Anderson University

What Anderson University does

Anderson University is a private, non-profit Christian liberal arts university founded in 1917 and located in Anderson, Indiana. It operates across 57 majors and 51 minors, with an academic portfolio spanning traditional undergraduate, adult and online, graduate, certificate, and pre-college programs. The institution's curricular signature includes a 30+ location international study-service term (Tri-S), ABET-accredited engineering, and NCTQ-distinguished teacher preparation. The Center for Security Studies and the Cyber Launchpad program anchor an emerging cybersecurity vertical that feeds into the Indiana Cyber Network K-12 partnership.

Revenue is generated primarily from undergraduate tuition ($37,600/year published price), with total cost of attendance of $52,620, plus graduate and adult program tuition, housing, dining, and auxiliary fees. The institution distributes 200+ scholarships up to $23,000 per year and operates six enrollment start dates to smooth adult-learner cash flow. Roughly 40% of the student body commutes, which lowers residence-hall revenue intensity relative to residential peers. Fitch maintains a B- issuer default rating with a negative outlook, citing small and declining enrollment, weak liquidity, and structural operating deficits. The tuition freeze through 2027-28 represents a deliberate defensive pricing posture to support affordability and stabilize demand against the demographic and competitive headwinds facing small private institutions.

The operational technology stack is conventional SaaS (Canvas LMS, Okta SSO, Nelnet for student payments, Eventbrite for events). The institution is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and maintains articulation partnerships with Ivy Tech Community College and the Indiana Cyber Network, which together create cross-institutional pipeline and credentialing pathways. Headcount is reported in the 251-500 employee range.

Name

Anderson University

Legal name

Anderson University

Website

https://anderson.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Anderson University is a private, non-profit Christian liberal arts university in Anderson, Indiana, founded in 1917. It serves traditional undergraduates, adult learners, and graduate students across 57 majors, with signature programs in engineering, teacher preparation, cybersecurity, and international study-service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities (EDAHABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Christian liberal arts
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Adult online learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Anderson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition and Fees: Full-time undergraduate tuition at $18,800 per semester ($37,600 annually), plus room ($7,340/year), board ($6,360/year), and fees ($1,320/year), totaling approximately $52,620 annually for traditional students.
2. Graduate and Adult Education Programs: Graduate programs including MBA ($595/credit hour, $21,420 total program), Master of Organizational Leadership ($17,850 total), Seminary ($545/credit hour), and Doctor of Business Administration ($860/credit hour). Adult undergraduate programs at $415/credit hour.
3. Lilly Endowment Grant: Received $250,000 planning grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. for neighborhood revitalization and infrastructure projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Anderson University is a private Christian liberal arts university that delivers residential undergraduate degrees, online and adult degree completion programs, graduate degrees (MBA, MOL, MDiv, DBA), professional certificates, and pre-college dual-credit programs. Coursework is delivered through on-campus instruction in Anderson, Indiana, as well as through fully online and hybrid formats supported by Canvas LMS and Okta SSO. The university also provides supporting services including financial aid counseling, student housing and dining, and the Tri-S study abroad program.

Product overview

Anderson University is a private Christian university offering a comprehensive educational portfolio. The core offerings include traditional four-year undergraduate residential programs across multiple colleges (Arts & Sciences, Business, Nursing, Engineering, Theology); adult and online degree completion programs for working professionals; graduate degrees (MBA, Divinity, Theology, Business Administration); and professional certificate programs. Supporting services include financial aid counseling, merit-based scholarships (up to $23,000/year), student housing/dining, honors program, study abroad (Tri-S), and pre-college programs including summer camps and dual-credit LAUNCH courses. The university operates on a 2+2 partnership with Ivy Tech Community College and offers accelerated 3-year degree options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Traditional Undergraduate Programs
• Adult and Online Degree Programs
• Graduate Degree Programs
• Certificate Programs
• Pre-College Programs (LAUNCH)
• Summer Camps
• Honors Program
• Study Abroad / Tri-S Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 97.5% graduate placement rate overall
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Indiana Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndiana Cyber Network (ICN), housed within Anderson University's Center for Security Studies and Cyber Defense, partnered on a statewide K-12 initiative to expand cybersecurity coursework to 200 schools and serve 4,000 students within three years.
• College BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndiana Cyber Network partnered with College Board on statewide K-12 initiative to expand cybersecurity coursework to 200 schools and serve 4,000 students within three years.
• Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnderson University is a member of CCCU, which operates both study abroad and off-campus study programs in the USA. Students are encouraged to give priority consideration to CCCU-endorsed programs.
• Ivy Tech Community CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor2+2 Program partnership allowing Ivy Tech transfer students to seamlessly transition to Anderson University with small class sizes and familiar learning environments.
• Various Study Abroad Program PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed programs include AIFS, Arcadia, Au Sable Institute, IFSA-Butler, CCCU Best Semester, Chicago Center for Urban Life, Central College Abroad, CIEE, IES, ISA/Veritas, LA Film Studies, and others for study abroad credit transfer.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Taylor University: Faith-affiliated private liberal arts university in Upland, Indiana, similar in size, Christian mission, and undergraduate focus. Directly comparable as an Indiana-based Christian university competing for the same student segments.
• Huntington University: Faith-affiliated private university in Huntington, Indiana offering liberal arts and professional programs. Comparable in size, mission, and Indiana geography, competing for the same traditional undergraduate pool.
• Indiana Wesleyan University: Large Christian university in Marion, Indiana, with a strong adult/online and graduate program portfolio. Comparable as a faith-affiliated Indiana institution with significant online enrollment growth — a relevant benchmark for Anderson's online expansion.
• University of Indianapolis: Private university in Indianapolis offering undergraduate and graduate programs including nursing, business, and education. Comparable as a private Indiana institution with overlapping program mix and similar tuition positioning.
• Marian University: Catholic, faith-affiliated private university in Indianapolis with comparable undergraduate, graduate, and nursing programs. Directly comparable as another Indiana faith-based institution competing in the Indianapolis-area market.
• Calvin University: Christian private university in Grand Rapids, Michigan with comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs. Comparable as a mid-sized, faith-affiliated comprehensive university offering a similar blend of liberal arts and professional programs.
• University of Evansville: Private university in Evansville, Indiana with liberal arts and professional programs. Comparable as another Indiana private institution of similar scale facing similar enrollment and financial pressures.
• Mount Vernon Nazarene University: Faith-affiliated private university in Mount Vernon, Ohio offering liberal arts and graduate programs including education and business. Comparable as a small, denominationally-affiliated comprehensive university with a similar tuition profile and student demographics.

Regional players

• Ball State University: Public regional university in Muncie, Indiana with comparable undergraduate program breadth and graduate offerings. Relevant regional benchmark for tuition positioning and program competition in Indiana, though public rather than private.

Broad incumbents

• Wheaton College: Well-established evangelical Christian liberal arts college in Illinois with a national draw. Comparable as a faith-affiliated residential institution, though larger and more selective, serving as a benchmark for aspirational positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AndersonU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AndersonUnivIN
• Facebookfacebook.com/20306153717
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/anderson-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/andersonuniversity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Anderson University