What Capilano University does

Capilano University is a public post-secondary institution headquartered in North Vancouver, British Columbia, operating under the University Act of British Columbia. Originally founded as Capilano College in 1966 and redesignated as a university in 2008, it serves over 10,000 students across five academic faculties — Arts & Sciences; Business & Professional Studies; Education, Health & Human Development; Fine & Applied Arts; and Global & Community Studies — delivered through more than 200 programs spanning certificates, diplomas, applied degrees, and bachelor's degrees. The institution operates multiple physical campuses across the North Shore (North Vancouver, Lonsdale), the Sea-to-Sky corridor (Squamish, including student housing), and the Sunshine Coast, with a dedicated Ts'zil Learning Centre in Mount Currie serving Indigenous communities. The university is named after Chief Joe Capilano (1854–1910), a leader of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation, and pursues an explicit Indigenization and reconciliation strategy anchored in the Chén̓chenstway framework, including the Indigenous Digital Accelerator, the Kéxwusm-áyakn Student Centre, and an Elder-in-Residence Program.

Its core technology infrastructure consists of standard educational technology — a learning management system, student information system, the myCapU student portal, the myCapMap academic planning and audit tool, and a Career Hub for job postings and career services. It does not operate a public API or proprietary software products. The university generates revenue through a blended model of provincial government operating grants, tuition from domestic and international students (with international students paying higher unsubsidized rates), mandatory and incidental fees, and donations; revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via a traditional admissions funnel — campus tours, information sessions, high school counselor partnerships, an international agent network, and English Language Pathway partner schools — augmented by an ecosystem of Work-Integrated Learning partnerships (GrowthHub, Mitacs, ACE-WIL BC/Yukon, CEWIL Canada, ESDC, Venture for Canada) that channel students into paid employer placements ranging from 40 to 450 hours. Leadership consists of President & Vice-Chancellor Jason Dewling (PhD), Chancellor Debra Doucette, and University Librarian Christina Neigel, with a Board of Governors and Senate currently conducting a Presidential Search to identify the next president.

Name

Capilano University

Legal name

Capilano University

Website

https://capilanou.ca

Company type

Public

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Capilano University is a public BC teaching university serving over 10,000 students across five faculties and 200+ programs from multiple campuses in North Vancouver, Squamish, the Sunshine Coast, and Mount Currie, funded by government grants, tuition, and employer WIL partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Technical Universities (EDAHAEAF)

Keywords

• Post-secondary education
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Applied research programs
• Work-integrated learning
• Continuing education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 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 generated from student tuition for domestic and international students across undergraduate programs, applied degrees, diplomas, and certificates. Additional revenue from mandatory fees, incidental fees, and course-specific charges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Capilano University is a public post-secondary educational institution delivering over 200 academic programs (certificates, diplomas, applied degrees, and bachelor's degrees) across five faculties: Arts & Sciences, Business & Professional Studies, Education Health & Human Development, Fine & Applied Arts, and Global & Community Studies. The university also provides student support services including the myCapU portal, myCapMap academic planning tool, Career Hub, Work-Integrated Learning placements (40-450 hours), and specialized programs such as the Indigenous Digital Accelerator.

Product overview

Capilano University offers a comprehensive suite of educational programs and student services organized as a portfolio of offerings rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include over 200 academic programs across five faculties (Arts & Sciences, Business & Professional Studies, Education Health & Human Development, Fine & Applied Arts, and Global & Community Studies). Supporting infrastructure includes the myCapU student portal for academic management, myCapMap for degree planning, and the Career Hub for employment services. Specialized programs like the Indigenous Digital Accelerator provide targeted training, while Work-Integrated Learning connects students with employers. The university operates multiple campuses and student housing, with BlueShore Financial Centre for Performing Arts serving as a cultural venue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academic Programs Portfolio Over 200 academic programs spanning certificates, diplomas, applied degrees, and bachelor's degrees across five faculties, serving recent high school graduates, returning adult learners, and international students in British Columbia.
• Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Program connecting students with employers for practicums, co-ops, applied research projects, and internships ranging from 40 to 450 hours, supporting career preparation for CapU students.
• Indigenous Digital Accelerator (IDA) Program offering workshops and training in digital skills for Indigenous learners, including screenwriting, filmmaking, and entrepreneurship.
• myCapU Student Portal Student portal providing access to course registration, academic records, email, and student services for CapU students.
• myCapMap Academic planning and audit tool enabling students to track degree progress and explore course pathways.
• Career Hub Online portal for posting jobs, volunteer positions, and accessing career development resources for CapU students and employers.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GrowthHub (North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrowthHub is a partnership between the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and Capilano University creating a fast-track funnel for employers to access CapU talent through WIL programs. The initiative supports local businesses in solving challenges and developing sustainable communities.
• MitacscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMitacs is a non-profit national research association partnering with academia and industry. CapU partners with Mitacs through Business Strategy Internship (BSI) and Accelerate programs, enabling employers to access funded student internships for research projects. BSI allows up to 420 hours of student work with employer contribution of $5,000. Accelerate matches $7,500 for 4-6 month research assistant positions.
• ACE-WIL BC/YukonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of Co-operative Education Washington/BC/Yukon provides funding resources and support for employers hiring WIL students at organizations.
• CEWIL CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian Engineering Working to Integrate Learning provides funding options for hiring students through the Student Work Placement program.
• Employment and Social Development CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal department providing the Student Work Placement Program offering paid work experience related to students' fields of study.
• Venture for CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational charity fostering entrepreneurial skills in young Canadians through an Internship Program that connects students with startups and small businesses.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Simon Fraser University: Major BC public research university with comparable undergraduate and graduate programs, including co-op and work-integrated learning options; competes with CapU for the same domestic student pool in Metro Vancouver.

Direct peers

• British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT): BC's primary polytechnic, offering applied degrees, diplomas, and certificates with strong co-op and industry-experienced faculty models that closely mirror CapU's WIL positioning and applied-program focus.
• Emily Carr University of Art + Design: BC public specialized university focused on design, media, and fine arts; directly overlaps with CapU's School of Animation & Visual Effects, IDEA School of Design, and motion picture arts offerings.
• Kwantlen Polytechnic University: BC polytechnic university with multiple campuses in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley offering diplomas, bachelor's degrees, and WIL programs, competing for the same commuter and applied-program student segment as CapU.
• Douglas College: Large BC public college offering university-transfer programs, diplomas, and bachelor's degrees with strong WIL components; serves a similar domestic commuter-student base in Metro Vancouver.
• Vancouver Film School: Private specialized post-secondary institution in Vancouver focused on film, animation, game design, and entertainment arts; directly competes with CapU's motion picture arts and animation programs for creative-industry students.

Regional players

• University of the Fraser Valley: BC public university serving the Fraser Valley with comparable applied degree and WIL portfolios; competes for domestic students who might otherwise consider CapU's regional campuses.
• Thompson Rivers University: BC public university with a similar mid-sized profile and broad program portfolio including trades, health, and business, and an active international student recruitment strategy that parallels CapU's.
• Vancouver Island University: BC regional public university with multiple campuses, Indigenous learner support services, and a similar mix of undergraduate, applied, and trades-aligned programs.
• Quest University Canada: BC-based private liberal arts university operating in the Sea-to-Sky corridor; competes for a smaller share of students who would consider a BC specialized post-secondary experience, including those drawn to the same region as CapU's Squamish campus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/capilanou
• Xx.com/capilanou
• Facebookfacebook.com/capilanou
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/capilano-university_3785

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Capilano University