Teachers College at Columbia University

What Teachers College at Columbia University does

Teachers College at Columbia University is the oldest and largest graduate school of education in the United States, founded in 1888 and affiliated with Columbia University since 1898. The institution operates as a private, nonprofit graduate college within the Columbia University system, governed by its own Board of Trustees and led by a President, while maintaining access to Columbia's libraries, facilities, and broader administrative infrastructure. TC offers master's, doctoral, and certificate programs spanning education, health, and psychology disciplines to a primarily graduate-student customer base, with additional community-facing programming for K-12 educators and the Harlem/Morningside Heights neighborhoods. The institution's product portfolio includes the Public Good Initiative (an umbrella strategic priority across Future of Teaching, Mental Health, Digital Innovation, and Sustainability), the Immersive Learning Initiative exploring VR/AR applications in education, an upcoming Ph.D. in Educational Neuroscience launching fall 2027, and an International and Comparative Education study abroad program delivered jointly with the UN-mandated University for Peace (UPEACE) in Costa Rica.

The business model rests on three primary revenue streams: tuition and fees from graduate academic programs (the core recurring revenue base), philanthropic giving and donations from alumni, foundations, and global supporters (with a 15% Support Services Cost applied to restricted unit-designated gifts), and matching gift programs that amplify individual donor contributions. Distribution is primarily direct through on-campus program delivery at the New York campus (525 West 120th Street), supplemented by community engagement and international study abroad channels. The institution maintains an extensive digital marketing presence across Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, alongside a newsroom for earned media coverage.

Operational infrastructure includes dedicated offices for Risk Management, Environmental Health & Safety, Public Safety, Student Support, and Community Affairs, with documented compliance under the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, VAWA provisions, and GDPR for EU data subjects. The alumni network spans over 160 countries, and recent philanthropic gifts have been received from Brazil, China, Jordan, Korea, and Poland, indicating an active global fundraising footprint. The institution is not a publicly traded company, does not have venture capital or private equity ownership, and is not subject to traditional funding rounds.

Name

Teachers College at Columbia University

Legal name

Teachers College, Columbia University

Website

https://tc.columbia.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1888

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Teachers College at Columbia University is the oldest and largest graduate school of education in the United States, offering master's, doctoral, and certificate programs in education, health, and psychology. It serves graduate students, K-12 educators, and the Harlem community from its New York campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Graduate Education)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Curriculum & Instruction / Instructional Design Programs (EDAHAFAE)

Keywords

• Graduate education
• Teacher education
• Educational research
• Higher education services
• Professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from graduate education programs including master's, doctoral, and certificate programs across education, health, and psychology disciplines.
2. Philanthropic Giving and Donations: The college accepts charitable gifts from alumni, foundations, and supporters globally. Gifts can be designated for specific units, scholarships, capital projects, or unrestricted purposes. A 15% Support Services Cost applies to restricted unit-designated gifts.
3. Matching Gift Programs: Many employers offer matching gift programs where companies match employee donations to the college, amplifying individual contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Teachers College at Columbia University is a private, nonprofit graduate school that delivers master's, doctoral, and certificate programs in education, health, and psychology, with research and professional development supporting those programs. The institution supplements its degree offerings with international study abroad programs, community engagement initiatives, and strategic priority programs such as the Public Good Initiative and the Immersive Learning Initiative exploring VR/AR in education.

Product overview

Teachers College at Columbia University is an educational institution offering a portfolio of academic programs and institutional initiatives. Core academic offerings include a Ph.D. in Educational Neuroscience (launching fall 2027) and an International and Comparative Education study abroad program in partnership with UPEACE. The institution operates the Public Good Initiative, a strategic umbrella encompassing Future of Teaching, Mental Health, Digital Innovation, and Sustainability priorities. The Immersive Learning Initiative explores VR/AR applications in education. Additionally, TC administers grant and award programs including the Grant for Diversity & Community Initiatives (DCI), the Grant for Student Research in Diversity (SRD), and the Elaine Brantley Memorial Award. Fundraising programs include a matching gifts initiative. Research programs cover online tutoring effectiveness studies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ph.D. in Educational Neuroscience A fully funded doctoral program in educational neuroscience integrating brain science with education, designed for students pursuing research careers connecting neuroscience findings to practical educational applications.
• International and Comparative Education Study Abroad Program A joint graduate study abroad program delivered with the UN-mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica, offering immersive experiences in peacebuilding and comparative education for Teachers College graduate students.

Quantifiable outcome

• One-to-one online tutoring produced gains equivalent to 30 additional days of school in a Texas study of over 2,000 elementary students

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University for Peace (UPEACE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Teachers College and the United Nations-mandated University for Peace jointly delivered a study abroad program in Costa Rica in January 2026, offering graduate students an immersive experience in peacebuilding and education. The program combined seminars, site visits, and workshops with local organizations to explore how education shapes identity, opportunity, and social change.
• Columbia UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeachers College is the graduate school of education of Columbia University. TC students have access to Columbia's libraries, facilities, and campus. Columbia University manages guest access systems for TC community members to access the Morningside Campus. TC is located adjacent to Columbia's main campus.
• St. Luke AME Church, St. John's Baptist Church, Mount Neboh Baptist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnerships for health fairs held in collaboration with these Harlem churches and the Movement Disorders Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Interactive health booths offer screenings, wellness consultations, and educational resources to community members.
• Columbia University Irving Medical CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the Movement Disorders Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center for community health fairs, providing neurological expertise, medical professionals, and health screenings for community wellness events.
• Fellowships and Granting AgenciescoreOthersThe new Ph.D. in educational neuroscience (launching fall 2027) will be fully funded for all students through fellowships and grants, indicating partnerships with funding agencies to support doctoral research and education.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Harvard Graduate School of Education: Harvard's graduate school of education is the most direct peer to Teachers College, competing for the same top faculty, doctoral applicants, and research funding in education, with a similar Ivy League affiliation and alumni-driven brand.
• Stanford Graduate School of Education: Stanford GSE is a leading direct competitor offering doctoral and master's programs in education, collaborating with TC on online tutoring research, and competing for the same federal research grants and elite graduate student pool.
• Vanderbilt Peabody College of Education and Human Development:
• NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development: NYU Steinhardt is a direct NYC-based competitor offering graduate programs across education, health, and psychology, the same three pillars as TC, and shares the same local applicant pool.
• University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education: Penn GSE is an Ivy League peer to TC offering master's and doctoral programs in education, counseling, and policy, competing head-to-head for the same applicant demographics and faculty talent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/teacherscollege
• YouTubeyoutube.com/teacherscollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/102471088936
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/teachers-college-columbia-univer
• Instagraminstagram.com/teacherscollege?ref=badge

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Teachers College at Columbia University