What Trinity International University does

Trinity International University (TIU) is a private, not-for-profit Christian university affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America, founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bannockburn, Illinois, with additional campuses in Santa Ana, California (Trinity Law School) and South Florida. As of 2025–2026, TIU operates through three main divisions: Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS), which was transitioned to Trinity Western University in 2025; Trinity Law School, offering a Juris Doctor and a SHRM-aligned Master of Legal Studies with multiple specialization tracks; and TIU-Online, a Canvas LMS-based platform delivering 100% online degree and certificate programs. The university maintains six academic centers covering bioethics, human rights, public legal theology, transformational churches, world Christianity, and faith and children, and serves roughly 199 faculty members across its schools.

The business model is tuition-driven, supplemented by donations, gifts, and planned giving from alumni, parents, and church partners. Financial aid is central to enrollment economics: Trinity Law School's average aid package is $28,500 per year, and nearly 95% of TEDS students receive some form of aid. Marketing is multi-channel and faith-community-anchored, leveraging content (TEDS articles, publications, and the TEDS Bulletin newsletter), events (lectures, debates, open houses), social media, and church partnerships for student recruitment. Distribution spans physical campuses, online self-serve enrollment, extension sites in Wisconsin, Ohio, Florida, and Seoul, and a correctional-institution program at Fox Lake, Wisconsin.

TIU's competitive positioning rests on regulatory accreditation (HLC, ATS, CACREP, State Bar of California, NC-SARA reciprocity, and state licensure in Illinois, California, and Florida), a 125-year legacy, and a 28,160+ alumni network spanning 60+ countries. However, the institution is in a period of significant structural contraction: TEDS was spun off in 2025, the main Bannockburn campus was sold in February 2026, and the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity is transitioning to LeTourneau University. Eric Halvorson was appointed as the 18th President effective January 27, 2026, while continuing as Dean of Trinity Law School, signaling leadership consolidation around the law school and online channels as the retained core.

Name

Trinity International University

Legal name

Trinity International University

Website

https://tiu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1897

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Trinity International University is a private, not-for-profit Christian university affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America, offering graduate theological education (now at Trinity Western University), law degrees, and online programs across U.S. campuses in Illinois and California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Graduate theological education
• Christian higher education
• Law degree programs
• Online divinity programs
• Evangelical seminary degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Deerfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition across all degree programs including Juris Doctor, Master of Legal Studies, Master of Divinity, and various theological graduate degrees. Federal financial aid is available for all Trinity students.
2. Donations and Gifts: Alumni, parents, friends, and churches support the university through donations. The university offers various gift options including one-time and monthly recurring donations. Planned giving options are also available.
3. SHRM Certification Partnership: The Master of Legal Studies degree is aligned with SHRM HR Curriculum Guidebook, generating revenue through HR-related professional education programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Trinity International University is a private, not-for-profit Christian university offering graduate theological degrees through Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS), Juris Doctor and Master of Legal Studies programs through Trinity Law School, and online degree delivery through TIU-Online. The university also operates academic centers in bioethics, human rights, world Christianity, faith and children, and public legal theology that support research and continuing education. Federal financial aid is available, with Trinity Law School students receiving an average $28,500 aid package per year and nearly 95% of TEDS students receiving some form of financial aid.

Product overview

Trinity International University is a Christian university affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America offering a portfolio of educational products across three main divisions. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) provides graduate theological education including Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and PhD programs, along with certificate programs. Trinity Law School offers Juris Doctor and Master of Legal Studies degrees with multiple specialization tracks, including SHRM-aligned Human Resources programming. TIU-Online serves as the platform for delivering online degree programs and certificates from both schools. The university also operates six academic centers (Henry Center for Theological Understanding, Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, Center for Transformational Churches, Hiebert Center for World Christianity, Center for Human Rights, and Center for Faith and Children) that provide research, advocacy, and continuing education resources. The institution has campuses in Illinois and California, and serves students globally through online programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Carl F.H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding (HCTU): Provides opportunity for ministers, professionals, and academics to work collaboratively with seminary faculty for advancing Christian wisdom.
• Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity (CBHD)
• Center for Transformational Churches
• Paul G. Hiebert Center for World Christianity and Global Theology
• Center for Faith and Children
• Center for Human Rights
• Center for Public Legal Theology

Products and services

• Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) Degree Programs Graduate theological school offering Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, PhD in Theological Studies, and certificate programs in Biblical Languages, Biblical and Theological Studies, and Scripture. Designed for students preparing for ministry, pastoral leadership, biblical scholarship, chaplaincy, and Christian service.
• Trinity Law School JD and MLS Programs California Bar-accredited law school offering Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree programs with specialization tracks including Alternative Dispute Resolution, Church Administration, Contracts and Negotiation, Criminal Justice, Human Resources Management, Human Rights, Human Trafficking Advocacy, Ministry Advocacy and the Law, Nonprofit Administration, and Paralegal studies. Includes the On Course Bar Exam Preparation Program.
• TIU-Online Degree Programs Online learning platform delivering 100% online degree programs and certificates from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Trinity Law School. Targets working professionals and ministry leaders who need to earn degrees without leaving their current job, ministry, or community.
• SHRM-Aligned Master of Legal Studies (HR Track) Master of Legal Studies degree specialization in Human Resources Management, aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) HR Curriculum Guidebook and Template to prepare students for HR professional certification.
• Carl F.H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding (HCTU) Academic center providing collaborative opportunities for ministers, professionals, and academics to engage with seminary faculty in biblical and theological reflection to advance Christian wisdom in all areas of life and thought.
• Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity (CBHD) Academic center exploring the nexus of biomedicine, biotechnology, and human dignity through rigorous research, theological analysis, and engagement with pressing bioethical issues within a Judeo-Christian framework.
• Center for Transformational Churches (CFTC) Academic center serving church members and leaders to help pastors understand the connection between faith, work, and economics, empowering congregants to recognize the value of their daily work.
• Paul G. Hiebert Center for World Christianity and Global Theology Academic center promoting missiological research and strategic collaboration between North American and Majority World Christians for gospel advancement and emergence of contextually relevant theological perspectives.
• Center for Human Rights Research, education, and advocacy center promoting and protecting international human rights by defending the Christian basis for human rights through classroom instruction, career development, and lecture opportunities.
• Center for Faith and Children (CFC) Academic center committed to reimagining church where children's faith flourishes, supporting local churches, ministry leaders, and parents in nurturing children's faith formation.
• Center for Public Legal Theology Academic center calling students, scholars, judges, and practitioners to a richer vision of law grounded in transcendent truth, promoting public legal theology scholarship.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 95% of TEDS students receive some form of financial aid
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrinity Law School's Master of Legal Studies degree is aligned with the SHRM HR Curriculum Guidebook & Template. This partnership provides HR-specific curriculum content and SHRM certification preparation for MLS students pursuing the Human Resources Management track.
• Orange County and Los Angeles County Internship SitesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrinity Law School has partnered with over 35 internship opportunities in the Orange County and Los Angeles County areas, providing law school students practical experience in the legal field as part of their educational program.
• Trinity Western UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) has officially transitioned from Trinity International University to become the divinity school of Trinity Western University (TWU) in Langley, British Columbia. TIU continues to offer online programs in affiliation with TWU.
• State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)coreOthersTrinity International University participates in NC-SARA, a voluntary regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education, allowing the university to offer distance education to students in participating states.
• Church PartnershipscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrinity maintains church partnerships for student recruitment, ministry placement, and collaborative ministry development. The university identifies and meets educational needs of the EFCA and serves diverse churches.
• Faith and Work Institute of AsiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Paul G. Hiebert Center for World Christianity and Global Theology launched a new international committee in partnership with the Faith and Work Institute of Asia for global theological collaboration.
• LeTourneau UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity (CBHD) is transitioning to join LeTourneau University, continuing its mission of exploring bioethical issues within a Judeo-Christian framework.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Trinity Western University: Canadian evangelical university that absorbed TEDS from TIU in 2025. Operates a seminary, undergraduate, and graduate programs in the same evangelical tradition with online and residential delivery, making it the most direct comparable for the divinity-school side of TIU's former portfolio.
• Biola University: La Mirada, CA-based evangelical university with Talbot School of Theology, Rosemead School of Psychology, and a recently launched Snyder School of Cinema. Comparable mix of theology, graduate professional schools, and online delivery in a Southern California footprint.
• Dallas Theological Seminary: Standalone evangelical seminary in the Dallas–Fort Worth area offering ThM, MDiv, and DMin programs with extensive online learning (DTS Voice). One of the most direct competitors in the confessional theological-graduate market for TEDS students.
• Fuller Theological Seminary: Pasadena-based multi-denominational evangelical seminary with a large online program (Fuller Online) and doctoral programs in theology and psychology. Closest scale competitor to the TEDS portfolio and a key benchmark for graduate theological pricing and delivery.
• Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary: Multi-campus (Charlotte, Boston, Jacksonville) evangelical seminary offering MDiv, ThM, and DMin degrees with significant online enrollment. Directly comparable graduate-theology footprint including a Florida extension similar to TIU's South Florida presence.
• Moody Bible Institute: Chicago-based evangelical Bible college and seminary offering undergraduate, graduate, and distance-learning programs. Geographic and theological overlap with TIU's Illinois heritage and similarly conservative-evangelical positioning.
• Wheaton College: Wheaton, IL-based residential evangelical liberal-arts college with a Graduate School including a notable M.A. in Biblical Exegesis. Closest evangelical-residential and Illinois-based peer for Trinity College/Graduate School programs.
• Ave Maria School of Law: Catholic-affiliated ABA-accredited law school in Naples, FL with online JD and LLM offerings. Most direct faith-based law school competitor to Trinity Law School, especially on the Florida-extension and online-delivery dimensions.

Broad incumbents

• Liberty University: Large Lynchburg, VA-based evangelical university with extensive online programs, an affiliated law school (Liberty University School of Law), and a College of Divinity. A broad incumbent across all of TIU's verticals (theology, law, online).

Emerging players

• Regent University School of Law: Virginia Beach-based ABA-accredited law school affiliated with Regent University's broader evangelical university. Online JD and LLM delivery make it one of the closest faith-based direct competitors to Trinity Law School's online JD/MLS programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TIU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/tiuchannel
• Facebookfacebook.com/29809273201
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trinity-international-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/my_tiu

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Trinity International University