Wheaton College
Wheaton College is a private, nonprofit, Christian liberal arts college and graduate school in Wheaton, Illinois, founded in 1860, offering 90+ undergraduate programs and 28 graduate programs to residential and hybrid students.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1860
- HeadquartersWheaton, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Wheaton College does
Wheaton College is a private, nonprofit, Christian liberal arts college and graduate school located in Wheaton, Illinois, founded in 1860 and governed by an independent board of trustees. It operates a fully residential undergraduate program offering 90+ majors, minors, concentrations, and certificates alongside 28 residential and hybrid graduate degree and certificate programs housed primarily in the Litfin Divinity School, the School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy, and the Conservatory of Music. The institution serves traditional undergraduate students (18–22, residential, Christ-centered), graduate students in ministry, theology, counseling, and humanitarian leadership, Conservatory of Music students, pre-college participants (BRIDGE, Vanguard gap year, Summer Institute), and study-abroad cohorts across more than ten global sites.
The college's product portfolio is educational rather than technological: there is no proprietary technology platform, and differentiation is delivered through faculty (100% Christ-committed at the graduate level), an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, NCAA Division III athletics (21 sports, 25%+ student participation), specialized academic centers (Billy Graham Center, Marion E. Wade Center, Humanitarian Disaster Institute), and the HoneyRock Center for Leadership Development in Wisconsin. Revenue is generated through tuition and fees (subscription-style annual billing), donations and charitable giving (the Faithfully Forward campaign, annual Wheaton Fund, endowed scholarships supporting 1,000+ students annually), and planned-giving vehicles. Over 86–90% of students receive some form of financial aid, and reported outcomes include a 98.5% employment or graduate-school placement rate for the Class of 2024.
Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer undergraduate admissions (campus visits, recruitment events, Early Action and Regular Decision cycles), community-led pre-college programming, and event-driven prospective-student engagement, supported by website, social media, Wheaton Magazine, the Faithfully Forward campaign, WheatonGives, and college fairs. Leadership under President Philip Graham Ryken and Provost Karen Lee has prioritized new program launches (e.g., M.A. in Nonprofit Leadership, announced 2026-01), capital expansion (athletics facilities groundbreaking 2026-05), and high-profile faculty recruitment at the Litfin Divinity School. The institution does not publicly disclose revenue, and traditional financial KPIs are not available.
Wheaton College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wheaton College
- Legal name
- Wheaton College
- Website
- https://wheaton.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1860
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Wheaton College is a private, nonprofit, Christian liberal arts college and graduate school in Wheaton, Illinois, founded in 1860, offering 90+ undergraduate programs and 28 graduate programs to residential and hybrid students.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wheaton College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Fine Arts Schools (611610)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH), Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)
Keywords
Where Wheaton College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wheaton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Wheaton College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, room and board, and fees for students enrolled in degree programs.
- Donations and Charitable Giving: The Faithfully Forward campaign and annual giving through The Wheaton Fund support financial aid, spiritual formation, faculty development, athletics, and the arts. Endowed scholarships reduce financial barriers for over 1,000 students annually.
- Gift Planning and Planned Gifts: Planned giving vehicles including gift annuities, bequests, charitable remainder unitrusts (CRUT), beneficiary designations, and real estate donations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Undergraduate Tuition |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Wheaton College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wheaton College is a private, Christ-centered liberal arts college and graduate school that delivers residential undergraduate education (90+ majors, minors, concentrations, and certificates) and graduate degree programs (28 residential and hybrid master's, doctoral, and certificate programs), along with the Conservatory of Music, the Litfin Divinity School, and leadership development through the HoneyRock Center. Programs integrate Christian faith formation with liberal arts academics, career preparation, and global study experiences.
Product overview
Wheaton College is a Christian liberal arts college offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services. The core offering consists of undergraduate programs (90+ majors, minors, and certificates) and graduate programs (28 residential and hybrid degree/certificate programs) across multiple schools including the Litfin Divinity School and School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy. The institution also operates the Conservatory of Music (ranked 40th nationally by Niche), HoneyRock Center for Leadership Development, and various pre-college programs. Student support services include Wheaton Passage orientation, the Center for Vocation and Career, and extensive global programs. The Faithfully Forward Campaign represents the institution's major fundraising initiative supporting scholarships and campus development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HoneyRock: Wheaton College's center for leadership development offering outdoor programs, summer camps, and the Vanguard gap year program.
- Litfin Divinity School
- Thunder Athletics
- Faithfully Forward
Products and services
- Undergraduate Programs Over 90 undergraduate majors, minors, concentrations, and certificates offering liberal arts education with a Christ-centered approach. Includes programs in humanities, sciences, business, arts, and ministry for traditional high school graduates pursuing bachelor's degrees.
- Graduate School Programs Over 28 residential and hybrid graduate degree and certificate programs including master's, doctoral, and certificate programs in leadership, education, psychology, ministry, and bible/theology for working professionals and advanced learners.
- Conservatory of Music World-renowned music conservatory ranked 40th among Top 100 Best Colleges for Music by Niche (2025). Offers Bachelor of Music degrees in Performance, Composition, Music History and Literature, Pedagogy, Music Education, and Elective Studies, plus nine ensembles open to all students.
- Litfin Divinity School Divinity school within Wheaton College offering graduate programs in theology, ministry, biblical studies, and related fields, including the M.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies and doctoral programs.
- HoneyRock Center for Leadership Development Wheaton's outdoor center for leadership development in Wisconsin offering programs including Vanguard gap year program, Chase Leadership Program, Wheaton in the Northwoods, and summer camps.
- Pre-College Programs Programs for high school students including BRIDGE (college access for first-generation students from Chicago area), Vanguard Gap Year, Wheaton College Summer Institute, Athletics Camps, and Music Camps.
- Global Programs and Studies Study abroad and international programs including Wheaton in China, Latin America, England, Germany, Holy Lands, Mexico, Spain, Arts in London, Washington, Tel Shimron Excavation, and Semester in Jerusalem.
- Accelerated M.A. Programs Combined undergraduate/graduate programs allowing students to earn a master's degree in an accelerated format. Includes Biblical Exegesis, Evangelism and Leadership, Higher Education and Student Development, and related fields.
- Master's in Nonprofit Leadership New graduate degree program in nonprofit leadership announced in January 2026 to expand the college's graduate academic offerings.
Quantifiable outcome
- 98.5% of Class of 2024 graduates employed or in graduate school
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Wheaton College
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Wheaton College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Wheaton College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- English Language Institute China (ELIC)minorGraduate ELIC TEFL Certificate program offered in partnership with English Language Institute China, providing TESOL training and international teaching opportunities.
- Tel Shimron ExcavationminorArchaeological partnership for Tel Shimron Excavations in Israel, offering students hands-on field experience in biblical archaeology.
- Wade Center (Marion E. Wade Center)coreAcademic center dedicated to the study of C.S. Lewis and fellow Inkling J.R.R. Tolkien, housing extensive collections and hosting scholarly conferences.
- Billy Graham CentercoreResearch institute focused on evangelism, missions, and church history, named for evangelist Billy Graham, supporting church evangelism institute and research initiatives.
- Humanitarian Disaster InstitutecoreAcademic center providing education and research in disaster leadership, offering Graduate Certificate in Humanitarian Leadership and M.A. in Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership.
- HoneyRock Center for Leadership DevelopmentcoreWheaton's outdoor center for leadership development in Wisconsin, hosting undergraduate programs including Chase Leadership Program and Vanguard gap year, plus summer camps.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Wheaton College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bethel University: Evangelical Christian university in St. Paul, MN offering residential undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs. Direct peer competing for similar faith-affiliated students in the upper Midwest.
- Hope College: Reformed Church-affiliated residential liberal arts college in Holland, MI. Direct peer with comparable size, denominational heritage, strong pre-professional programs, and NCAA Division III athletics.
- Biola University: Evangelical Christian university in La Mirada, CA with similar integration of faith and learning. Competes with Wheaton for Christian undergraduate students, particularly on the West Coast, with overlapping graduate and seminary programs.
- Taylor University: Interdenominational evangelical Christian liberal arts college in Upland, IN. Directly competes with Wheaton for faith-seeking undergraduates with similar academic programs, faith integration, and residential campus model.
- Calvin University: Christian Reformed liberal arts university in Grand Rapids, MI of comparable size to Wheaton. Directly competes for evangelical/Christian college-bound students with similar residential undergraduate and graduate program portfolios.
- Gordon College: Evangelical Christian liberal arts college in Wenham, MA. Direct peer competing in the same faith-based residential liberal arts segment, with similar size and programmatic offerings in the Northeast.
- Messiah University: Christian liberal arts university in Mechanicsburg, PA affiliated with the Brethren in Christ tradition. Comparable residential faith-based model with overlapping undergraduate majors and graduate programs.
- Westmont College: Christian liberal arts college in Santa Barbara, CA with similar residential model, faith integration, and academic profile. Direct competitor for evangelical undergraduates on the West Coast.
- George Fox University: Christian university in Newberg, OR (Quaker heritage) with comparable undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs. Direct competitor in the evangelical higher-education segment on the West Coast.
Broad incumbents
- Northwestern University: Major research university located in nearby Evanston, IL. While not faith-affiliated, it competes with Wheaton for high-achieving Chicago-area students and faculty, and offers broader graduate/professional programs that overlap with Wheaton's offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Wheaton College social profiles
Digital presenceWheaton College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wheaton College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Wheaton College subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Wheaton College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wheaton College M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wheaton College
What does Wheaton College do?
Wheaton College is a private, Christ-centered liberal arts college and graduate school that delivers residential undergraduate education (90+ majors, minors, concentrations, and certificates) and graduate degree programs (28 residential and hybrid master's, doctoral, and certificate programs), along with the Conservatory of Music, the Litfin Divinity School, and leadership development through the HoneyRock Center. Programs integrate Christian faith formation with liberal arts academics, career preparation, and global study experiences.
Is Wheaton College a public or private company?
Wheaton College is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Wheaton College founded?
Wheaton College was founded in 1860. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Wheaton College based?
Wheaton College is headquartered in Wheaton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wheaton College make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Charitable Giving and gift Planning and Planned Gifts.
Who are Wheaton College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bethel University, Hope College, Biola University, Taylor University, Calvin University, Gordon College, Messiah University, Westmont College and George Fox University. Northwestern University is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Wheaton College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wheaton College.
What industry is Wheaton College in?
Wheaton College's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHACAF, Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges, with a secondary code of EDAHACAH, Residential Liberal Arts Colleges. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.