What North American University does

North American University (NAU) is a private, non-profit institution incorporated in Texas and headquartered at 11929 W Airport Blvd, Stafford (Houston metro). The university offers bachelor's and master's degree programs across four academic units: Computer Science, Business Administration, Education (including M.Ed. tracks in School Counseling, Curriculum and Instruction, and Educational Leadership), and Criminal Justice. It also operates Gulf Language School (GLS), a wholly-owned subsidiary delivering English-language instruction that is expanding to a second Houston Galleria campus in Fall 2026. NAU targets three primary customer segments — domestic undergraduate students, domestic graduate students (including working professionals), and international students — with an emphasis on accessible, affordable higher education delivered through small class sizes and flexible online formats.

The university's technology stack is operationally conventional rather than differentiated: Canvas LMS for course delivery, Microsoft 365 for institutional operations, and ADP for HR and payroll. An internal API supports the Computer Science department website, and distance education is the primary delivery mode for graduate programs. NAU offers NCAA/USCAA athletics (the men's basketball team won the 2026 USCAA national championship) and is regionally accredited with Texas state program approvals for principal and school counseling certification.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through tuition and fees on a subscription-style per-credit or per-program basis, with a $50 refundable application fee. Resident graduate tuition runs approximately $310 per credit hour (e.g., $9,293 for the 30-credit M.Ed. School Counseling) and international tuition approximately $487–$511 per credit hour (e.g., $14,595 for the same 30-credit program, $23,376 for the 48-credit variant). Distribution occurs through direct online application portals, the Common App partnership, and a Houston Community College transfer pathway, with digital and virtual-event marketing supporting top-of-funnel acquisition.

Name

North American University

Legal name

North American University

Website

https://na.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

North American University is a private, non-profit Texas university in Houston offering bachelor's and master's degrees in Computer Science, Business, Education, and Criminal Justice to domestic and international students via online and on-campus delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fully Online Universities (Online-First, Degree-Granting) (EDAHALAA), Online International & Cross-Border Universities (Global/Transnational Providers) (EDAHALAL), University-Affiliated Pathway & Foundation Programs (EDAIAJAA)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate degrees
• Graduate programs
• Online learning
• Distance education

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: The university generates revenue primarily through tuition charges for undergraduate and graduate degree programs, with differentiated pricing for resident and international students. Additional revenue streams include application fees, testing fees, transcript fees, and various campus service fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

North American University is a private, non-profit institution offering bachelor's and master's degree programs in business administration, computer science, education, and criminal justice, delivered both on-campus and fully online via Canvas LMS. The university also operates the Gulf Language School (GLS) for English language instruction, serving both domestic and international students with flexible scheduling and differentiated resident/international tuition.

Product overview

North American University (NAU) is a private, non-profit educational institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The university provides a platform of educational programs across four academic colleges: College of Business, Department of Computer Science, Department of Education, and Department of Criminal Justice. The core offerings include Bachelor of Science degrees in Computer Science, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, and Interdisciplinary Studies in Education; and Master of Education degrees in School Counseling, Curriculum and Instruction, and Educational Leadership, plus a Master of Science in Computer Science and Online MBA programs. The institution also operates the Gulf Language School (GLS) for English language instruction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Computer Science (B.S.) Bachelor of Science in Computer Science covering software engineering, computer networking, algorithms, programming languages, and databases. 120 semester credit hours with concentrations in Software Engineering or Computer Networking. Designed for students pursuing technology careers.
• Master of Science in Computer Science Master of Science in Computer Science with concentrations in Cyber Security, Data Analytics, Networking, and Software Engineering. 30 semester credit hours (24 core + 6 concentration). Ranked #6 Best Online Masters in Computer Science of 2024 by Forbes. Available fully online.
• Business Administration (B.S.) Bachelor of Science in Business Administration preparing students in business knowledge, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and ethical business practices. 120 semester credit hours with concentrations in Finance, Management, or International Business.
• Online MBA Programs Online Master of Business Administration with concentrations in Health Care Management, Business Analytics, Leadership and Change Management, and Operations Management. Offers Thesis-MBA and Non-Thesis (Executive) MBA tracks. Designed for working professionals.
• Interdisciplinary Studies in Education (B.S.) Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in Education with four concentrations: Elementary Education, English Language Arts/Reading, Mathematics, and Physical Education. 120 semester credit hours preparing students for teaching certification.
• M.Ed. in Educational Leadership Master of Education in Educational Leadership - 30 credit hour program developing knowledge, skills, and dispositions essential for educational leaders. Prepares candidates for Texas Principal Certification. Resident tuition: $326/credit; International tuition: $511/credit.
• M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction - 100% online program with emphasis areas in Science Education, Educational Technology, Mathematics Education, and English Language Arts Education. 30 semester credit hours.
• M.Ed. in School Counseling (30 Credits) Master of Education in School Counseling with 30 credits - non-thesis program including practicum. Note: Does not qualify for Texas school counseling certification (requires 48 credits). Resident: $9,293; International: $14,595.
• M.Ed. in School Counseling (48 Credits) Master of Education in School Counseling with 48 credits - comprehensive program qualifying graduates for Texas Education Agency school counseling certification. Non-thesis, includes practicum for K-12 school counseling preparation. Resident: $14,880 ($310/credit hr); International: $23,376 ($487/credit hr).
• Criminal Justice (B.S.) Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice providing education in law enforcement, forensic investigation, court administration, and community advocacy. 120 semester credit hours with Forensic Science concentration.
• Gulf Language School (GLS) English language learning program operated by NAU, offering comprehensive English instruction for domestic and international students. A new Houston Galleria campus is opening in Fall 2026 to elevate English learning in the heart of Houston.

Quantifiable outcome

• Forbes ranked NAU 6th Best Masters In Computer Science Online Of 2024
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Common AppcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAU partners with Common App to provide undergraduate students an alternative application pathway for admission
• Houston Community College (HCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCC transfer pathway program allows community college students to transfer credits toward NAU bachelor's degrees
• Canvas LMScoreTechnology or IntegrationCanvas learning management system used for online and hybrid course delivery across all programs

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Western Governors University: Large nonprofit university with an online-only delivery model, focused on affordable, competency-based degrees in business, IT, education, and healthcare. Directly comparable to NAU on online nonprofit model and CS/education program mix.
• Southern New Hampshire University: Nonprofit university with a dominant online division offering undergraduate and graduate degrees across business, IT, education, and liberal arts. Highly comparable on online-first nonprofit positioning and broad program catalog.
• Liberty University Online: Private nonprofit university with a very large online program portfolio covering business, IT, education, and criminal justice. Comparable to NAU on online delivery, degree mix (including criminal justice and M.Ed.), and tuition-driven nonprofit model.
• National University: Private nonprofit university serving primarily adult and online learners with degrees in business, education, computer science, and criminal justice. Comparable on online nonprofit model, adult-learner focus, and similar program architecture to NAU.
• Aspen University: Online-focused university offering bachelor's and master's degrees in business, education, IT, and nursing with a tuition-driven model. Comparable to NAU on online delivery, program mix, and target audience of working adult learners.

Broad incumbents

• Grand Canyon University: Large for-profit university (converted nonprofit) with strong online presence across business, IT, education, and healthcare. Comparable on online program breadth and graduate tuition economics, though operating at significantly larger scale than NAU.

Regional players

• Houston Christian University: Private nonprofit university in Houston offering undergraduate and graduate degrees with a focus on traditional and online formats. Comparable on Houston geography, private nonprofit status, and overlapping programs in business and education.
• University of Houston-Clear Lake: Public university in the Houston metro offering graduate degrees in business, education, and computer science with strong online components. Comparable on Houston market, graduate program mix, and working-professional target segment.
• Texas A&M University-San Antonio: Public university in Texas offering undergraduate and graduate programs including business, education, and computer science with growing online offerings. Comparable on Texas higher-education market, program mix, and online delivery trajectory.

Others

• Houston Community College: Large community college system serving the Houston metro and an explicit transfer-pathway partner of NAU. Comparable as a feeder institution and overlapping competitor for undergraduate students in the Houston market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/northamericanu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/NorthAmericanUniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/northamericanu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 North American University