What Sofia University does

Sofia University is a private, WSCUC-accredited higher education institution founded in 1975 in Costa Mesa, California, originally as the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. It operates two California campuses — Costa Mesa and Palo Alto — and offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs across Business Administration, Computer Science, and Psychology, supported by an F-1 visa international student program and a faculty and staff base of 101–250 employees.

The institution's core academic products include MBA and DBA programs in Business Administration, an MS in Computer Science, doctoral and master's degrees in Psychology rooted in its transpersonal heritage, and stackable professional certificates in AI and Machine Learning and in Cybersecurity. The institution has invested in a named Marshall Chair for AI Alignment and Consciousness Research (announced for 2026) and has engaged in applied research collaboration with Netflix on the VOID AI tool, indicating both curriculum and faculty positioning at the intersection of AI and consciousness studies.

Sofia University's revenue model is tuition-driven. Published prices include an MBA at approximately $26,811 and a DBA at approximately $61,915, with international delivery channels that include a DBA partnership with Fudan University in China and a Chinese-language MBA partnership with Beijing Runzeyuan Education Technology. Go-to-market combines on-campus California enrollment, online delivery (including the MBAON online MBA), and international recruitment through the F-1 visa pathway and China-based partners. The institution is BBB-accredited in addition to its WSCUC regional accreditation.

Name

Sofia University

Legal name

Sofia University

Website

https://sofia.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sofia University is a WSCUC-accredited private institution founded in 1975 in Costa Mesa, California, offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees in Business Administration, Computer Science, and Psychology, with F-1 international student programs and partnerships in China.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online International & Cross-Border Universities (Global/Transnational Providers) (EDAHALAL), Academic & Classroom Integration Support (Study Skills, Academic Norms, Integrity) (EDAIAKAG)

Keywords

• Graduate business education
• Transpersonal psychology programs
• Computer science degrees
• Certificate programs
• Doctoral degree programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Costa Mesa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Degree Program Tuition: Traditional tuition-based revenue from bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs. Students pay per quarter based on enrollment and program-specific tuition rates. Revenue is recurring as students enroll for multiple quarters across 1.5-3.5 year program durations.
2. Certificate Programs: Graduate certificate programs in AI & Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, and other specializations offered at fixed total program costs ranging from approximately $9,360.
3. Scholarship Disbursement: University awards scholarships funded through Sofia University fund, institutional budget, and external endowments. Awarded over $475,325 to students since July 2016 and $170,000 since July 2014.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sofia University is a private, WSCUC-accredited higher education institution that delivers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs in Business Administration, Computer Science, and Psychology, along with certificate programs in AI & Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Dream Studies, and Transpersonal Ecopsychology. Programs are offered through on-ground, hybrid, and synchronous online formats at Palo Alto and Costa Mesa campuses, with bilingual (English/Chinese) variants delivered through international partnerships. The Work Integrated Learning (WIL) component and integration of transpersonal psychology principles across curricula serve as functional differentiators.

Product overview

Sofia University is a private, WSCUC-accredited institution offering a portfolio of educational products spanning undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs in Business Administration, Computer Science, and Psychology, along with certificate programs. The core educational offerings include multiple MBA variants (standard, online, Chinese language), DBA doctoral programs (including a Fudan University partnership), MS in Computer Science (STEM), and psychology degrees from BA to PhD levels. Certificate offerings include AI & Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Dream Studies, and Transpersonal Ecopsychology. The university also offers digital badges for credential verification and continuing education courses. Programs combine transpersonal psychology principles with professional disciplines, featuring Work Integrated Learning (WIL) components in business and tech programs. Delivery formats include on-ground, hybrid, synchronous online, and international partnership-based modalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global College: Expands access to transformative, innovative higher education
• Global Engagement
• Sofia Research & Development Foundation
• Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning

Products and services

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked #4 in Southern California MBA Programs by Los Angeles Times in 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fudan University (复旦大学)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint DBAC (Doctor of Business Administration in Transpersonal Leadership with Concentration in Economics) program. Fudan University School of Economics faculty deliver in-person modules in Shanghai. Students receive dual alumni status with both institutions. Fudan is a 'Double First Class' university in China.
• Beijing Runzeyuan Education Technology Co., Ltd.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for MBA Chinese Language (MBAC) program delivery, offering bilingual business education combining Eastern and Western approaches to leadership.
• NAFSA: Association of International EducatorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerActive member of worldwide network dedicated to strengthening international education and promoting global exchange. Supports international student recruitment and cross-cultural understanding initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National University: Large California-based private university with extensive online degree programs in business, technology, and education serving working adults. Comparable as a California-headquartered private university competing for the same working-professional and online learner segments.
• Pepperdine University: California-based private university with hybrid and online graduate business programs emphasizing leadership and values-driven education. Comparable as a California-headquartered private university with a premium, leadership-oriented brand.
• Western Governors University: Largest nonprofit online university in the US, with high-volume MBA, IT, and education programs using competency-based pricing. Comparable as a scaled online competitor in the same MBA and CS degree categories Sofia targets.
• Southern New Hampshire University: Large private nonprofit university with one of the largest online MBA programs in the US, targeting working adults. Comparable as a high-volume online MBA and CS competitor in the same price-sensitive segments.

Direct peers

• Pacifica Graduate Institute: California-based private graduate school specializing in depth psychology, mythology, and the humanities, offering MA and doctoral programs. Closely mirrors Sofia's psychology-rooted curriculum and small California-based graduate institution model.
• Antioch University: Small private nonprofit university system offering low-residency and online graduate programs with a social-mission orientation. Comparable to Sofia as a values-driven private university competing in the online graduate education market.
• Saybrook University: Private university historically rooted in humanistic and transpersonal psychology, offering graduate degrees in psychology, mind-body medicine, and organizational leadership. Directly comparable to Sofia's transpersonal psychology heritage and small, niche private university profile.
• Fielding Graduate University: California-based private university offering graduate degrees in psychology, education, and leadership with low-residency and online formats. Mirrors Sofia's hybrid delivery model, small private structure, and emphasis on practitioner-oriented graduate education.

Regional players

• Alliant International University: California-based private university offering psychology, education, and business graduate programs with hybrid and online formats. Comparable as a regional California-headquartered competitor in psychology and graduate business education.

Emerging players

• University of the People: Tuition-free online accredited university serving a global, primarily international student body with business and computer science programs. Comparable as an online-first competitor targeting international students with affordable US-accredited degrees.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SofiauCA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SofiaUniversityCA
• Facebookfacebook.com/MySofiaU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sofia-university-usa
• Instagraminstagram.com/SofiaU_CA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Sofia University