What Trent University does

Trent University is a public, statutory post-secondary institution founded in 1964 and established under the Trent University Act, 1962-1963, operating in Ontario, Canada. It delivers education across two physical campuses — its main Symons Campus in Peterborough and the Durham Greater Toronto Area campus in Oshawa — as well as online through Trent Online. The university offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs spanning arts, sciences, business, and professional studies, and serves undergraduate, graduate, international, Indigenous, and co-op student segments. Notable academic differentiators include Canada's only combined BA/BSc degrees in artificial intelligence and a research-intensive freshwater science program anchored by the Water Quality Centre with over 30 experts.

The institution's product and service ecosystem includes the myTrent student portal for academic and administrative access, Trent Online for distance learning, Careerspace for career planning and experiential learning across 25+ co-op programs, micro-credentials (e.g., Cybersecurity Awareness, Foundations of Public Leadership), and alumni services delivered through Alumni House and the Trent Alumni Perks app. Research capacity spans a Canada Research Chair in Climate Change and Northern Ecosystems, mercury and microplastic pollution studies, and human-centered AI education. The Winelts AI-powered IELTS preparation app, built by Trent alumni, uses AI and big data analytics for personalized English language training.

As a public institution, Trent's revenue mechanics rest on domestic and international tuition fees, provincial government funding (including a $57.7M Ontario investment over four years announced in 2026), research grants (e.g., NSERC's $250,000 Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship), philanthropy via the $100 million Momentous Campaign ($72M+ raised), and ancillary fees for housing, dining, and athletics. Go-to-market is sales-led through the Ontario University Application Centre and dedicated international, graduate, and Indigenous recruitment streams, complemented by community-led co-op and employer partnerships. Entrance scholarships (up to $18,118 for 95%+ averages, and prestigious awards up to $30,000 over four years) function as the primary pricing/discount lever. Governance rests with a Board of Governors and Senate under President Cathy Bruce, with no parent company or private shareholders.

Name

Trent University

Legal name

Trent University

Website

https://trentu.ca

Company type

Public

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Trent University is a public Ontario post-secondary institution founded in 1964, offering 100+ undergraduate and graduate programs across Peterborough and Durham GTA campuses plus online, serving domestic, international, Indigenous, graduate, and co-op students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAA)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate programs
• Liberal arts sciences
• Online learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Peterborough

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Domestic and international student tuition fees for undergraduate and graduate programs. Fees vary by program, residency status, and campus location.
2. Government Funding: Ontario government funding including $57.7M over four years as part of post-secondary funding model. Ministry of Health funding for nursing programs ($1.1M).
3. Philanthropy and Donations: The Momentous Campaign targeting $100 million with $72M+ raised to date. Includes major gifts, planned giving, and alumni donations.
4. Research Grants: NSERC funding including Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship ($250,000) for research chairs and project-based research grants.
5. Ancillary Fees: Fees for housing, dining, athletics, and other student services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Trent University is a public post-secondary institution delivering undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate academic programs across 100+ disciplines in arts, sciences, business, and professional studies, including Canada's only combined BA/BSc in Artificial Intelligence. Programs are delivered across two physical campuses (Peterborough and Durham GTA) and online through Trent Online, supported by 25+ co-op programs, micro-credentials, and dedicated student services including the First Peoples House of Learning for Indigenous students.

Product overview

Trent University is a post-secondary educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs and student services across two campuses (Peterborough and Durham GTA) plus online delivery. The core academic offerings span 100+ undergraduate programs, graduate degrees, and postgraduate certificates, including Canada's only combined BA/BSc in Artificial Intelligence. Supporting infrastructure includes the myTrent student portal for academic and administrative access, Trent Online for distance learning, and Careerspace for career planning and experiential learning through 25+ co-op programs. Micro-credentials and professional development programs like the Primary Care Nursing Upskilling Program address workforce needs. The institution also provides alumni services through Alumni House and the Trent Alumni Perks mobile app, creating a comprehensive ecosystem supporting students from enrollment through post-graduation engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Trent Durham GTA: Campus location in Oshawa, Durham Region offering personalized learning experience near Canada's largest metropolis.
• Trent Online
• First Peoples House of Learning
• Careerspace
• Momentous Campaign

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Over 100 undergraduate programs across arts, sciences, business, and professional studies including nursing, education, artificial intelligence, environmental science, and journalism for high school graduates and transfer students.
• Graduate Degree Programs Master's and doctoral degree programs including Anthropology, Canadian Studies, Computer Science, Cultural Studies, Educational Studies, Environmental & Life Sciences, Forensic Science, Indigenous Studies, Management, Materials Science, Nursing, Psychology, and Sustainability Studies.
• Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence Combined BA/BSc degree program in artificial intelligence that emphasizes ethics alongside technical skills, preparing students for leadership in human-centered AI across industries. Only such combined degree program in Canada.
• Foundations of Indigenous Learning Diploma Diploma program for First Nations, Inuit, or Métis persons transitioning to university studies; designed for those who have been out of school or don't meet traditional entrance requirements, with pathway to B.A. or B.Sc. programs upon completion.
• Trent Online Engaging online learning environment offering over 100 courses year-round with distance education across undergraduate and graduate levels for students unable to attend on-campus.
• Co-op Programs Over 25 competitive co-op programs across Humanities, Social Sciences, School of Business, and Sciences allowing businesses to hire students for full-time work placements with eligibility for funding incentives.
• Micro-credentials Short, focused credential programs including Cybersecurity Awareness, Somatics and Breathwork in the Helping Profession, Just Get Over It with FPHL, and Workforce Readiness for rapid skills acquisition and career development.
• Primary Care Nursing Upskilling Program 12-week online program developed in collaboration with Queen's University to build primary care expertise among registered nurses in Ontario. Funded by $1.1 million from the Government of Ontario's Ministry of Health, with tuition costs covered for enrolled nurses.
• Foundations of Public Leadership Micro-Credential Skills-based training micro-credential for current and aspiring public sector leaders, created by Trent's inaugural Jarislowsky Chair in Trust & Political Leadership, launched January 2026.
• Black Studies Specialization and Research Lab Academic specialization and research lab launched September 2025 at Trent Durham GTA to advance equity and community knowledge through Black Studies.
• Winelts AI-Powered English Language Learning App AI-powered mobile application using AI and big data analytics to personalize English language training for international learners preparing for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. Developed by Trent alumni.
• myTrent Portal Secure online platform providing students, faculty, and staff access to academic records, email, learning systems, news, events, and administrative services.
• Trent Durham GTA Campus Campus in Oshawa, Durham Region offering programs in Business, Communications, Law, Social Work, Child & Youth Studies, Policing, Computing Systems, Anthropology, English Literature, Media Studies, History, Teacher Education, Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy, and Journalism with strong focus on social responsibility.
• Careerspace University's career planning, experiential learning and professional development hub coordinating work placements, co-op programs, and student employment; offers job boards, career events, and micro-credentials for workforce readiness.
• Trent Alumni Perks App Digital alumni card and benefits platform providing exclusive offers and savings on entertainment, travel, dining, and access to campus services such as the Trent Athletics Centre, Campus Bookstore, and Library Services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of Trent graduates employed within six months
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Queen's UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2026Collaboration with Queen's University for the Primary Care Nursing Upskilling Program. Jointly developed curriculum to strengthen interprofessional care teams among registered nurses in Ontario, improving patient access to primary care services.
• Kids Help PhonecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$1M gift from Chancellor Stephen Stohn and Linda Schuyler creating integrated mental health care model for post-secondary students through partnership with Kids Help Phone.
• Peterborough Community Health CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between Trent/Fleming School of Nursing and Peterborough Community Health Centre on community health outreach vehicle to increase access to primary care in Peterborough region while providing practical experience for nursing students.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wilfrid Laurier University: Ontario public university with overlapping liberal arts, business, and co-op programming; comparable student-faculty ratios and a strong focus on experiential learning that puts it in direct competition for similar applicants.
• Mount Allison University: Small Canadian liberal arts and sciences university with strong student services reputation and personalized learning, directly comparable to Trent's positioning as a residential liberal arts institution.
• Nipissing University: Small Ontario public university emphasizing liberal arts, teacher education, and small-class personalized learning; operates in the same enrollment and provincial funding pool as Trent.
• Brock University: Public Ontario university of similar size and program breadth, competing for the same domestic undergraduate pool in a mid-sized Ontario city with comparable emphasis on liberal arts and sciences alongside professional programs.
• Laurentian University: Northern Ontario public university with overlapping bilingual programs, Indigenous education emphasis, and environmental science offerings; competes for similar regional and Indigenous applicants.
• Lakehead University: Mid-sized Canadian public university with multi-campus delivery model (Thunder Bay/Orillia), personalized learning focus, and significant Indigenous student programming — closely mirroring Trent's structure and enrollment strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Queen's University: Larger Ontario research-intensive university and confirmed partner on Trent's Nursing Upskilling Program; competes for high-achieving Ontario applicants and shares the eastern-Ontario corridor.
• McMaster University: Major Ontario research university with overlapping science and health-science programs; presence in Ontario (Hamilton) draws from the same applicant pool and competes on brand and research prestige.

Regional players

• Ontario Tech University (Ontario Tech): Durham Region-based public university, geographically co-located with Trent's Durham GTA campus in Oshawa; direct overlap on computing, business, and applied programs aimed at GTA students.
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology (Durham College): Adjacent post-secondary institution serving the same Durham Region market where Trent operates its GTA campus; competes for similar commuter students and applied-program enrollment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TrentUniversity
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCEp4lH5yTWaVfbeUTuNI3iw
• Facebookfacebook.com/trentuniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trent-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/trent_alumni

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Trent University