Montreat College

What Montreat College does

Montreat College is a private, independent, Christ-centered liberal arts college founded in 1916 in Montreat, North Carolina, operating from a residential campus in the Blue Ridge Mountains adjacent to Pisgah National Forest. The institution delivers higher education across associate, bachelor's, and master's degree levels through two channels: a traditional on-campus residential program and fully online programs administered through the Adult and Graduate Studies (AGS) framework, which offers flexible 15-week and 8-week session formats. Core technology infrastructure comprises the Canvas and Blackboard learning management systems and the Montreat Academic Portal (MAP), which handles student records, scheduling, billing, and financial aid access.

The college's portfolio spans business administration, cybersecurity, clinical mental health counseling, criminal justice, education, kinesiology, outdoor recreation studies, biology, and theological studies, with multiple concentrations (e.g., Cybersecurity with AI, Penetration Testing, Forensic Accounting, Conservation Law Enforcement). The Center for Cybersecurity Education and Leadership is anchored by NSA/DHS designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (originally granted 2017, maintained through redesignation), supporting affiliated initiatives including the Carolina Cyber Center and the annual RETR3AT Cybersecurity Conference.

The business model is tuition-driven. On-campus undergraduate total cost of attendance for 2026-27 is $53,026 (tuition $36,998 plus room, board, and fees); online graduate full-time tuition is $11,340 and online undergraduate full-time is $16,020. The college reports 99% of students receive financial aid, tuition priced 25% below the national private college average, and the lowest student debt among private North Carolina universities. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer across traditional admissions, online enrollment, military/veteran pathways (with DOD MOU rates and Yellow Ribbon participation), and a COMPASS summer pipeline program for high school students. Staff-guided enrollment includes financial aid counseling, campus visits, Cavalier Connect Day orientations, and stackable scholarships. Revenue is supplemented by conference and event services on campus. The institution is governed by an independent Board of Trustees, operates as a nonprofit, has 101-250 employees, and shows no disclosed equity ownership or acquisition activity.

Name

Montreat College

Legal name

Montreat College

Website

https://montreat.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1916

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Montreat College is a private, Christ-centered liberal arts college founded in 1916 in Montreat, North Carolina, delivering associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees through on-campus and online programs. It serves traditional residential students, adult and graduate learners, military students, and homeschool applicants, with an NSA/DHS-designated cybersecurity program as a signature offering.

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

Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Christian liberal arts
• Online degree programs
• Cybersecurity education
• Graduate degree programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreat

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. On-Campus Undergraduate Tuition and Fees: Traditional undergraduate tuition at $36,998 per year (2026-27) plus room ($5,540), board ($7,160), and general student fees ($2,826), totaling $53,026 annually. This represents the primary revenue stream for the institution's residential programs.
2. Online Program Tuition: Graduate online programs charge $11,340 for full-time enrollment; undergraduate online programs charge $16,020 annually. Online programs offer flexible, affordable 100% online degrees at master's, bachelor's, and associate's levels.
3. Adult and Graduate Studies (AGS) Programs: Self-paced online programs for working adults offered in 15-week and two 8-week sessions (Session 1 and Session 2) per semester, with rolling enrollment throughout the year.
4. COMPASS Summer Program: A week-long summer immersion program for high school students and rising college freshmen exploring academic fields. Students who attend receive a $2,000 Montreat College scholarship.
5. Conference and Event Services: The college offers venue rentals and conference event services, generating revenue from external groups utilizing campus facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Montreat College is a private Christian liberal arts college that delivers associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs through two channels: a residential on-campus experience at its historic Blue Ridge Mountains campus in Montreat, North Carolina, and fully online degree programs for working adults. Specialized academic areas include cybersecurity (NSA/DHS-designated), Outdoor Recreation Studies, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, business administration, criminal justice, education, health sciences, and theological studies. The college also operates conference and event services on campus for external groups.

Product overview

Montreat College is a private Christian college offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs through both on-campus and fully online delivery modalities. The institution's portfolio includes a Center for Cybersecurity Education and Leadership (designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by NSA/DHS), which oversees the RETR3AT Cybersecurity Conference and the Carolina Cyber Center. Supporting educational resources include the Professionalism and Ethics Toolkit and Cybersecurity Code. Programs span diverse fields including cybersecurity, business administration, criminal justice, education, health sciences, kinesiology, music, outdoor recreation studies, psychology, and theological studies, available through traditional campus-based learning or online modalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Center for Cybersecurity Education and Leadership: Provides guidance and oversight to academic programs, distribution of cyber defense information, and collaborative efforts in cybersecurity with emphasis on combining ethics, leadership, and liberal arts skills with technical proficiency.
• Carolina Cyber Center
• RETR3AT Cybersecurity Conference
• Montreat College Online

Products and services

• On-Campus Degree Programs Residential campus-based associate and bachelor's degree programs delivered at Montreat College's historic campus in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, designed for traditional undergraduate students seeking a faith-integrated college experience.
• Online Degree Programs 100% online degree programs at associate's, bachelor's, and master's levels with flexible 15-week and 8-week session options and rolling enrollment, designed for working adults and students needing geographic flexibility.
• Center for Cybersecurity Education and Leadership Academic center providing guidance, oversight, and collaborative efforts for Montreat's NSA/DHS-designated cybersecurity programs, emphasizing the integration of ethics, leadership, and liberal arts skills with technical proficiency.
• Conference and Event Services Venue rentals and conference event services using Montreat College's campus facilities, generating revenue from external groups hosting events on the Blue Ridge Mountains campus.
• COMPASS Summer Program Week-long summer immersion program for high school students and rising college freshmen to explore academic fields, with attendees receiving a $2,000 Montreat College scholarship.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of students receive financial aid
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2017Montreat College is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the NSA and DHS. This designation recognizes the college's cybersecurity program meets rigorous federal standards for cyber defense education and enables students to pursue careers in national security and cybersecurity.
• National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (CAE-Cyber Defense) ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontreat College's Professionalism and Ethics Toolkit was developed under a National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity grant (H98230-22-1-0329). The toolkit provides resources for developing ethical cybersecurity professionals and is shared with the CAE community.
• Carolina Cyber CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA national demonstration project in state-wide cybersecurity preparation and threat mitigation that works to build cyber professionals of character and provide affordable security services throughout the region. Montreat College is affiliated with this initiative.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMontreat College participates in VA education benefit programs including the Yellow Ribbon Program for undergraduate students. The college's VA School Certifying Official certifies enrollment for veterans and eligible dependents to receive VA education benefits.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Mars Hill University: A private, Baptist-affiliated liberal arts university in Mars Hill, NC (western North Carolina) that offers undergraduate and graduate programs including online options — directly comparable in mission, region, and scale to Montreat College.
• Lees-McRae College: A private Christian liberal arts college in Banner Elk, NC (Blue Ridge Mountains) with similar size, faith-based identity, and outdoor recreation programs — closely comparable in geography and mission to Montreat.
• Bob Jones University: A private, interdenominational Christian liberal arts university in Greenville, SC offering on-campus and online programs across undergraduate and graduate levels — directly comparable in faith-based higher education mission and online program strategy.
• Carson-Newman University: A private Baptist-affiliated liberal arts university in Jefferson City, TN with both residential and online programs in the Appalachian region — comparable in faith-based identity, regional footprint, and program mix to Montreat.
• Bryan College: A small private Christian liberal arts college in Dayton, TN offering associate, bachelor's, and master's programs — directly comparable in size, mission, and faith-based higher education focus.
• Toccoa Falls College: A small private Christian college in northeast Georgia offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees with ministry and liberal arts programs — comparable in scale, faith identity, and program structure.
• Geneva College: A private Reformed Christian liberal arts college in Beaver Falls, PA with on-campus and online programs — comparable in faith-based mission, undergraduate focus, and private college positioning.
• Columbia International University: A private Christian university in Columbia, SC offering on-campus and online undergraduate and graduate programs — closely comparable in faith-based mission, online program portfolio, and enrollment scale to Montreat.

Broad incumbents

• Wheaton College: A larger, well-established private Christian liberal arts college in Wheaton, IL with a national reputation — comparable in faith-based liberal arts mission but operates at materially greater scale and brand recognition.
• Liberty University Online: A large private Christian university with the most extensive online higher education portfolio in the U.S. — comparable to Montreat's online Christ-centered programs but operates at incomparably greater scale and brand recognition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/montreatcollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/296056093616
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/montreat-college

Compliance1 record

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 Montreat College