Carson-Newman College
Carson-Newman University is a private Christian liberal arts university in Jefferson City, Tennessee, affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention, serving roughly 2,585 students across 50 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degree programs with a 14:1 student-faculty ratio.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1851
- HeadquartersJefferson City, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Carson-Newman College does
Carson-Newman University is a private Christian liberal arts university located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, founded in 1851 and affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention. The institution serves approximately 2,585 students across roughly 1,528 undergraduates and 1,058 graduate students, drawn from 40 U.S. states and 51 foreign countries. It offers 50 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degree programs delivered through a 14:1 student-faculty ratio, with 215 faculty members, supported by multiple programmatic accreditations including SACSCOC, CCNE, ACEND, CACREP, CAEP, NASAD, and NASM. Recent capital investment has included the August 2023 opening of the 48,000-square-foot Ted Russell Center (School of Health Sciences), the November 2024 Recreation Park, and the January 2025 opening of West Campus Commons, a 110,000-square-foot, 520-bed residence facility — the largest construction project in school history.
The university's core products are degree-granting academic programs delivered via on-campus residential instruction, online and hybrid formats through Canvas LMS, the College of Professional Studies for adult learners, pre-professional tracks (with a ~90% professional school acceptance rate), and study abroad across 18+ countries. Technology infrastructure is conventional: Canvas LMS for course delivery, Microsoft Office 365 and SharePoint for collaboration and document management, plus the Acadeum course-sharing consortium and Transferology for transfer credit. The operating model is tuition-dependent with auxiliary revenue from room and board, athletics (21 NCAA Division II teams), and philanthropic giving — most recently the August 2024 launch of the Legacy campaign, the institution's largest fundraising initiative in nearly 175 years.
Revenue mechanics rely on annual tuition billed across the enrolled student base (96%+ receive financial aid, with tuition and fees positioned approximately $3,000 below the regional private-school median), supported by a transfer-student pipeline built on articulation agreements with 12+ Tennessee Board of Regents community colleges, multiple military institutes, and a UT Knoxville Baker School pathway, plus a satellite location at Pellissippi State. GTM is sales-led via dedicated admissions representatives for freshman, transfer, graduate, online, dual enrollment, and international segments. The institution has no parent company, no venture or private equity backing, and operates under its own Board of Trustees.
Carson-Newman College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carson-Newman College
- Legal name
- Carson-Newman University
- Website
- https://cn.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1851
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Carson-Newman University is a private Christian liberal arts university in Jefferson City, Tennessee, affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention, serving roughly 2,585 students across 50 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degree programs with a 14:1 student-faculty ratio.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Carson-Newman College industry classification
Industry- 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
- Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC)
Keywords
Where Carson-Newman College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Jefferson City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices11 records
Markets served
Carson-Newman College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from undergraduate and graduate tuition, with tuition and fees approximately $3,000 less than the median of nearby private schools. Over 96% of students receive financial aid.
- Room and Board: Revenue from campus housing including residence halls (Alumni Memorial Hall, Appalachian Commons, Burnett Hall, Butler Hall, Heritage Hall, Sarah Swann Hall, West Campus Commons) and dining services (Stokely Memorial Cafeteria).
- Philanthropic Giving: Major fundraising through the Legacy campaign (launched August 19, 2024), the largest fundraising initiative since the university's founding nearly 175 years ago. Includes Acorns to Oaks Five-Year Strategic Plan funding.
- Athletics Programs: Revenue supporting 21 NCAA Division II athletic teams, including ticket sales, merchandise (Eagle Shop bookstore), and athletics-related activities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Affordable private education with financial aid |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Carson-Newman College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Carson-Newman University provides residential and online undergraduate and graduate education through a Christian liberal arts framework, delivering 50+ undergraduate majors and 11+ graduate degrees. Core offerings include traditional four-year baccalaureate programs, the College of Professional Studies for adult learners, pre-professional tracks with ~90% graduate school placement, NCAA Division II athletics, and study abroad on six continents. The university serves approximately 2,585-2,900 students with a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio from over 40 U.S. states and 51 countries.
Product overview
Carson-Newman University offers a comprehensive educational portfolio centered around its undergraduate (50+ majors), graduate (11+ degree programs), and professional studies divisions. The institution provides traditional on-campus programs, online/hybrid delivery formats, and pre-professional tracks for competitive graduate school admissions. Academic offerings are supported by Canvas LMS, student success services including peer tutoring and career development, study abroad opportunities across six continents, and a College of Professional Studies for adult learners. The institution operates at a main campus in Jefferson City, Tennessee with an additional location at Pellissippi State Community College (Strawberry Plains).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Undergraduate Programs Traditional four-year baccalaureate degree programs across 50+ undergraduate majors including accounting, art, nursing, education, business, biology, chemistry, computer science, music, psychology, and more, with ROTC and Honors Program options for residential students.
- Graduate Studies Graduate and professional degree programs including master's degrees, education specialist degrees, and doctoral degrees, designed for working adults with flexible online and hybrid delivery options.
- College of Professional Studies Adult education and professional studies division offering flexible accelerated courses and online options for non-traditional students, including programs at the Pellissippi State Community College Strawberry Plains location.
- Pre-Professional Programs Preparatory tracks for graduate school admissions in competitive fields including medicine, dentistry, law, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, veterinary medicine, and engineering, with close faculty advising and ~90% professional school acceptance rate.
- Study Abroad Programs International education opportunities including faculty-led programs (summer terms in Cape Town, Norway, Austria, England), exchange programs (Japan, South Korea, China, Spain), partner university programs, and outside provider programs across six continents.
- Online Learning Online and hybrid course delivery through Canvas LMS, including entirely online master's programs, coordinated by the Office of Online Learning for distance education students.
- Career Development Services Office of Career Development offering career exploration, resume assistance, mock interviews, graduate school preparation, Focus 2 assessments, and the Hire An Eagle job bank connecting students and alumni with employers.
- Appalachian Cultural Center Director-led cultural center fostering and celebrating Appalachian culture through exhibits, programs, and preservation efforts available to students and the broader community.
Quantifiable outcome
- 96% of students receive financial aid, reducing cost burden
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Carson-Newman College
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Carson-Newman College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Carson-Newman College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.
- Al Akhawayn UniversityminorExchange program partner for international education allowing students to study abroad in Morocco through the Al Akhawayn University Exchange Program.
- Kansai Gaidai University (Japan)minorExchange university partner in Japan allowing reciprocal student exchanges between institutions.
- Nagoya University of Foreign Studies (Japan)minorExchange program partner in Japan offering Japanese language and culture studies.
- Namseoul University (South Korea)minorExchange university partner in South Korea enabling international study opportunities.
- Seinan Gakuin University (Japan)minorExchange program partner in Japan for international student exchange.
- Yantai University (China)minorExchange university partner in China for international education programs.
- Aberystwyth University (Wales)minorPartner university in Wales for semester or year abroad study.
- Edge Hill University (UK)minorPartner university in United Kingdom for international study opportunities.
- Hong Kong Baptist UniversityminorPartner university in Hong Kong for Asian exchange studies.
- Kingston University (London)minorPartner university in London for study abroad in UK metropolitan area.
- Salzburg College (Austria)minorPartner institution in Austria for European study abroad experience.
- Tokyo Christian University (Japan)minorPartner university in Japan for international academic exchange.
- University of Glasgow (Scotland)minorPartner university in Scotland for Honors students seeking international study experience.
- CGE (Center for Global Education)minorStudy abroad provider partner offering programs in Liverpool, Spain, Lithuania, Greece, and France.
- Pellissippi State Community CollegecoreArticulation agreement enabling seamless transfer pathway for community college students. Also main location for C-N programs at Pellissippi State Strawberry Plains campus.
- New Mexico Military InstituteminorArticulation agreement partner for military institute students transferring to C-N.
- Georgia Military InstituteminorArticulation agreement for military institute students in Georgia with branches in Augusta, Fayetteville, Fairburn, Valdosta, and Warner Robins.
- Valley Forge Military College (Pennsylvania)minorArticulation agreement partner for military college transfer students.
- Marion Military Institute (Alabama)minorArticulation agreement for military institute students transferring to C-N.
- Tennessee Board of Regents InstitutionscoreTransfer pathway agreements including Chattanooga State, Cleveland State, Columbia State, Dyersburg State, Jackson State, Motlow State, Nashville State, Northeast State, Roane State, Southwest Tennessee State, Volunteer State, and Walters State community colleges.
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville - Howard H. Baker Jr. SchoolmajorTransfer agreement announced between C-N and UT's Baker School enabling smooth pathway for students pursuing certain degree programs.
- Tennessee Baptist ConventioncoreCarson-Newman is affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention and established because of Tennessee churches. The convention provides partnership through shared mission of Christian higher education and kingdom work.
- Veritas AbroadminorOutside study abroad provider offering additional international program options for C-N students.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Carson-Newman College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Belmont University: Nashville-based private Christian university with Baptist roots offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. Similar faith-based identity, Nashville location provides urban advantage, and significantly larger scale — represents an aspirational comparable and direct competitor in the Tennessee market.
- Union University: Private Baptist-affiliated university in Jackson, TN offering undergraduate and graduate programs with similar faith-based liberal arts identity, comparable size, and overlapping Tennessee regional market. Direct competitor for Tennessee Baptist students and similar value positioning.
- Samford University: Private Baptist-affiliated university in Birmingham, AL with comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs including law, pharmacy, and nursing. Similar denominational identity, comparable program mix, and regional Southeastern competitor for faith-based students.
- Bryan College: Private Christian liberal arts college in Dayton, TN with similar size, faith-based identity, and East Tennessee regional market. Comparable residential Christian liberal arts model with selective admissions.
- Tennessee Wesleyan University: Private Methodist-affiliated liberal arts university in Athens, TN with similar size, value positioning, and Tennessee regional market. Comparable program mix including nursing and traditional undergraduate majors.
- Maryville College: Private liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in Maryville, TN, about 30 miles from Carson-Newman. Very close geographic competitor, similar size and residential liberal arts model, comparable tuition positioning.
- Lee University: Private Christian university in Cleveland, TN affiliated with the Church of God. Similar size, faith-based identity, residential liberal arts model, and East Tennessee regional market — directly comparable in mission and value proposition.
- Berry College: Private liberal arts college in Mount Berry, GA with residential campus, NCAA D-III athletics, and similar size and program mix. Comparable value proposition emphasizing residential experience and undergraduate teaching focus.
- Milligan University: Private Christian liberal arts university in Johnson City, TN (also East Tennessee region) affiliated with the Stone-Campbell tradition. Very similar size, mission, and value proposition; direct competitor for the same regional Christian student base.
Regional players
- Lincoln Memorial University: Private university in Harrogate, TN with comparable programs including nursing and osteopathic medicine, located in the same East Tennessee region. Regional competitor for traditional and pre-health students, though broader program portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Carson-Newman College social profiles
Digital presenceCarson-Newman College compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
Carson-Newman College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carson-Newman College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Carson-Newman College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Carson-Newman College M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Carson-Newman College
What does Carson-Newman College do?
Carson-Newman University provides residential and online undergraduate and graduate education through a Christian liberal arts framework, delivering 50+ undergraduate majors and 11+ graduate degrees. Core offerings include traditional four-year baccalaureate programs, the College of Professional Studies for adult learners, pre-professional tracks with ~90% graduate school placement, NCAA Division II athletics, and study abroad on six continents. The university serves approximately 2,585-2,900 students with a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio from over 40 U.S. states and 51 countries.
Is Carson-Newman College a public or private company?
Carson-Newman College is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Carson-Newman College founded?
Carson-Newman College was founded in 1851. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Carson-Newman College based?
Carson-Newman College is headquartered in Jefferson City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Carson-Newman College make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are room and Board, philanthropic Giving and athletics Programs.
Who are Carson-Newman College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Belmont University, Union University, Samford University, Bryan College, Tennessee Wesleyan University, Maryville College, Lee University, Berry College and Milligan University. Lincoln Memorial University is listed as a regional player.
Does Carson-Newman College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Carson-Newman College.
What industry is Carson-Newman College in?
Carson-Newman College's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHACAH, Residential Liberal Arts Colleges, with a secondary code of EDAHADAC, Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.