Houghton College

What Houghton College does

Houghton University (formerly Houghton College) is a private, Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution founded in 1883 and located at 1 Willard Avenue, Houghton, New York, in Allegany County. It serves approximately 987 enrolled students across Fall 2025 (945 undergraduate and 42 graduate) drawn from 44 U.S. states and 25 countries, and operates residential undergraduate programs in more than 40 majors spanning the natural sciences, business and communication, mathematics and computer science, music (Greatbatch School of Music), education, humanities, and honors tracks including London study abroad and Puerto Rico science honors. Graduate offerings include an MBA with concentrations spanning Accounting, Finance, HR, Healthcare Administration, Cybersecurity, Business Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence, Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Science in Education programs, and Master of Arts and Master of Music degrees, with online delivery across the MBA, Literacy Education M.S.Ed., and Adolescent Education MAT plus an Early College / Dual Enrollment channel with Christian and private high school partners.

The institution holds Middle States Commission on Higher Education institutional accreditation (since 1935) and program accreditations from AAQEP and NASM, and is governed independently under New York State authority with historical ties to the Wesleyan Church. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition, room, board, and mandatory fees across residential and online modalities, supplemented by auxiliary streams including youth summer camps, equestrian programs, EPIC Adventures outdoor recreation, ENCORE senior programming, and facility rentals. Technology stack is composed of third-party SaaS platforms rather than proprietary systems: Moodle for learning management, Stellic for degree audit, and FreeWill for legacy giving. The university publishes a quarterly alumni magazine, operates an Alumni Ambassador referral program, and runs regional and national development teams focused on philanthropy and athletics engagement.

For Fall 2025 outcomes, Houghton reports an 86.8% first-year retention rate (vs. 80% national average), a 67.7% six-year graduation rate (vs. 59% national average), and 96% of the Class of 2024 employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation. The endowment stands at $103.775 million, and the institution is led by Wayne D. Lewis, Jr., the sixth president since 2021, with a senior team spanning advancement, alumni engagement, athletics engagement, and community engagement.

Name

Houghton College

Legal name

Houghton University

Website

https://houghton.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Houghton University is a private, Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution in rural Western New York serving about 987 undergraduate and graduate students through residential, online, and dual-enrollment channels, with MBA, education, and music graduate programs and 40+ undergraduate majors.

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

Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA), Selective/Highly Selective Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAJ)

Keywords

• Liberal arts education
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Christian higher education
• Online graduate degrees
• Dual enrollment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Houghton

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, room and board, and mandatory fees for on-campus students. Multiple degree levels including associate, bachelor, and graduate programs.
2. Summer Camps: Revenue from athletic and recreational camps including basketball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, and equestrian camps for youth.
3. Graduate and Online Programs: Graduate degrees including MBA, Education (MAT, MSED), and Music programs, including online delivery options.
4. Equestrian Program: Equestrian studies program with facilities, lesson horses, and therapeutic riding services.
5. Community Programs: ENCORE program for senior citizens, EPIC Adventures outdoor activities, community recreation, and facility rentals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Houghton University is a private Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences university that offers undergraduate degree programs (associate and bachelor's across 40+ majors), graduate degrees (MBA, MAT, M.S.Ed., MA, MM in Music), online graduate programs, and early college/dual enrollment for high school students. The university supplements its core academic offerings with summer youth camps, EPIC Adventures outdoor recreation, and the ENCORE program for senior citizens, all delivered from its residential campus in Houghton, NY.

Product overview

Houghton University is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences university offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services. The institution provides undergraduate programs (40+ majors and programs), graduate programs (MBA, Education, Music degrees), online programs, early college/dual enrollment for high school students, and community programs including summer camps and EPIC Adventures outdoor recreation. The university operates academic divisions including the Greatbatch School of Music, Natural Sciences Division, and Business & Communication School. Student services include the Office of Vocation and Calling for career support, honors programs including study abroad opportunities, and specialized programs like the Shannon Summer Research Institute. The institution's portfolio spans residential and online modalities with offerings from pre-college through graduate levels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs Residential associate and bachelor's degree programs in 40+ majors across liberal arts, sciences, business, music, and professional fields, delivered on the Houghton, NY campus with on-campus housing and a Christ-centered liberal arts framework.
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) Graduate business degree with concentrations in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Healthcare Administration, Cybersecurity, Business Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence, available on-campus and online.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of graduates employed or in graduate school within 6 months
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and important.

• Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoughton University participates in CCCU programs including off-campus study opportunities through member institutions. CCCU is a professional association of Christian universities providing collaborative programs, study abroad opportunities, and collective advocacy for Christ-centered higher education.
• Middle States Commission on Higher EducationcoreOthersAccrediting body for higher education institutions in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. Houghton University holds institutional accreditation through MSCHE.
• Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP)coreOthersProfessional accrediting body for educator preparation programs. Houghton University's education programs hold AAQEP accreditation for teacher certification.
• National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)coreOthersProfessional accrediting body for music programs. Houghton University's Greatbatch School of Music holds NASM accreditation.
• FreeWillminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline estate planning platform partnership allowing Houghton alumni and friends to create free wills and revocable living trusts, designate Houghton as a beneficiary, and consider legacy giving.
• Christian Schools and Private School PartnersimportantChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership network for early college and dual enrollment programs, including Summer Christian School Symposium sponsorship and college preparation resources.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Grove City College: A Christian liberal arts college with strong academic outcomes and faith-based identity, competing for similar students in the same region.
• Geneva College: A small Christian liberal arts college with faith-integrated academics and a residential model comparable to Houghton.
• Gordon College: A Christ-centered liberal arts college in the Northeast, closely comparable in size, faith integration, and residential liberal arts model.
• Taylor University: A residential Christian liberal arts university with strong outcomes and faith integration, comparable in size and mission to Houghton.
• Cedarville University: A Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences university offering undergraduate and graduate programs, closely matching Houghton's positioning.
• Messiah University: A private Christian liberal arts university offering undergraduate and graduate programs with a faith-integrated model very similar to Houghton's.

Broad incumbents

• Wheaton College: A leading, larger evangelical Christian liberal arts college and CCCU peer with a comparable Christ-centered academic mission but broader national scale.

Regional players

• Nyack College: A New York-based Christian college with a faith-based liberal arts mission serving a similar Northeast market.
• Roberts Wesleyan University: A Christian liberal arts university in western New York with Wesleyan roots, directly comparable in mission, region, and faith-based positioning.
• Houghton's CCCU peers (King's University / The King's College): A Christ-centered liberal arts college and fellow CCCU member competing for faith-oriented students, comparable in mission and academic approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/22485036915
• Instagraminstagram.com/houghtonuniversity
• Xx.com/HoughtonCollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/houghton-college

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Houghton College