Maranatha Baptist University

What Maranatha Baptist University does

Maranatha Baptist University is a private, regionally accredited Christian university founded in 1968 and headquartered in Watertown, Wisconsin, with 101-250 employees. It offers undergraduate, graduate, and seminary degree programs through on-campus, online, and virtual synchronous modalities, alongside a high school dual-enrollment program and a non-credit lifelong learning platform (MaranathaPlus). The institution serves conservative Baptist students preparing for vocational ministry, K-12 teaching, business leadership, and nursing, with a documented 95% of graduates actively involved in local church ministry and a 5,000+ member alumni network.

The university operates four wholly-owned subsidiaries (Maranatha Baptist Seminary, Maranatha Baptist Bible Institute, Maranatha Baptist Academy, and Kiddie Kampus) that form a K-12 through doctoral vertical. Its technology stack centers on a learning management system for online and distance learning, and it maintains a media presence through the "On Mission" podcast and student music recordings distributed on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. Accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (since 1993) and NC-SARA authorization support interstate distance-education delivery.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-credit tuition ($430 undergraduate online, $445 graduate, $175 high school dual enrollment), donations via the Thrive Campaign and Annual Fund, and event revenue from golf tournaments, leadership breakfasts, retreats, and conferences. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via campus visits, online marketing, social media, podcasts, and a multi-event community engagement calendar. The university is governed by a Board of Trustees under a CEO/President leadership structure, with no parent company or external equity ownership.

Name

Maranatha Baptist University

Legal name

Maranatha Baptist University

Website

https://mbu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Maranatha Baptist University is a private, regionally accredited Christian university in Watertown, Wisconsin, offering undergraduate, graduate, and seminary degrees online and on campus, plus high school dual enrollment and a lifelong learning platform, serving conservative Baptist students preparing for ministry, education, and leadership careers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAKAG

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Religious & Theological Colleges

SECONDARYEDAHAKAB

Bible Colleges (Undergraduate Ministry & Biblical Studies)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Religious & Theological Colleges

SECONDARYEDALAHAI

Campus Spiritual & Religious Life

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Student Activities, Clubs & Campus Life

Keywords

• Higher education
• Online degree programs
• Seminary education
• Distance learning
• Ministry training

Headquarters

HQ city

Watertown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition. Undergraduate online tuition is $430 per credit. Graduate tuition is $445 per credit. Additional fees include assessment fees, comprehensive fees, and graduation fees.
2. Dual Enrollment Programs: High school dual enrollment courses at reduced rate of $175 per credit, representing a 60% discount from standard tuition. This creates pipeline of future full-price students.
3. Donations and Gifts: Development office solicits donations through Thrive Campaign, Annual Fund, Heritage Project, and planned giving programs. Accepts donations online, by phone, or mail. Donation designations include General Fund, Scholarships, Marriott Memorial, and specific building projects.
4. Event Revenue: Golf Classic tournament at $175 per player, Leadership Breakfasts at $5 per person, Flourish Ladies Retreat at $125 total fee, and other campus events generate revenue while promoting community engagement.
5. Fine Arts Recordings and Albums: Sale of music albums recorded by student ensembles including 'My Song of Praise', 'God With Us', 'Answer The Call', 'Beautiful Savior', 'Come to Me', 'Now I Send You Forth', and 'American Salute'. Available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and as physical CDs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Maranatha Baptist University is a private Christian university that delivers biblically-centered higher education across associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels on campus in Watertown, Wisconsin, and through online/distance learning modalities. Its portfolio includes undergraduate and graduate degree programs, seminary and Bible institute training, dual enrollment for high school students, and lifelong learning courses for adult learners, supported by an alumni and development operation that raises donations and hosts fundraising events.

Product overview

Maranatha Baptist University offers a diversified portfolio of educational programs and services centered around its core mission to develop leaders for ministry. The institution operates primarily through its Online and Distance Learning platform (Maranatha Online) providing undergraduate, graduate, and seminary degrees, along with MaranathaPlus for lifelong learning. The university supports student development through the Global Encounters missions program with international travel to multiple countries, and enriches campus life through fine arts programs including nine traveling music teams (Heritage Singers, Tonal Defenders, Praisemen, Madrigal, Chorale, Chamber Strings, Symphonic Band, Impact Team, Chamber Singers), a Drama Team, and music recording productions available on streaming platforms. The institution extends its reach through the On Mission podcast hosted by its CEO. Beyond academics, Maranatha conducts annual fundraising initiatives including the Thrive Campaign for student scholarships and campus heritage projects, the MBU Golf Classic, and the Pastor's Masters golf tournament. Community engagement is fostered through events like the Leadership Breakfast Series, Leader to Leader Conference, MBU Equipt Church Workers Conference, and Flourish Ladies Retreat. Summer programming includes youth camps for basketball, soccer, volleyball, and music/drama. The university maintains a physical campus in Watertown, Wisconsin with facilities including Old Main, Burckart Hall, Dining Complex, and residence halls, supported by a comprehensive development office managing annual funds, planned giving, and heritage projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Maranatha Baptist Seminary: Graduate theological education and seminary programs including Master of Divinity, Doctor of Ministry, and various Master of Arts degrees.
• Maranatha Baptist Bible Institute (MBBI)
• Maranatha Baptist Academy
• Kiddie Kampus
• Sabercats
• MaranathaPlus

Products and services

• Global Encounters International short-term missions program enabling Maranatha students to participate in team-based ministry trips to countries including Mexico, the Philippines, Peru, Hong Kong, the Cayman Islands, and India, with specialized teams in sports, nursing, and music.
• Traveling Music Teams Touring musical ensemble program with nine student groups (Heritage Singers, Tonal Defenders, Praisemen, Madrigal Choir, Chorale, Chamber Strings, Symphonic Band, Impact Team, and Chamber Singers) that perform at churches and ministry events.
• Drama Team Traveling student drama team that performs productions and ministry presentations on and off campus throughout the year.
• Student Music Recordings (Albums) Recorded music albums featuring MBU student vocalists and ensembles, including My Song of Praise, God With Us, Answer The Call, Beautiful Savior, Come to Me, Now I Send You Forth, and American Salute, distributed via Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and as physical CDs.
• On Mission Podcast University podcast hosted by CEO Dr. Matt Davis featuring interviews with guests sharing personal missions and experiences of living intentionally for God, with episodes distributed across YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Pandora, and iHeart Radio.
• Summer Camps Week-long summer camps for middle and high school students covering basketball, soccer, volleyball, music, and drama, led by professional coaches and experienced instructors on the Watertown campus.
• Flourish Ladies Retreat Annual women's leadership retreat designed to encourage pastors' wives and leaders of women's ministries in the local church, featuring speakers and workshops for a $125 total fee that covers all meals.
• Leader to Leader Conference Annual business leadership conference hosted by MBU's School of Business featuring keynote speakers, breakout workshops, and networking opportunities on topics including coaching models, listening skills, goal setting, team building, and conflict resolution, priced at $250 per individual.
• MBU Equipt Church Workers Conference Annual church workers conference with biblical teaching and practical workshops in children's ministry, youth ministry, women's ministry, and general ministry skills, designed to equip local church volunteers and leaders.
• Thrive Campaign Annual fundraising campaign soliciting donations to support student scholarships, heritage campus renovation projects, and debt reduction through online, credit card, mail-in, one-time, annual, endowment, tribute, estate, and stock gift options.
• MBU Golf Classic Annual golf tournament held at Watertown Country Club supporting the Watertown Endowment for MBU faculty and staff, with player entry at $175 and sponsorship levels ranging from Diamond ($5,000) to Silver ($750).
• Pastor's Masters Golf Tournament Annual golf tournament in Alabama supporting the 2 Timothy 2 Scholarship for students called to full-time vocational ministry, held at Burningtree Country Club in Decatur, Alabama, at $110 per player with hole ($110), breakfast ($500), and lunch ($750) sponsorships.
• Leadership Breakfast Series Community breakfast series featuring guest speakers who share knowledge on leadership topics, with networking opportunities for business and government professionals alongside MBU faculty, staff, and students, priced at $5 per person including a hot buffet-style breakfast.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of graduates actively involved in local church ministry
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Watertown Country ClubminorOthers · 21 September 2026Watertown Country Club serves as the venue for the annual MBU Golf Classic tournament. The private 18-hole golf course established in 1922 hosts the 26th annual event on September 21, 2026. The partnership supports the Watertown Endowment which benefits MBU faculty and staff and economically benefits the city and surrounding counties.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Liberty University: A large, private evangelical university in Lynchburg, VA with an extensive online education platform and a similarly conservative Christian mission. Liberty is a much larger, broader incumbent in the Christian higher education space with significant online enrollment that competes directly for MBU's target students.
• Biola University: A private, evangelical Christian university in La Mirada, CA with extensive undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs. Biola is a broader incumbent in the Christian higher education space, with a similar emphasis on biblical integration and ministry preparation, competing for similar student segments.

Direct peers

• Pensacola Christian College: A private, fundamentalist Baptist college in Pensacola, FL with similar doctrinal commitments, conservative Baptist theological stance, and emphasis on biblical higher education. Both institutions share the conservative Baptist identity and ministry preparation focus.
• Cedarville University: A private Baptist university in Cedarville, OH offering undergraduate, graduate, and online programs with a similar conservative Baptist theological identity and emphasis on biblical integration. Both institutions compete in the Baptist higher education segment with comparable program portfolios.
• Dallas Baptist University: A private Baptist university in Dallas, TX offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs with a Christian higher education focus. Both institutions share the Baptist theological heritage and emphasize ministry and professional preparation within a faith-based framework.
• Bryan College: A private, nondenominational Christian college in Dayton, TN with similar conservative Christian commitments and a focus on biblical higher education. Both institutions serve conservative Christian students seeking biblically-grounded degree programs in a residential campus setting.
• Moody Bible Institute: A private, fundamentalist Christian higher education institution in Chicago, IL focused on biblical and theological education. Both MBU and Moody share the conservative theological orientation and emphasis on preparing leaders for ministry and church work.
• Anderson University (Indiana): A private Baptist university in Anderson, IN with a similar Christian liberal arts and graduate program portfolio. Both institutions share the Baptist heritage, faith-based curriculum, and emphasis on integrating biblical principles with academic study.
• North Greenville University: A private Baptist university in Tigerville, SC offering undergraduate and graduate programs with conservative Christian commitments. Both institutions share the Southern Baptist heritage, conservative theological positioning, and emphasis on ministry and church leadership preparation.
• Bob Jones University: A private, fundamentalist Christian university in Greenville, SC offering undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs with a similar conservative theological orientation, faith-based curriculum, and emphasis on ministry preparation. Both institutions target conservative Christian families and emphasize biblical integration in higher education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MaranathaEDU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCews2QcYs_02mB9FIg5di3A
• Facebookfacebook.com/MaranathaEDU
• Instagraminstagram.com/maranathaedu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Maranatha Baptist University