Columbia College

What Columbia College does

Columbia College Calgary is a privately-held career college founded in 1986 and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. It delivers diploma, certificate, and continuing education programs across healthcare (Practical Nurse, Health Care Aide, Dental), education (Education Assistant), human services, accounting, security, and childcare, plus academic upgrading and English language programs targeted at adult learners and newcomers to Canada. The institution has guided more than 40,000 adult learners over its operating history and reports 87%+ training-related employment for its 2025-2026 graduates, supported by mandatory practicums and small class sizes (under 24 students).

The college operates programs through both on-campus classroom delivery at its Calgary facility and online/virtual learning via the Moodle-based Columbia Portal, with an internal Microsoft SharePoint intranet (CORE) for staff operations. Adjacent operating subsidiaries include the Columbia Learning Society (scholarships and bursaries), Columbia Childcare Centre, and the Community Support Services Department (CSSD), which delivers community access and employment services. A 2023 strategic initiative consolidated language instruction, career counseling, and employment workshops for immigrants under the Columbia Immigrant Centre for Foundational Skills Training (CICFST), supported by partnerships with Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Calgary Language Assessment & Referral Centre (CLARC), and the Provincial Government of Alberta.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and program fees across diploma, certificate, continuing education, and professional development programs, augmented by government-funded immigrant settlement programming and ancillary services (childcare, dental clinic, CSSD). The college reaches prospective students through direct-to-consumer channels including its website, content marketing, social media, search, on-campus events, and direct outreach by phone and email to student advisors, with applications submitted online for both domestic and international students.

Name

Columbia College

Legal name

Columbia College Calgary

Website

https://columbia.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Columbia College Calgary is a private career college founded in 1986 that delivers diploma, certificate, and continuing education programs across healthcare, education, human services, dental, and skilled trades to adult learners and newcomers in Calgary, Alberta.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career and Vocational Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD), Language & Communication Continuing Education (EDAAAEAF), Immigrant & Refugee Community Education (Integration/Navigation) (EDAAAFAH)

Keywords

• Career college education
• Diploma certificate programs
• Adult vocational training
• Practical nurse training
• Health care aide

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

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 Program Fees: Revenue generated from diploma programs, certificate programs, continuing education courses, and professional development training for adult learners seeking career-focused education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Columbia College Calgary delivers career-focused diploma, certificate, and continuing education programs for adult learners in healthcare, education, human services, dental assisting, and skilled trades. Programs combine classroom or live-online instruction with mandatory practicums and are supported by career services, an on-campus dental clinic, and childcare facilities. The institution also provides English language learning and immigrant integration services through the Columbia Immigrant Centre for Foundational Skills Training (CICFST).

Product overview

Columbia College Calgary is a career training institution offering a portfolio of diploma and certificate programs across healthcare, education, human services, and skilled trades. The institution operates a unified program structure comprising core vocational programs (Dental, Education Assistant, Health Care Aide, Human Services, Practical Nurse, Child Care, Accounting, Security, and Academic Upgrading), supplemented by continuing education courses, English language learning programs including the Columbia Immigrant Centre for Foundational Skills Training (CICFST), and student support services including Career Services, an on-campus dental clinic, and childcare facilities. Programs are delivered through both on-campus classroom learning and online virtual formats, with mandatory practicum components integrated into curriculum. The institution also provides internal technology platforms including the Moodle-based Columbia Portal for student learning and Microsoft SharePoint-based CORE Intranet for staff operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Columbia Immigrant Centre for Foundational Skills Training (CICFST): Centre providing language instruction, career counseling, and employment workshops for immigrant students, including LINC program and EAL courses.

Products and services

• Dental Programs Diploma programs in dental assisting providing hands-on clinical experience and skills required to work as part of a dental healthcare team.
• Education Assistant Professional Certificate Professional certificate program preparing students to become Education Assistants, providing support in inclusive and special needs classroom settings.
• Health Care Aide Program Diploma program providing training in healthcare support, preparing students for roles in long-term care and healthcare facilities.
• Human Services Professional Diploma Diploma program combining expert instruction with hands-on experience for careers supporting individuals and communities in need.
• Practical Nurse Professional Diploma Professional diploma program training students to become Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in Alberta's healthcare system.
• Academic Upgrading & College Prep Programs designed to help students improve skills in English, writing, and math while mastering essential workplace tools.
• Child Care Assistant Program Training program for individuals seeking to work in early childhood education and childcare settings.
• Accounting Assistant Program Program training students in accounting skills for entry-level positions in bookkeeping and financial record keeping.
• Security Programs Training programs for careers in security, providing skills needed to excel as security professionals.
• Continuing Education Courses Part-time courses and workshops for professional development and skill enhancement.
• English Language Learning / LINC Language instruction programs including English as a Second Language (ESL) and Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) for immigrant integration.
• Columbia Immigrant Centre for Foundational Skills Training (CICFST) Comprehensive center providing language instruction, career counseling, and employment workshops to support immigrant students in achieving educational and career goals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87%+ of Columbia graduates found training-related employment during the 2025-2026 academic year
• +3 more outcomes

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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2023IRCC provides ongoing support for the Columbia Immigrant Centre for Foundational Skills Training (CICFST), which consolidates LINC program, EAL courses, and related services for immigrant students. This partnership enables Columbia College to provide exceptional programming and resources for immigrant learners.
• Calgary Language Assessment & Referral Centre (CLARC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2023CLARC works with Columbia College to support immigrant students in achieving their language and foundational skills goals. Thanks to CLARC's continued assistance, Columbia College can provide exceptional programming and resources.
• Provincial Government of AlbertacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe provincial government provides ongoing support for the Columbia Immigrant Centre for Foundational Skills Training, enabling the college to deliver programming and resources for immigrant learners.
• Ronald McDonald HouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerColumbia College team members volunteer and support the Ronald McDonald House in Calgary, demonstrating community engagement and charitable commitment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bow Valley College: Calgary public community college offering similar career programs (healthcare aide, dental, education assistant) plus English language learning for newcomers. Larger scale and publicly funded, but overlaps significantly with Columbia's core programs in the same geography.
• SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology): Major Calgary polytechnic institution offering diploma and certificate programs in healthcare, trades, and business. A broader, publicly-funded incumbent competing for the same career-focused adult learner demographic in Alberta.

Regional players

• NorQuest College: Edmonton-based public college with strong LINC and immigrant foundational-skills programming, plus healthcare and human services diploma programs. Comparable to Columbia's CICFST and core offerings but serves a different Alberta city.

Direct peers

• Robertson College: Calgary-based private career college offering diploma and certificate programs in healthcare, business, and technology with similar career-focused, employer-driven curriculum and small class sizes. Most directly comparable Canadian private career college peer.
• CDI College: National Canadian private career college chain offering diploma programs in healthcare, dental, education assistant, and business across multiple provinces. Directly comparable program mix and business model to Columbia.
• Herzing College: Canadian private career college with diploma programs in healthcare, dental, and technology across multiple campuses. Comparable career-focused education model and employer-aligned curriculum.
• Reeves College: Calgary-headquartered private career college delivering diploma programs in healthcare, business, and trades with similar adult-learner focus and career-services model. Operates in the same Calgary catchment as Columbia.
• triOS College: Canadian private career college chain with diploma programs in healthcare, technology, business, and ESL across multiple provinces. Comparable program mix and direct-to-consumer enrollment model.
• Academy of Learning: Canadian private career college franchise offering diploma and certificate programs in business, healthcare, and trades. Comparable adult-learner focus with similar employer-driven outcomes emphasis.
• Vancouver Career College: BC private career college offering diploma programs in healthcare, dental, education assistant, and business with similar adult-learner targeting. Direct comparable business model outside Alberta.

Market position

Strengths6 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ColumbiaCollegeCalgary
• Facebookfacebook.com/ColumbiaCollegeCalgary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/columbia-college_2
• Instagraminstagram.com/columbiacollegecalgary
• Xx.com/columbiaab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Columbia College