Lee University

What Lee University does

Lee University is a private, non-profit, Christ-centered comprehensive university located in Cleveland, Tennessee, operating on a 127-acre campus in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Founded in 1918 by the Church of God as a small Bible institute, the institution has grown into a multi-school university serving approximately 3,876 students at a 13:1 student-teacher ratio across 52 undergraduate majors and 56 graduate programs (including master's, EdS, and doctoral degrees). The university is organized into six academic units: the College of Arts and Sciences, Helen DeVos College of Education, School of Business, School of Music, School of Nursing, and School of Theology & Ministry. It maintains a historic denominational affiliation with the Church of God while enrolling students from 48 states and 47 countries.

The university delivers education through three primary channels: residential on-campus programs, fully online programs (Lee Online, ranked in the top 10% of U.S. News & World Report's 2024 Best Online Bachelor's Programs), and graduate/hybrid programs. Core academic infrastructure includes Moodle LMS, an interactive 3D campus map, and the LeeU Live video platform for streaming campus events. Differentiated programs include a required Service Learning component (in place since 2000), a Global Perspectives program ranked Top 5 nationally for study abroad participation, and personal strengths development integrated into the curriculum. The institution holds multiple accreditations (SACSCOC, ACBSP, NASM, CAATE, Tennessee Department of Education).

Revenue derives from four streams: tuition and fees (undergraduate, graduate, online), auxiliary services (housing, dining via Sodexo, bookstore, recreation), contributions and grants through the advancement office, and event services including the Presidential Concert Series (in its 33rd season). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and operates on a subscription/annual billing model with a February 1 financial aid priority deadline. Marketing and enrollment occur through the university website with online inquiry forms, social media, campus events (including Summer Honors and Teaching Preview Day), and NCAA Division II athletics (18 teams, the Lee University Flames). Dr. Phil Cook assumed the presidency on July 1, 2025, succeeding Dr. Paul Conn who transitioned to chancellor.

Name

Lee University

Legal name

Lee University

Website

https://leeuniversity.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lee University is a private, non-profit Christ-centered university in Cleveland, Tennessee, serving approximately 3,876 students through 52 undergraduate majors and 56 graduate programs across six schools, delivered via residential, online, and hybrid channels with multi-accreditation credentials.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Humanities & Creative Research Universities (EDAHABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK), Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Online degree programs
• Christian university education

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, including on-campus residential programs, online programs, and summer sessions
2. Auxiliary Services: Revenue from campus bookstore, dining services (Sodexo), housing/residential life, and recreational facilities
3. Contributions and Grants: Donations through the advancement/development office, endowed scholarships, and grant funding for academic programs
4. Event Services: Revenue from event services including the Presidential Concert Series, athletic events, and venue rentals

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lee University is a private, Christ-centered comprehensive university delivering 52 undergraduate majors and 56 graduate programs across six academic schools (Arts and Sciences, Business, Helen DeVos College of Education, Music, Nursing, and Theology & Ministry). It serves approximately 3,876 students through residential on-campus instruction in Cleveland, Tennessee, and nationally ranked online programs, with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio and integrated service learning, global perspectives, and personal strengths development.

Product overview

Lee University is a private, comprehensive Christian university offering a portfolio of educational products and services centered around its residential and online degree programs. The institution operates six colleges/schools: the College of Arts and Sciences (general education and liberal arts majors), the Helen DeVos College of Education (teacher licensure and exercise science), the School of Business (accredited by ACBSP), the School of Music (accredited by NASM), the School of Nursing, and the School of Theology & Ministry. Academic offerings span 52 undergraduate majors, 56 graduate programs including doctoral degrees, and nationally ranked online programs through Lee Online. Supplementary services include LeeU Live (video streaming), the Presidential Concert Series, Kairos Scholars honors program, Service Learning, LEAP support services, and 20 study abroad programs. The institution serves approximately 3,876 students with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked in Top 5 of 40 institutions for study abroad participation by IIEOD (2017-2018)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLee University School of Business and all majors are accredited by ACBSP. The accreditation focuses on recognizing teaching excellence, determining student learning outcomes, and continuous improvement following the Baldrige model.
• Business Advisory CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual advisory council consulting to ensure programs meet business environment needs. Council advises faculty on current expectations, marketplace demands, and provides suggestions for programmatic improvement.
• Local Business EmployersminorOthersBusinesses that recruit from Lee University School of Business including Brown, Jake & McDaniel, Capin Crouse, Croft & Frost CPAs, Elliott Davis, Ernst & Young, HHM CPAs, JHM Certified Public Accountants, Life Care Centers of America, Miller Industries, Total Quality Logistics, TVA, UNUM, and USXpress among others.
• National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLee University School of Music is an accredited member of NASM, ensuring quality standards in music education.
• Tennessee Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll undergraduate teacher license programs and all graduate education programs are state approved by the Tennessee Department of Education.
• CAATE (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education Programs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe athletic training education program is CAATE-accredited.
• Church of GodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLee University maintains a historic denominational affiliation with the Church of God headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee.
• Local Education Agency (LEA) PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational Doctorate program developed with LEA partners to prepare candidates with skills and dispositions to impact education administration, policy, and instruction.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Carson-Newman University: Private Baptist-affiliated university in Jefferson City, Tennessee with similar enrollment scale (~2,500-3,000) and a comparable mix of liberal arts, professional, and graduate programs serving the Southeast.
• Union University: Private Baptist-affiliated university in Jackson, Tennessee offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across education, business, nursing, and theology — directly comparable in mission, faith affiliation, and Tennessee regional footprint.
• Trevecca Nazarene University: Nazarene-affiliated private university in Nashville, Tennessee with similar comprehensive offerings (undergraduate through doctoral) and Christ-centered mission — comparable in size, structure, and theological tradition.
• Lipscomb University: Church of Christ-affiliated private university in Nashville with comparable undergraduate/graduate portfolio and faith-based mission; slightly larger in enrollment but operating in the same Tennessee market and faith-based higher-education category.
• Anderson University: Indiana-based private university affiliated with the Church of God — the same denomination as Lee University — making it the closest denomination-level peer with comparable theological identity and educational structure.
• Bryan College: Small evangelical Christian college in Dayton, Tennessee (geographically adjacent to Lee) with similar liberal arts emphasis, faith-based mission, and enrollment scale in the Southeast.
• Samford University: Baptist-affiliated private university in Birmingham, Alabama with comprehensive undergraduate/graduate offerings and Top Regional University credentials — comparable in faith-based identity, professional school portfolio, and Southeastern market.
• Tennessee Wesleyan University: Small Methodist-affiliated private university in Athens, Tennessee operating in the same regional market as Lee with comparable enrollment scale and liberal arts/professional program mix.
• Oral Roberts University: Pentecostal/charismatic faith-affiliated private university in Tulsa, Oklahoma with strong online program offerings and emphasis on Spirit-empowered education — directly comparable in evangelical/Pentecostal identity and residential-plus-online model.

Regional players

• Belmont University: Larger Nashville-based private university with evangelical Christian roots and a comprehensive portfolio (business, music, nursing, education) — comparable mission and program breadth but significantly larger enrollment (~9,000+).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/leeu
• YouTubevimeo.com/leeuniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/leeuniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lee-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/leeuniversity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Lee University