Defiance College
Defiance College is a private, independent liberal arts institution chartered in 1850 in Defiance, Ohio, serving undergraduate, transfer, graduate, and international students through on-campus degree programs with specialized debt-free and career-readiness initiatives.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1850
- HeadquartersDefiance, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Defiance College does
Defiance College is a private, independent liberal arts institution chartered in 1850 and located in Defiance, Ohio, affiliated with the United Church of Christ and operating under a Board of Trustees. The college enrolls traditional first-year undergraduates, transfer students, graduate students, and international students in on-campus degree programs spanning accounting, biology, business administration, computer science, cybersecurity, criminal justice, education, engineering, English, environmental science, exercise science, forensic science, mathematics, molecular biology, psychology, restoration ecology, social work, and sports management.
The institution differentiates its academic product through several specialized programs: the 1850 Promise debt-free degree initiative for eligible local high school students; the Jacket Journey career-readiness program; the McMaster School for Advancing Humanity; an accelerated 4+1 MBA pathway; dual-degree engineering partnerships with the University of North Dakota; and grant-funded TRIO Student Support Services for first-generation and underrepresented students. NAIA athletics with 20 sport programs in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference and a 250-acre wildlife sanctuary support experiential learning. Multi-disciplinary accreditations (HLC, CAEP, IACBE, CCNE, CSWE) underpin regulated programs and federal financial aid eligibility.
Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees charged to undergraduate and graduate students, supplemented by donations, alumni giving, and grants. Specific tuition pricing is not publicly disclosed; institutional pricing actions instead emphasize the 1850 Promise affordability program and graduate assistantships with full tuition scholarships. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer admissions through the college website, online application systems, campus visits, social media (Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram), and articulation agreements with feeder institutions. The 98.9% post-graduation placement rate for the 2020 cohort (employment or graduate study) and employer relationships with AgCredit, Huntington Bank, Ernst & Young, Cleveland Clinic, and the US DEA reflect the career-outcomes positioning.
Defiance College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Defiance College
- Legal name
- Defiance College
- Website
- https://defiance.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1850
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Defiance College is a private, independent liberal arts institution chartered in 1850 in Defiance, Ohio, serving undergraduate, transfer, graduate, and international students through on-campus degree programs with specialized debt-free and career-readiness initiatives.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Defiance College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH)
Keywords
Where Defiance College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Defiance
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Defiance College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, fees, and related educational services
- Donations and Fundraising: Private donations, gifts, and alumni giving programs supporting institutional operations and scholarships
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | 1850 Promise - Debt-free degree program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Defiance College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Defiance College is a private liberal arts institution that delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across disciplines including business, sciences, education, engineering, humanities, and social work, primarily through on-campus instruction in Defiance, Ohio, with select online options. It supplements academic instruction with career readiness support, transfer pathways, and specialized initiatives such as the 1850 Promise debt-free degree program, the Jacket Journey career readiness curriculum, and the McMaster School for Advancing Humanity.
Product overview
Defiance College is a private liberal arts institution offering educational programs and services to students. Its primary product is academic degree programs across diverse disciplines including business, sciences, education, technology, and humanities at undergraduate and graduate levels. The institution differentiates through specialized initiatives including Jacket Journey (career readiness), 1850 Promise (debt-free degree program), and McMaster School (service and scholarship). Graduate offerings include MAE and MBA programs with accelerated 4+1 options. The Institute for Career Readiness and Lifelong Learning supports student outcomes, while dual-degree engineering partnerships extend program reach. Programs are delivered primarily on-campus with some adult/online options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Undergraduate Degree Programs Bachelor's degree programs across liberal arts and pre-professional disciplines delivered primarily on-campus at Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio, with select online options; designed for first-year undergraduates, transfer students, and international students.
- Graduate Degree Programs (MAE, MBA, Organizational Supervision & Leadership, Principal/Superintendent Licensure, RN-to-BSN)
Quantifiable outcome
- 98.9% of DC's 2020 graduates found full-time employment or are attending graduate/professional school
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Defiance College
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Defiance College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Defiance College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- University of North DakotacoreDual degree engineering program where students complete undergraduate studies at Defiance College (majoring in Math) and complete engineering coursework at University of North Dakota. Students pay tuition to Defiance College which covers both institutions. Study at UND is 100% online with exception of lab work for civil engineering in summer terms.
- Lourdes UniversityminorTransfer pathway agreements for students moving from Lourdes University to Defiance College
- Siena Heights UniversityminorTransfer pathway agreements for students transferring from Siena Heights University to Defiance College
- Ohio Department of Higher EducationcoreState regulatory body providing institutional authorization and oversight. Defiance College programs are approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education for teacher licensure.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Defiance College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Heidelberg University: Private, church-affiliated liberal arts university in Tiffin, Ohio with similar undergraduate profile, NAIA athletics, and small-college enrollment scale. Direct competitor for in-region Ohio high school graduates.
- University of Findlay: Private university in Findlay, Ohio offering undergraduate and graduate programs with comparable enrollment size, NAIA athletics, and Northwest Ohio catchment. Closely overlaps with Defiance on programs like education, business, and sciences.
- Bluffton University: Small private Mennonite-affiliated liberal arts university in Bluffton, Ohio. Similar faith-affiliated positioning, undergraduate scale, and reliance on tuition plus donations.
- Muskingum University: Private liberal arts university in New Concord, Ohio affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. Comparable faith-affiliated identity, undergraduate scale, and rural Ohio footprint.
- University of Mount Union: Private liberal arts university in Alliance, Ohio with NCAA Division III athletics and similar undergraduate size. Competes for the same Ohio private-college applicant pool.
- Capital University: Private Lutheran-affiliated university in Columbus, Ohio offering liberal arts, business, and pre-professional programs with comparable tuition-driven revenue model and small-college positioning.
- Otterbein University: Private comprehensive university in Westerville, Ohio with liberal arts core and graduate/professional programs. Competes for central and northwest Ohio students with similar program mix.
- Wilmington College: Small private liberal arts college in Wilmington, Ohio affiliated with the Friends tradition. Comparable in size, mission, and tuition-dependent revenue model, competing for similar Ohio rural and first-generation students.
- Ohio Northern University: Private Ohio university with strong pharmacy, engineering, and liberal arts programs. Competes for academically oriented in-state students and shares the small private college operating model.
- Tiffin University: Private university in Tiffin, Ohio with both on-campus and substantial online enrollment in business, criminal justice, and education. Comparable in size and Ohio geography; competes for traditional and adult learners.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Defiance College social profiles
Digital presenceDefiance College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Defiance College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Defiance College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Defiance 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 Defiance College
What does Defiance College do?
Defiance College is a private liberal arts institution that delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across disciplines including business, sciences, education, engineering, humanities, and social work, primarily through on-campus instruction in Defiance, Ohio, with select online options. It supplements academic instruction with career readiness support, transfer pathways, and specialized initiatives such as the 1850 Promise debt-free degree program, the Jacket Journey career readiness curriculum, and the McMaster School for Advancing Humanity.
Is Defiance College a public or private company?
Defiance College is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Defiance College founded?
Defiance College was founded in 1850. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Defiance College based?
Defiance College is headquartered in Defiance, United States, in the North America region.
How does Defiance College make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising.
Who are Defiance College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Heidelberg University, University of Findlay, Bluffton University, Muskingum University, University of Mount Union, Capital University, Otterbein University, Wilmington College, Ohio Northern University and Tiffin University.
Does Defiance College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Defiance College.
What industry is Defiance College in?
Defiance College's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHACAH, Residential Liberal Arts Colleges. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.