Peirce College

What Peirce College does

Peirce College is a private, nonprofit higher education institution founded in 1865 and headquartered in Center City Philadelphia (1608 Walnut Street). It is dedicated exclusively to adult learners and offers Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's degree programs across Business, Health and Human Services, Information Technology, Legal Studies, and Liberal Studies, with stackable undergraduate and graduate certificates. The institution delivers programs through on-campus, hybrid, and fully online formats, and serves four primary segments: working adults and career changers (primary), veterans and military personnel, employees of 60+ corporate partner organizations (Comcast, JetBlue, Penn Medicine, Aetna, CIGNA, CHOP, UPS, TD Bank, Wawa, Santander, SEPTA, Philadelphia Housing Authority, School District of Philadelphia, Independence Blue Cross), and community college transfer students via articulation agreements with Community College of Philadelphia and Montgomery County Community College.

The product portfolio follows a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core degree programs form the platform; supporting modules include Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) for portfolio, exam, professional certification, and military training credit, the Fast Track program (first class free, up to 22 free credits), Career Bridge short-term workforce training, and Workforce Innovation credential programs in Cybersecurity, IT, Medical Billing/Coding, Project Management, HR, Financial Services, and Digital Design. The underlying technology stack is an LMS-based online delivery platform supplemented by Salesforce (with the TargetX portal) for admissions CRM and inquiry forms, Microsoft Outlook for admissions scheduling, Google Analytics and reCAPTCHA for web operations, and eCampus.com for textbooks and course materials. MSCHE regional accreditation (reaffirmed March 10, 2022) and Pennsylvania Department of Education authorization underpin program delivery.

The business model is tuition-driven. Undergraduate certificates are priced at $350 per credit; the master's degree is sold as a flat $9,900 total; bachelor's completion ranges from $11,000 (with 102 transfer credits) to $15,000 (with 45 transfer credits); and combined bachelor's-plus-master's pathways are priced at $41,000-$42,000. The go-to-market motion is sales-led, with dedicated admissions counselors running personalized consultations, free transfer-credit evaluations, Open House and Instant Decision Day events, plus digital channels including SEO, social media (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn), email, and content marketing. Distribution is multi-channel: direct online enrollment, regional on-campus programs in Philadelphia, an employer channel via the 60+ corporate partner tuition-discount program, and a community-college channel via articulation agreements. In 2024, Peirce announced an integration with Lackawanna College to combine two Philadelphia-area adult-learner institutions.

Name

Peirce College

Legal name

Peirce College

Website

https://peirce.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1865

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Peirce College is a private, MSCHE-accredited higher education institution in Philadelphia founded in 1865 that delivers associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs plus stackable certificates to working adults via online, hybrid, and on-campus formats, and is integrating with Lackawanna College.

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

Transfer, Articulation & Credit Evaluation (EDALAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industry Credential, Certification & Badge Prep (Non-Degree) (EDAMAKAH), Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Adult degree programs
• Online college degrees
• Workforce development
• Prior learning assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Peirce College generates revenue primarily through tuition payments from students. Tuition is charged per credit hour with various discount programs including corporate tuition discounts, transfer credit pathways, and flat tuition programs for degree completion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Peirce College is a nonprofit higher education institution that delivers Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's degree programs—along with undergraduate and graduate certificates and short-term workforce training—targeted at adult learners. Programs are offered across Business, Health & Human Services, Information Technology, Legal Studies, and Liberal Studies disciplines via on-campus instruction in Philadelphia, fully online formats, and hybrid combinations, with prior learning assessment converting work experience, military training, and certifications into college credit. Tuition is structured per credit hour or as a flat-rate completion pathway, supported by transfer credit acceptance of up to 90–102 credits and corporate tuition discount partnerships.

Product overview

Peirce College is an educational institution offering a portfolio of degree programs and certificates designed for working adults. The institution operates under a platform-plus-modules architecture, with core offerings including undergraduate (Associate's and Bachelor's) and graduate (Master's) degree programs across Business, Health & Human Services, Information Technology, Legal Studies, and Liberal Studies disciplines. Supporting modules include Prior Learning Assessment, Fast Track (free first class), and Career Bridge workforce training programs. The institution also offers undergraduate and graduate certificates as stackable credentials, with undergraduate certificates priced at $350 per credit. Programs are delivered through online learning, on-campus, or hybrid formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Associate's and Bachelor's degree programs across Business, Health & Human Services, Information Technology, Legal Studies, and Liberal Studies disciplines, delivered on-campus, online, or hybrid for adult learners.
• Graduate Degree Programs Master's degree programs including MBA, Healthcare Administration, Higher Education Leadership, Organizational Leadership & Management, and Professional Studies, offered online and on-campus for working adults at a flat $9,900 total tuition.
• Undergraduate Certificates Stackable certificate programs priced at $350 per credit offering career-relevant skills across CannaBusiness, Financial Operations, HR Management, Project Management, Supply Chain Management, Client Service, Medical Billing, Medical Coding, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, and IT Support.
• Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Leadership Specialized graduate-level certificate focused on developing leadership skills for higher education institutions.
• Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Program that awards college credit for prior knowledge through portfolio assessment, credit-by-exam, professional certifications, and military training evaluation, enabling students to shorten time and cost to degree completion.
• Fast Track Program Program that lets students take their first college class for free and accumulate up to 22 credits at no cost, lowering the entry barrier for prospective adult learners.
• Career Bridge Programs Short-term career training programs in Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Financial & Business Operations, HR Management, IT Support, Medical Billing, Medical Coding, Project Management, and Sales/Client Service for adult learners seeking rapid workforce entry or upskilling.
• Workforce Innovation Programs Industry-recognized credential programs in Cybersecurity/Information Security, Digital & Graphic Design, Financial Services & Wealth Management, Information Technology, LSAT Prep, Professional Development, and Project Management offered in partnership with employers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Earn a Master's degree for $9,900 total cost
• +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

Integration5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• JetBluecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJetBlue partnership offering online degree programs exclusively for JetBlue family members. Programs include Business Administration, Liberal Studies, and graduate degrees. This is a dedicated pathway for JetBlue employees and family members to pursue higher education with specialized support.
• Lackawanna CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeirce College and Lackawanna College announced plans to join forces, integrating operations to strengthen educational offerings in the Philadelphia and Scranton regions.
• Community College of PhiladelphiacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCCP Dual Admissions partnership providing clear transfer pathways for community college students to complete bachelor's degrees at Peirce.
• Montgomery County Community CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor3+1 Pathway Program allowing students to complete an associate degree at Montgomery County Community College and transfer to Peirce for the bachelor's degree.
• Rutgers Law SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership providing pathway for Peirce graduates to pursue legal education at Rutgers Law School.
• Independence Blue CrossminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering tuition discounts to employees pursuing degrees at Peirce College.
• Penn MedicineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering tuition discounts to Penn Medicine employees pursuing healthcare-related degrees at Peirce College.
• ComcastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering tuition discounts to Comcast employees pursuing degrees at Peirce College.
• Philadelphia Housing AuthorityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering tuition discounts to PHA employees pursuing degrees at Peirce College.
• School District of PhiladelphiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering tuition discounts to School District of Philadelphia employees pursuing degrees at Peirce College.
• SEPTAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering tuition discounts to SEPTA employees pursuing degrees at Peirce College.
• AetnaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering tuition discounts to Aetna employees pursuing degrees at Peirce College.
• CIGNAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering tuition discounts to CIGNA employees pursuing degrees at Peirce College.
• CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering tuition discounts to CHOP employees pursuing degrees at Peirce College.
• UPSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering tuition discounts to UPS employees pursuing degrees at Peirce College.
• TD BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering tuition discounts to TD Bank employees pursuing degrees at Peirce College.
• WawaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering tuition discounts to Wawa employees pursuing degrees at Peirce College.
• SantanderminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering tuition discounts to Santander employees pursuing degrees at Peirce College.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lackawanna College: Pennsylvania-based private college serving primarily adult and non-traditional learners. Direct peer in mission, market, and now a confirmed merger partner — combining the two is the central strategic move referenced in the data.
• Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU): Large nonprofit university with a dominant online adult-learner program offering associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees with flexible scheduling and prior-learning credit. Direct peer in target market (working adults) and core product (online degree completion).
• Western Governors University (WGU): Nonprofit, competency-based online university serving adult learners nationwide with flat-rate tuition by six-month term. Closest direct peer to Peirce's adult-learner, prior-learning, flat-tuition model — and the dominant scale competitor in that segment.
• Thomas Edison State University: New Jersey-based public institution focused exclusively on adult learners with extensive prior-learning assessment, credit-by-exam, and transfer-credit policies. Direct peer in mission and PLA/transfer credit differentiation within the Northeast market.
• Excelsior University: Formerly Excelsior College, a nonprofit institution serving adult learners via online programs with strong credit-for-prior-learning and military-friendly policies. Direct peer in adult-learner focus, PLA depth, and online/hybrid delivery model.
• University of Phoenix: Large for-profit online university historically targeting working adults with associate's through doctoral programs. Direct peer in target customer (working adults), online-only delivery, and corporate-employer tuition partnerships.
• National University: San Diego-based nonprofit university system with a four-week course format and large adult-learner population, including military and corporate-partner channels. Direct peer in adult-learner focus, accelerated scheduling, and workforce-aligned programs.
• Purdue University Global: Online institution (formerly Kaplan University) serving adult learners through Purdue's brand, offering associate's through graduate degrees with prior-learning credit. Direct peer in adult-learner focus, online delivery, and credit-for-experience policies.

Regional players

• Community College of Philadelphia: Regional two-year public college serving the same Philadelphia adult-learner market and serving as a primary transfer feeder into Peirce via dual-admissions. Comparable regionally for the associate's and workforce credential portion of Peirce's offerings.

Emerging players

• Charter Oak State College: Connecticut-based public online college serving adult learners with strong PLA and credit-by-exam offerings. Comparable as a smaller, regionally focused adult-learner institution with similar transfer-friendly and competency-based positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/peircecollege
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/peircecollegephilly
• Facebookfacebook.com/58690748924
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/peirce-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/peirce_college

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Peirce College