What DeSales University does

DeSales University is a private Catholic university in the Salesian tradition, founded in 1964 and operating from a single campus at 2755 Station Avenue in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. It serves traditional undergraduates, graduate students, working adult learners, and K-12 pipeline partners through the Waterbury Reilly School of Business and the College of Healthcare Professions, among other academic units. Programs span undergraduate degrees (Healthcare Administration, Health Science with a 3+3 DPT pathway, Finance, Computer Science, Nursing, and others), accelerated adult studies delivered online, and graduate offerings including MBA, MS in Business Analytics, MS in Data Analytics, MS in Cyber Security, MS in Nursing/Nurse Practitioner, and doctoral programs in Medical Science, Nursing Practice, and Physical Therapy.

Core academic technology includes the region's only gross anatomy laboratory, a medical simulation center with standardized patient care suites, a LEED-certified Gambet Center for healthcare education, a student-run pro bono clinic, and the Brightspace by D2L learning management system for online course delivery. Differentiated facilities such as the gross anatomy lab and an Investment Practicum that manages real endowment funds via financial trading systems support experiential learning outcomes, with reported 100% DPT completion, licensure, and employment rates since 2021. Strategic positioning rests on the Salesian identity, regional brand recognition (#1 Best Four-Year College in Lehigh Valley), CAPTE and ACBSP programmatic accreditations, and embedded clinical partnerships with regional healthcare networks including St. Luke's University Health Network and Lehigh Valley Health Network.

The business model is tuition-driven: annual subscription-style billing across undergraduate, graduate, and adult studies tuition tiers, supplemented by financial aid, scholarships, and tuition deferment. Recruitment runs through digital marketing, campus visits, admissions counselors, community/youth programs, and 20 NCAA Division III athletic teams. Recent strategic moves include a 2025 K-12 AI partnership with Allentown School District and Penn State-Lehigh Valley, a new BS in Emergency Medical Services program launching Fall 2026, and continued expansion of online accelerated adult studies. DeSales operates as an independent institution with no parent company or controlling owner; revenue and enrollment figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

DeSales University

Legal name

DeSales University

Website

https://desales.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Short description

DeSales University is a private Catholic university in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, offering undergraduate, graduate, and accelerated adult studies programs across healthcare, business, and sciences, with specialized facilities including a regional gross anatomy lab, medical simulation center, and LEED-certified Gambet Center.

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 industry

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Healthcare education
• Accelerated adult studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Center Valley

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 stream from undergraduate, graduate, and adult studies tuition and fees. The university charges different tuition rates for traditional undergraduate, graduate programs, and adult/accelerated studies. Financial aid and scholarships are offered to offset costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

DeSales University is a private Catholic institution that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and accelerated adult studies academic programs across business, healthcare, sciences, arts, and humanities. Programs are offered through on-campus instruction at the Center Valley, PA campus and online via the Brightspace by D2L learning management system. The university also operates clinical and experiential learning sites for healthcare programs and partners with regional employers for internships and career placement.

Product overview

DeSales University offers a portfolio of undergraduate and graduate academic programs across multiple colleges and schools. The undergraduate programs include the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration (offering Data Analytics and BS-to-MBA tracks), the Bachelor of Science in Health Science (3+3 accelerated path to DPT), and the Bachelor of Science in Finance (with Data Analytics and Financial Planning tracks). The institution also provides accelerated adult studies programs delivered online. These programs integrate technology education through Data Analytics/AI coursework and hands-on training using industry tools like Tableau, SAS, and cloud platforms. Graduate offerings include MBA, MS in Business Analytics, MS in Cyber Security, MS in Data Analytics, MS in Nursing/Nurse Practitioner, and doctoral programs in Medical Science, Nursing Practice, and Physical Therapy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MyDSU: Student portal platform for DeSales University students, faculty, and staff
• DeSales Bulldogs
• Waterbury Reilly School of Business
• College of Healthcare Professions

Products and services

• Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration A 120-credit undergraduate degree program preparing students to plan, lead, and manage in the healthcare industry. Offers tracks in Data Analytics and a BS to MBA pathway.
• Bachelor of Science in Health Science An accelerated 3+3 year program providing a seamless path to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. Includes courses in gross anatomy lab, medical simulation center, and standardized patient care suites.
• Bachelor of Science in Finance - Accelerated (Adult Studies) An accelerated online finance degree program designed for working adults, with tracks in Financial Planning and Data Analytics, and preparation for CFP certification. Multiple start terms per year with rolling admissions.
• Bachelor of Science in Finance Undergraduate finance degree offering tracks in Data Analytics and Financial Planning, with hands-on training in Financial Trading Systems and an Investment Practicum course for managing real endowment funds.
• BS in Emergency Medical Services A new bachelor degree program created for certified/licensed paramedics, enrolling for the Fall 2026 semester.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% DPT program completion rate for Class of 2025
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers14 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Allentown School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeSales University partnered with Allentown School District to offer advanced AI courses and internship opportunities for high school students. The partnership includes the Allentown Summer AI Institute, an eight-week DeSales program now in its second year, and provides curriculum support for the district's redesigned Bridgeview Academy focusing on AI, healthcare, and computer science.
• Penn State-Lehigh ValleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeSales University and Penn State-Lehigh Valley are partnering with Allentown School District to offer advanced courses and internship opportunities as part of the district's AI-focused curriculum redesign at Bridgeview Academy.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lehigh University: Large research university in Bethlehem, PA, anchoring the Lehigh Valley higher education market. Competes for top regional traditional undergraduates and employer partnerships, though operating at a much larger scale and more selective tier. Functions as the dominant incumbent in the immediate geography.

Direct peers

• La Salle University: Philadelphia-based Catholic university with a comparable mix of undergraduate, graduate, and adult-learner programs, similar Salesian/Christian-brothers heritage, and similar mid-Atlantic regional positioning. Comparable in size and program mix including nursing and business.
• Widener University: Private regional university near Philadelphia offering undergraduate, graduate, and accelerated programs with notable strength in nursing and physical therapy. Directly comparable in scale, healthcare-program emphasis, and tuition-driven model.
• Villanova University: Major Catholic Augustinian university in the Philadelphia suburbs with broad undergraduate and graduate offerings. While larger and more selective, it competes for the same Catholic-identity-seeking, healthcare-career-oriented student pool across the Mid-Atlantic.
• Saint Joseph's University: Philadelphia-based Jesuit Catholic university offering undergraduate, graduate, and online programs with strong business and healthcare administration offerings. Comparable mission, comparable Catholic-identity positioning, comparable accelerated/adult-learner portfolio.
• Moravian University: Private university in Bethlehem, PA, also in the Lehigh Valley, offering undergraduate and graduate programs including nursing and healthcare-adjacent degrees. Comparable scale, similar tuition model, and overlapping applicant pool with DeSales.
• Muhlenberg College: Private liberal arts college located in Allentown, PA in the Lehigh Valley, with comparable enrollment size, tuition-driven revenue model, NCAA Division III athletics, and a similar mix of traditional undergraduates and pre-professional graduate-adjacent programming. Most direct regional competitor for traditional undergraduates.
• Gwynedd Mercy University: Catholic university in Gwynedd Valley, PA, with comparable size, mission-driven identity, and strong nursing/allied health programs. Direct peer in the Catholic, healthcare-focused, Mid-Atlantic regional university category.
• Cedar Crest College: Small private women's college in Allentown, PA, also in the Lehigh Valley, with overlapping healthcare and nursing programs. Direct head-to-head competitor for traditional-aged students in the same immediate geography.
• Lafayette College: Highly selective private liberal arts college in Easton, PA, within the Lehigh Valley. Overlaps with DeSales for high-achieving traditional undergraduates considering smaller regional private institutions, though Lafayette is more selective and STEM-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=4jFZVQPo0LE
• Facebookfacebook.com/54571532222
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/desales-university
• Xx.com/desales

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 DeSales University