What Judson University does

Judson University is a private, non-profit evangelical Christian university established in Elgin, Illinois in 1963 (originating as the undergraduate division of Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1913, and renamed from Judson College in 2007). It serves approximately 1,100 students from 41 states and 29 countries through 60+ undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and adult professional programs delivered across three channels: a 90-acre main campus on the Fox River, a satellite campus at the Swedish American Riverfront YMCA in Rockford, and fully online graduate programs. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (reaffirmed December 2017) and holds programmatic accreditations from NAAB for architecture and CACREP for mental health counseling.

The institution operates a subscription-style tuition revenue model with 2025-26 annual tuition of $30,750 plus room and board of $11,420-$12,950; 99% of students receive institutional aid (average award ~$20,995-$23,776) and the university distributes approximately $9.8M in institutional aid annually, sourced from endowment funds, donor contributions, and annual giving campaigns. Judson monetizes via three primary revenue streams: tuition and fees, donations and fundraising (including the Trust & Flourish campaign and the World Leaders Forum event series featuring former presidents and heads of state), and the RISE Program funded by community foundations. The technology stack is conventional higher-ed infrastructure (E-Learn LMS, MyJudson student portal) without proprietary AI/ML capability.

Notable sub-brands and differentiated programs include Ambria College of Nursing (LPN, RN, BSN), the World Leaders Forum (a high-profile speaker series funding the Roeser Scholars and RISE Program), the RISE Program (a two-year certificate for ages 18-25 with intellectual disabilities), the Demoss Center for Worship in the Performing Arts, and a top-ranked evangelical architecture program housed in a LEED Gold-certified Harm A. Weber Academic Center. Under President Dr. Gene C. Crume Jr. (since 2013), the university has added football and men's volleyball, introduced over half a dozen new academic programs, achieved 4.5% enrollment growth, secured $11.84M in individual donor gifts, and restructured online/adult/graduate operations from external to internal control. The institution competes as a values-based alternative to secular private colleges, priced approximately 20% below average private college tuition.

Name

Judson University

Legal name

Judson University

Website

https://judsonu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Judson University is a private, non-profit evangelical Christian university in Elgin, Illinois serving approximately 1,100 students from 41 states through 60+ undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and adult professional programs delivered on-campus, online, and at a Rockford satellite campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian 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

Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI)

Keywords

• Christian higher education
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate professional studies
• Online university programs
• Liberal arts college

Headquarters

HQ city

Elgin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition. 2025-26 tuition is $30,750 per year plus room and board of $11,420-$12,950.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Annual giving, Trust & Flourish Campaign, estate gifts, athletic sponsorships, and scholarship donations from alumni and supporters.
3. Institutional Financial Aid: $9.8 million total institutional aid distributed to students annually from donor contributions and endowment funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Judson University is a private, evangelical Christian university that delivers accredited undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs across 60+ disciplines through three channels: the 90-acre Elgin main campus, the Rockford satellite campus for adult professionals, and fully online programs. The university also offers the RISE Program for students with intellectual disabilities, the World Leaders Forum leadership event series, and a High School Prep Program granting college credit to high school students.

Product overview

Judson University is an evangelical Christian university offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services across three delivery formats: (1) Main Campus in Elgin, Illinois with traditional undergraduate and graduate programs across 60+ disciplines; (2) Rockford Campus serving adult professional students; and (3) Online Programs for working adults. The institution also offers specialized programs including the RISE Program for students with intellectual disabilities, the World Leaders Forum for leadership development, and the High School Prep Program for college credit in high school. Programs span undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and certificate levels across areas including Architecture (NAAB-accredited), Business, Education, Music, Worship Arts, Computer Science, and Christian Ministries. The institution is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds programmatic accreditations from NAAB and CACREP.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ambria College of Nursing: A nursing college affiliated with Judson University offering LPN, RN, and LPN-RN Bridge programs as well as BSN degrees.
• World Leaders Forum
• RISE Program
• Demoss Center for Worship in the Performing Arts

Products and services

• Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate Programs (Main Campus, Elgin) Residential undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs delivered at Judson's 90-acre main campus in Elgin, Illinois, on the banks of the Fox River 36 miles from downtown Chicago. Includes 22 intercollegiate NAIA athletic teams and facilities such as the LEED Gold certified Harm A. Weber Academic Center and the Demoss Center for Worship in the Performing Arts. For traditional and transfer undergraduate students as well as graduate students.
• Rockford Satellite Campus Program Adult professional student classes delivered at the satellite campus housed in the Swedish American Riverfront YMCA in Rockford, Illinois. Provides a regional alternative for working adult learners seeking to advance their education without commuting to the main Elgin campus.
• Online Degree Programs Fully online undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs designed for busy working adults and graduate students who need flexible scheduling. Allows students to pursue degrees remotely in disciplines including MBA, computer science, and education.
• RISE Program (Road to Independent Living, Spiritual Formation, and Employment) A two-year certificate program for students aged 18-25 with intellectual disabilities that provides a college life experience in a Christian community. Includes person-centered planning, career-oriented curriculum, off-campus internships, dorm-style living integrated with traditional students, and a Certificate of Completion in Liberal Arts with subject area concentration. Funded by community foundations and World Leaders Forum proceeds.
• World Leaders Forum Annual event series that brings recognized world leaders to Judson's campus to inspire and ignite leadership among students and the wider community. Past speakers have included former President George W. Bush, Tony Blair, Condoleezza Rice, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Caroline Kennedy. Event proceeds fund the Roeser Scholars program and the RISE Program.
• High School Prep Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of students receive financial aid
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Future Architect FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2025Partnership to celebrate grand opening of Glunz Hall, a downtown Elgin dormitory transforming a 1960s bank headquarters into a hybrid residence and design studio for graduate architecture students. The project involved philanthropic contributions and industry partnerships supporting the 'living lab' environment.
• Swedish American Riverfront YMCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing Judson's Rockford satellite campus for adult professional student classes
• Advocate Sherman HospitalminorOthersOff-campus internship partner for RISE Program students
• Gail Borden Public LibraryminorOthersOff-campus internship partner for RISE Program students
• Boys and Girls Club of CarpentersvilleminorOthersOff-campus internship partner for RISE Program students
• Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with CCCU for Christian higher education advocacy and resources

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Calvin University: Private Christian (Christian Reformed) university in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Similar faith-based residential university model, undergraduate and graduate program breadth, and small Midwestern private-college economics.
• Wheaton College: Top-tier evangelical Christian college in Wheaton, Illinois. Directly comparable as another private, faith-affiliated Midwestern residential college serving a similar undergraduate Christian-student segment with comparable tuition tier and academic programs.
• Taylor University: Evangelical Christian university in Upland, Indiana with a similar residential undergraduate focus, faith integration, intercollegiate athletics, and value-proposition around small classes and faculty quality.
• Concordia University Chicago: Private Lutheran (LCMS) university in River Forest, Illinois. Comparable faith-based institution serving the Chicago suburbs with undergraduate, adult, and graduate programs and a similar tuition-aid profile.
• Trinity International University: Evangelical Christian university in Deerfield, Illinois offering undergraduate, graduate, and seminary-level programs in the Chicago suburbs. Direct comparable on faith-based identity, regional Illinois footprint, and graduate/theology program mix.
• Messiah University: Private Christian (Brethren in Christ) university in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Comparable evangelical residential institution with similar program breadth, athletics, and tuition-aid structure.
• Olivet Nazarene University: Private Christian university in Bourbonnais, Illinois with comparable undergraduate and graduate program breadth, denominational heritage (Wesleyan), intercollegiate athletics, and tuition-aid economics.

Regional players

• North Central College: Private liberal arts college in Naperville, Illinois. Regional comparable on small Illinois private institution, undergraduate focus, and Chicago-area recruitment pool, though secular in mission.
• Hope College: Private Christian (Reformed Church) liberal arts college in Holland, Michigan. Comparable as a faith-affiliated Midwestern residential college with strong academic reputation and intercollegiate athletics.

Emerging players

• Moody Bible Institute: Evangelical Christian higher education institution headquartered in Chicago with undergraduate and graduate programs. Shares overlapping evangelical audience, Chicago-area recruitment, and faith-based program mix, but with a more narrowly theological focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JudsonU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/JudsonBlueCrew?app=desktop
• Facebookfacebook.com/96396291395
• Instagraminstagram.com/judsonu/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/judson-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Judson University