
• Professional certificates

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition and fees for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs offered both online and at physical campuses. Programs include certificates and degree programs across Business, Technology, Nursing, Law, and Education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Westcliff University is a private, for-profit higher education institution that delivers accredited undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and certificate programs across Business, Technology & Engineering, Education, Law, and Nursing. Courses are offered in person at multiple North American campuses, fully online, and in hybrid formats (including Professional Weekend and 8-week accelerated schedules) targeted at working professionals, international students, and military-affiliated learners.

Product overview

Westcliff University is a private, regionally accredited higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of degree programs and educational services across five colleges: Business, Technology & Engineering, Education, Law, and Nursing. The university operates on a multi-campus model with nine locations across North America (Irvine Main Campus, Corona, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, San Francisco, Toronto, and international partnerships with King's College Nepal and Presidential Graduate School Nepal). The institution serves over 9,000 students from 110+ countries with a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Key offerings include undergraduate and graduate degrees (BBA, MBA, DBA, BSCS, MSCS, MSIT, MSAI, MSEM, BSN, JD), professional certificates (business, cybersecurity, coding bootcamp, TESOL), specialized programs (Master's in Trading in partnership with ITI, Master's in Information Systems and Technology at Canada campus), and innovative initiatives through the Innovation Hub (SMART™ MBA Consulting Capstone, AIpreneurship Competition). The university also operates the Westcliff Early Learning Academy for early childhood education. Westcliff emphasizes career-focused education with programs designed for working professionals, featuring flexible formats including online, hybrid, and professional weekend options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) Graduate business degree program designed for working professionals, ranked #2 among Southern California programs by LA Times. Features the SMART MBA Consulting Capstone that enables students to work as management consultants for global companies, regional brands, non-profits, and startups.
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Four-year undergraduate business degree program providing foundational business knowledge and skills for career preparation.
• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Doctoral-level business degree program for advanced business professionals seeking academic and industry leadership positions.
• Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) Graduate degree program in computer science offered in both online and residential formats through the College of Technology & Engineering.
• Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) Graduate degree program in information technology offered through the College of Technology & Engineering, available in online and residential formats. U.S. News & World Report recognized Graduate IT Program as a Best Online Program.
• Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI) Graduate degree program in artificial intelligence offered through the College of Technology & Engineering, focusing on AI technologies and applications.
• Master of Information Systems and Technology (MIST) Graduate degree program offered at the Canada campus with concentrations in cybersecurity and smart manufacturing, designed for working professionals with industry-aligned curriculum.
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) Four-year undergraduate degree in computer science offered through the College of Technology & Engineering.
• Doctor of Computer Science (DCS) Doctoral degree in computer science offered through the College of Technology & Engineering for advanced research and academic careers.
• Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM) Graduate degree combining engineering and business management principles, offered through the College of Technology & Engineering.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Four-year nursing degree program through the College of Nursing preparing students for registered nursing careers.
• Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing (ELM) Accelerated master's entry nursing program for individuals with non-nursing bachelor's degrees seeking to become registered nurses.
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) Law degree program offered through Western State College of Law at Westcliff University, preparing students for legal practice.
• Bachelor of Arts in Education (BAEd) Four-year undergraduate education degree program preparing students for teaching careers in K-12 settings.
• Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MATESOL) Graduate degree program preparing students to teach English as a second or additional language globally.
• Doctor of Education (EdD) Doctoral degree in education focusing on leadership, curriculum, and instruction for education professionals seeking administrative positions.
• Master's in Trading Degree Two-year graduate trading degree developed in partnership with the International Trading Institute (ITI), combining practical trading education with academic oversight. Delivered online with expert mentoring and trading simulations, starting October 2026.
• Graduate Certificates (Business) Graduate-level certificate programs including Business Administration, Executive Management, Marketing, Organizational Leadership, and Cybersecurity (24-week format).
• Undergraduate Certificates Certificate programs including Business Administration, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, Early Childhood Education (Administration and Teaching), Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Leadership, Sports Management, TESOL, and Education Technology.
• Full Stack Coding Bootcamp Coding bootcamp certificate program available at both undergraduate and graduate levels, in online and residential formats, focusing on full stack web development skills.
• Westcliff Early Learning Academy (WELA) Early childhood education program for children ages 18 months to six years, incorporating Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and nature-based educational approaches. Located in Irvine, California.

Named customers2 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• International Trading Institute (ITI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2026Partnership to offer an accredited Master's in Trading degree, scheduled to begin October 2026. The two-year online program combines ITI's practitioner-led trading education with Westcliff's academic accreditation and degree conferral, integrating technical trading skills with trading psychology coursework.
• ventureLABcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestcliff's Canadian campus in Markham, Ontario is co-located with ventureLAB's innovation hub in the original IBM building. This strategic location positions students within Canada's second-largest tech corridor ecosystem of founders, scale-ups, and corporate partners.
• King's College, NepalmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLongtime international partner institution offering Westcliff University programs to students in Nepal. Students from King's College have participated in global competitions like Map the System at Oxford University.
• Presidential Graduate School, NepalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational partner institution in Nepal offering Westcliff University educational programs.
• Beijing SaiyouminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership for recruitment and student services in China.
• OC United WayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership for volunteer initiatives including the no-sew blanket event benefiting local shelters serving veterans through Volunteers of America.
• Special Forces Sports FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to bring together student-athletes of all abilities for inclusive sports activities and camaraderie events.
• Dallas Regional Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngagement with the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce to align programs with local workforce needs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, home to 22 Fortune 500 headquarters.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National University: Private, nonprofit (formerly for-profit) university headquartered in San Diego with a heavy concentration of military and veteran students, hybrid and online programs, and a similarly diverse college structure (business, education, engineering, nursing, law). Direct peer on segment mix, military focus, and California footprint.
• DeVry University: Private, for-profit university offering undergraduate and graduate programs in business, technology, and healthcare with a hybrid/online model. Direct peer on for-profit status, technology and business program emphasis, and adult-learner focus.
• Strayer University: Private, for-profit university serving working adults with online and hybrid programs primarily in business and technology. Direct peer on for-profit status, working-professional target, and online/hybrid program model.
• Touro University: Private, nonprofit institution with multiple colleges including law, business, technology, education, and health sciences, and a significant osteopathic medicine presence. Comparable on multi-college structure, professional-school mix (especially law and education), and hybrid delivery.
• University of Phoenix: Largest US private, for-profit university serving working adults with online and hybrid degree programs across business, technology, nursing, and education. Most directly comparable on for-profit status, adult learner focus, and broad program portfolio, though it is materially larger and Apollo-owned.
• Western Governors University: Online-focused, competency-based nonprofit university serving working adults in IT, business, education, and nursing. Direct peer on online delivery, working-professional target, and tuition/value positioning, and a leading benchmark for scalable online program design.
• University of Arizona Global Campus: Online university formerly Ashford University, now affiliated with the University of Arizona and focused on working adults in business, education, healthcare, and technology. Direct peer on for-profit heritage, online delivery, and adult-learner programs.
• Southern New Hampshire University: Private nonprofit university with one of the largest online enrollment footprints in the US, with strong business, technology, and education programs. Direct peer on online scale, adult-learner focus, and aggressive program expansion strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Purdue University Global: Public, nonprofit online university affiliated with Purdue, targeting working adults with programs in business, IT, nursing, and education. Comparable as a large-scale, accredited online competitor; benefits from the Purdue brand that Westcliff lacks.

Emerging players

• Full Sail University: Private, for-profit university focused on entertainment, media, arts, and technology degrees. Comparable as a smaller, specialized for-profit competitor; intersects with Westcliff's technology and business programs but with a narrower creative-industries orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC59sBfAYi_O28QW75nqi4jw
• Facebookfacebook.com/westcliffuniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/westcliff-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/westcliffuniversity
• Xx.com/WestcliffU

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Westcliff University