What Catholic Theological Union does

Catholic Theological Union (CTU) is a private, not-for-profit graduate school of theology and ministry established in 1968 in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. The institution is governed by a corporation of 21 men's religious communities whose provincials sit on the Corporation Board, with day-to-day academic and operational leadership under a President and team of Vice Presidents (Academic Dean, Finance & Operations, Development). CTU offers six degree programs — Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Ministry, Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies, Master of Arts (Theology), MA in Hispanic Theology and Ministry, and a joint Doctor of Ministry with Lutheran School of Theology and McCormick Theological Seminary — alongside 12 graduate certificate specializations and continuing-education offerings including Summer@CTU. Its technology stack consists of standard educational infrastructure: D2L Brightspace as the learning management system (with fully online degree options launched in 2019) and Jenzabar SONIS as the student information system. Four degrees are completable entirely online, and the institution is SARA-authorized to deliver distance learning across Illinois and 48 other states.

CTU's business model combines three revenue streams. Primary revenue is tuition, charged per credit hour ($997 in 2025-26 and $1,017 in 2026-27), supplemented by a $55 non-refundable application fee and audit fees ($300 per credit hour; $450 per Summer@CTU course). The second stream is charitable fundraising managed by a dedicated Development Office, encompassing annual giving, planned giving, stock donations, and the "The Way Society" legacy program. The third stream is foundation grants — the Lilly Endowment has been a core programmatic funder, awarding CTU four documented grants since 2018 (a $1M grant in 2018, a 2021 grant, $997K in 2022 for "Pathway for Tomorrow," and $10M in November 2025 as part of the CENTERS multi-institution initiative). The institution underwrites affordability by providing full or partial scholarships to over 93% of lay and women religious students. Students are recruited via direct admissions, virtual sessions, and on-the-road recruitment events, with the enrollment management team driving a sales-led motion.

CTU serves multiple customer segments: seminarians from approximately 23 men's religious orders preparing for ordination, women religious pursuing formation, and lay ministers (lay women and men) preparing for professional ministry. Distinct sub-segments include Black Catholic ministers served through the Augustus Tolton Pastoral Ministry Program (35 years old in 2025) and Hispanic/Latino ministers served through the Oscar Romero Scholars Program and Hispanic Theology and Ministry Program. The student population draws from 40+ countries including China, Vietnam, Nigeria, Kenya, Germany, Croatia, and Argentina. CTU operates multiple research centers (Bernardin Center, Catholic-Jewish Studies Program, Catholic-Muslim Studies Program, Schreiter Institute, Center for the Study of Consecrated Life) and is a member of the Association for Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS) consortium alongside University of Chicago Divinity School, McCormick Theological Seminary, and Bexley-Seabury Seminary.

Name

Catholic Theological Union

Legal name

Catholic Theological Union

Website

https://ctu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Catholic Theological Union is a 1968-founded graduate school of theology and ministry in Chicago, offering Master's and Doctoral degree programs that prepare seminarians, religious, and lay ministers for Catholic ministry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Religious Organizations (8131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM), Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Graduate theological education
• Ministry formation programs
• Religious graduate school
• Distance learning theology
• Seminary degree programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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. Tuition and Fees: CTU generates revenue primarily through tuition charged per credit hour. The institution offers various degree programs including Master of Divinity, Master of Arts degrees, and Doctor of Ministry. Revenue is driven by student enrollment across residential and distance learning modalities.
2. Donations and Fundraising: CTU receives charitable contributions through annual giving, planned giving (bequests, IRA distributions), stock and securities donations, and the 'The Way Society' legacy giving program. The institution maintains a Development Office to manage donor relations.
3. Foundation Grants: CTU receives substantial grant funding from organizations such as Lilly Endowment for programmatic initiatives including the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative and the CENTERS program for Catholic education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Catholic Theological Union is a private, nonprofit graduate school of theology and ministry that delivers accredited Master's and Doctoral degree programs, graduate certificates, and continuing education in Catholic theology and pastoral ministry. The institution offers on-campus, online, and hybrid course delivery through residential instruction at its Chicago Hyde Park campus and SARA-approved distance learning across 49 states. Programs are supported by specialized research centers, formation programs for lay ministers and religious, and scholarship-funded pathways.

Product overview

Catholic Theological Union (CTU) is a graduate school of theology and ministry offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and research centers. The institution provides six degree programs: Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Arts in Ministry, Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS), Master of Arts (Theology), MA in Hispanic Theology and Ministry, and Doctor of Ministry (jointly with Lutheran School of Theology and McCormick Theological Seminary). CTU also offers 12 graduate certificate programs across specialized theological and ministry areas. The institution operates multiple research centers including the Bernardin Center, Catholic-Jewish Studies Program, Catholic-Muslim Studies Program, and Center for the Study of Consecrated Life. Specialized formation programs include the Romero Program, Augustus Tolton Pastoral Ministry Program, Emmaus Formation, Together Program, and Pathways@CTU. CTU provides continuing education through Summer@CTU, Thriving in Ministry - Learn@CTU, and field education opportunities. The institution utilizes a learning management system (Learn@CTU powered by D2L Brightspace) for distance education. CTU is SARA-approved and ATS-accredited.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Divinity (M.Div.) Graduate degree program preparing students for full-time professional ministry in the Roman Catholic Church, including ordination to priesthood. Integrates theological and pastoral studies for service in diverse global contexts.
• Master of Arts in Ministry Graduate degree for beginning or seasoned ministers seeking to deepen understanding and practice of ministry.
• Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS) Graduate degree for individuals preparing for ministry leadership roles in parish, institutional, or community settings.
• Master of Arts (Theology) Academic graduate degree for the study of one or more theological disciplines, primarily for scholarly or research purposes.
• MA in Hispanic Theology and Ministry Degree designed to form ministers for religious leadership in the Hispanic/Latino community, grounded in Latin@ contexts.
• Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Advanced professional doctorate jointly offered with Lutheran School of Theology and McCormick Theological Seminary for ministry leaders.
• Certificate Programs (12 Specializations) Graduate certificates in 12 specializations: Biblical Spirituality, Black Theology and Ministry, Franciscan Spirituality, Hispanic Theology and Ministry, Intercultural Studies, Interreligious Studies, Liturgical Studies, Mission Studies, Pastoral Studies, Reconciliation and Restorative Justice, Spiritual Formation, and Spirituality.
• Summer@CTU Intensive three-week summer program offering theology and ministry courses with world-class faculty for credit or audit, available on-campus or via Zoom. Alumni receive 25% discount on audit fees.
• Augustus Tolton Pastoral Ministry Program Scholarship and formation program providing academic formation, spiritual direction, and practical ministry experience grounded in the African American Catholic experience. Celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2025.
• Oscar Romero Scholars Program Scholarship and formation program for lay Hispanic/Latino women and men preparing for professional ministry, inspired by Saint Óscar Romero.
• Pathways@CTU Lilly Endowment-funded scholarship program providing funding, graduate assistantship, and designated formation to young adults from marginalized communities.
• Emmaus Formation for Ministry Program Spiritual and ministerial formation process for primarily lay women and men, bridging theory and practice.
• Together Program Cohort-based, residential theology program for religious sisters and brothers in temporary profession, offered in collaboration with the Religious Formation Conference.
• Institute of Religious Formation Dedicated to preparing men and women for the ministry of formation since 1971. Program was transferred from Saint Louis University to CTU in 1999.
• Thriving in Ministry - Learn@CTU Continuing education program supporting professional development for ministers at all career stages.

Quantifiable outcome

• CTU has prepared leaders serving in 60+ countries worldwide in various ministry settings including parishes, hospitals, schools, and social service organizations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor, significant and major.

• Catholic Education Network to Enact and Resource Synodality (CENTERS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2026CTU participates in CENTERS, a multi-institution program with 15 partner Catholic institutions including Loyola University Chicago, funded by a $10 million Lilly Endowment grant to strengthen leadership and dialogue within the U.S. Catholic Church through capacity-building projects, regional trainings, and a national fellowship program.
• Lewis UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024CTU established a partnership with Lewis University for educational collaboration and program development.
• Haciendo CaminossignificantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024CTU is a member school of the Haciendo Caminos grant program through 2027, providing formation opportunities, professional development, and fellowship funds to young Hispanic/Latino students at member schools.
• Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 January 2023Longtime ecumenical partners establishing a model theological campus in Hyde Park. LSTC and McCormick Theological Seminary plan to move to CTU's nearby campus, creating an ecumenical theological education hub.
• McCormick Theological SeminarymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 January 2023Longtime ecumenical partners establishing a model theological campus in Hyde Park. McCormick and LSTC plan to move to CTU's nearby campus, creating an ecumenical theological education hub.
• DePaul UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011CTU and DePaul University forged an educational alliance to share faculty, students, and programs, bringing together a major school of theology and the country's largest Catholic University.
• Precious Blood Spirituality InstitutesignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTU partnered with the Precious Blood Spirituality Institute to house the Robert J. Schreiter, CPPS, Institute for Precious Blood Spirituality as part of the Bernardin Center.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boston College School of Theology and Ministry: Roman Catholic graduate school of theology and ministry offering M.Div., M.A., and D.Min. programs. Directly comparable to CTU in mission (Catholic ministerial formation), academic portfolio, and target student (lay, religious, diaconal).
• Catholic University of America - School of Theology: The pontifical-university-affiliated Catholic theology school offering M.Div., M.A., and doctoral programs. Directly comparable as a Roman Catholic graduate theology school preparing priests, religious, and lay ministers.
• Weston Jesuit School of Theology: Jesuit Roman Catholic graduate school of theology (now merged into Boston College). Historically the closest peer to CTU in Jesuit-Catholic ministerial formation; included for historical comparison.
• Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC): Mainline Protestant (Lutheran) seminary in Hyde Park sharing ACTS consortium membership with CTU and co-offering the joint D.Min. A direct peer in geographic location, consortium delivery, and graduate ministry training.
• McCormick Theological Seminary: Presbyterian Church (USA) seminary in Hyde Park sharing ACTS consortium membership and jointly offering the D.Min. with CTU. Direct peer in graduate theological education and ministerial formation.
• University of Chicago Divinity School: Ecumenical graduate divinity school on CTU's Hyde Park border and ACTS consortium member. Direct peer in graduate theological research and ministerial training, with cross-registration rights.
• Saint Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary: Roman Catholic seminary in the Archdiocese of Chicago forming diocesan priests. Direct peer in Catholic priestly formation within the same metropolitan region as CTU.

Broad incumbents

• University of Notre Dame - Department of Theology: Major Catholic research university theology program offering graduate M.A. and Ph.D. theology degrees. Comparable in Catholic identity and graduate theological training, though housed within a broader R1 university rather than a dedicated seminary.
• Princeton Theological Seminary: Largest US Presbyterian graduate seminary and one of the country's largest graduate theology schools. Comparable in graduate theological training scale; differs in confessional Protestant rather than Catholic orientation.
• Fuller Theological Seminary: Large evangelical multi-denominational graduate seminary offering M.Div., M.A., Th.M., and D.Min. programs. Comparable as one of the largest US graduate schools of theology with national online and residential programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ChicagoCTU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/learnCTU
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChicagoCTU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/edu/catholic-theological-union-33958
• Instagraminstagram.com/chicagoctu

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries13 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 Catholic Theological Union