Whitworth University

What Whitworth University does

Whitworth University is a private, nonprofit Christian liberal arts institution founded in 1890 and headquartered on a 200-acre campus in Spokane, Washington. It operates under Presbyterian-affiliated governance and serves approximately 2,419 students as of Fall 2025 (2,046 undergraduate and 373 graduate), drawn from 31 U.S. states and more than 40 countries, supported by an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The university delivers instruction across four academic units — the College of Arts & Sciences, the School of Business (AACSB-accredited), the School of Education, and the School of Health Sciences — offering more than 100 undergraduate majors, graduate degrees (MBA, M.Ed., MS in Financial Planning, MA in Marriage & Family Therapy, MFA in Creative Writing), and doctoral programs in Physical Therapy (DPT) and Occupational Therapy (OTD).

Revenue is generated primarily through annual tuition, room and board, and mandatory fees ($26,900 undergraduate tuition, $14,900 room and board, $1,500 fees for the 2026–27 academic year), offset by academic scholarships of up to $9,000 per year and need-based aid. Secondary revenue streams include graduate program tuition, Whitworth Online accelerated adult-learner degrees, certificate programs, auxiliary services, and donations/endowment income. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer across multiple admissions channels — campus visits, virtual webinars, high school visits, college fairs, dedicated international and military/veterans admissions, and direct admissions counseling — with go-to-market differentiation anchored in the Christ-centered community, small class sizes, 97% graduate employment rate, and consistent U.S. News regional rankings (#1 Best Value in the Northwest, #1 Christian University in the West).

Recent strategic activity has emphasized vertical expansion into healthcare (a new BSN program and a differentiated M.Ed. in Trauma-Informed Social Emotional Learning), restructuring of the adult-learner channel into accelerated 90-credit online pathways, leadership refresh in the School of Business, and reaffirmation of NWCCU accreditation in February 2026. Whitworth holds a multi-layered accreditation stack including AACSB, ABET (EAC), CAPTE, ACOTE, COAMFTE, and MPCAC, supporting licensure-eligible health sciences and education programs that differentiate it from less credentialed competitors.

Name

Whitworth University

Legal name

Whitworth University

Website

https://whitworth.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1890

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Liberal arts university
• Graduate programs
• Online degree programs
• Christian university

Headquarters

HQ city

Spokane

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition: The university charges $26,900 per year for undergraduate tuition (2026-27 academic year), with additional revenue from room, board, and fees
2. Graduate Program Tuition: Graduate programs including MBA, DPT, OTD, M.Ed. and other professional degrees generate tuition revenue with varying fee structures
3. Whitworth Online Programs: Accelerated 90-credit degree pathways for adult learners in business management, accounting, criminal justice, public service, human services, humanities, and elementary education
4. Room and Board: On-campus housing and dining services charged at $14,900 annually
5. Financial Aid and Scholarships: Academic scholarships up to $9,000 per year based on high school GPA, along with need-based financial aid, reducing net tuition revenue

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Whitworth University delivers higher education services through more than 100 undergraduate majors and programs, over 20 graduate degrees (MBA, M.Ed., MS in Financial Planning, etc.), doctoral programs (DPT, OTD), and certificate programs. Instruction is delivered on the 200-acre Spokane, Washington residential campus and through Whitworth Online, which provides accelerated 90-credit pathways for working adults. The university integrates Christian faith and learning across all academic offerings.

Product overview

Whitworth University is a private, Christian liberal arts institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs. The core offering consists of undergraduate programs (100+ majors) and graduate programs (20+ degrees) delivered primarily on its Spokane, Washington campus. Whitworth Online extends access to working adults through accelerated online degrees and certificates. The academic structure comprises the College of Arts & Sciences, School of Business, School of Education, and School of Health Sciences, along with doctoral programs in physical therapy and occupational therapy. Certificate programs provide professional development pathways. All programs integrate the university's Christ-centered mission with rigorous academic inquiry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs Over 100 undergraduate majors and programs across arts, sciences, business, education, health sciences, and professional studies, offered in traditional on-campus format at the Spokane, Washington campus.
• Graduate Programs Graduate degrees including Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Leadership, Master of Science in Financial Planning, Master in Teaching, Master of Education programs, Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy, Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.
• Doctoral Programs Doctoral-level programs including Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), designed to prepare compassionate health science professionals with hands-on experience.
• Whitworth Online Online education platform offering accelerated-format classes for working adults, leading to degrees in business management, management & accounting, criminal justice administration, public service administration, human services, humanities, or elementary education with teacher certification; plus certificates in accounting, operations management and software development.
• Certificate Programs Credit and non-credit certificate options including Brewing Science & Operations Certificate, Certificate in Executive Leadership, Elevate Leadership Certificate for Women, and Certificate in Operations Management & Six Sigma Certification.
• Master of Education in Trauma-Informed Social Emotional Learning (SEL) In-person master's degree program for certified teachers focused on trauma-informed social emotional learning, addressing educator burnout and student well-being.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program Bachelor of Science in Nursing program preparing graduates for nursing careers, approved by NWCCU and Washington State Board of Nursing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of graduates employed within one year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Washington State University College of NursingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for pre-nursing program that leads to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) through Washington State University's College of Nursing. Whitworth provides the pre-nursing curriculum and WSU confers the nursing degree.
• EducationUSAminorOthersAffiliated member of EducationUSA, providing guidance and resources for international students seeking higher education opportunities in the United States
• International ACACminorOthersMember of International ACAC (International Association for College Admission Counseling) for international student recruitment and guidance

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Seattle Pacific University: Private Christian (Free Methodist) liberal arts university in Seattle, WA offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Most directly comparable on Christian mission, liberal arts positioning, regional scale, and tuition-dependent business model.
• Calvin University: Private Christian (Reformed) comprehensive university in Grand Rapids, MI with ~3,500 students and similar faith-integrated liberal arts identity. Comparable on mission, scale, and mix of undergraduate and graduate programs.
• George Fox University: Private Christian (Quaker) university in Newberg, OR with ~4,000 students and a similar mix of undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and online programs. Direct comparable on faith-based mission, Pacific Northwest location, and program portfolio.
• Taylor University: Private interdenominational Christian liberal arts university in Upland, IN with roughly 2,200 students. Closely comparable on Christian mission integration, small-campus residential model, and outcomes-focused value proposition.
• University of Puget Sound: Private liberal arts university in Tacoma, WA with similar enrollment scale (~2,000 students), residential model, and emphasis on undergraduate teaching with select graduate programs. Direct competitor for Pacific Northwest liberal arts students.
• Gonzaga University: Private Jesuit (Catholic) university located in Spokane, WA — the most direct geographic and product competitor to Whitworth. Competes head-to-head for the same regional undergraduate pool and offers overlapping graduate and doctoral programs including professional degrees.
• Seattle University: Private Jesuit (Catholic) university in Seattle with comparable size, comprehensive undergraduate/graduate offerings, and a values-driven (faith-based) mission. Competes in the same regional Pacific Northwest student market across multiple program areas.
• Pacific Lutheran University: Private Lutheran (ELCA) liberal arts university in Tacoma, WA with comparable enrollment scale (~2,500-3,000 students), Christian-affiliated mission, and similar mix of undergraduate and graduate programs in the Pacific Northwest.

Broad incumbents

• Pepperdine University: Larger private Christian (Churches of Christ) university in Malibu, CA offering undergraduate, graduate (including MBA and law), and doctoral programs. Comparable faith-based mission, tuition-dependent model, and emphasis on small-class undergraduate experience.

Emerging players

• Western Governors University: Large nonprofit online-first university focused on working adult learners with competency-based degrees at materially lower tuition. Competes directly with Whitworth Online for adult undergraduate and graduate students, particularly in business, education, and IT.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/whitworth
• YouTubeyoutube.com/whitworthuniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/28199631440
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/whitworth-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/whitworthuniversity

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Whitworth University