Grace Christian University

What Grace Christian University does

Grace Christian University is a private, nonprofit Christian higher education institution headquartered at 1011 Aldon St SW, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1939 as the Milwaukee Bible Institute, the institution was renamed Grace Bible College after relocating to Grand Rapids, and adopted its current name in 2012 to reflect an expanded academic portfolio beyond biblical studies. It serves a diversified student body across on-campus undergraduate, online undergraduate, online graduate, dual enrollment, and Hispanic community programs, structured under three academic schools: Arts & Sciences, Bible & Ministry, and Business Innovation & Public Service. A mandatory 30-credit-hour Bible and Theology core is integrated into every degree, distinguishing the curriculum from secular peers, and the institution maintains a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio with mentor-focused faculty and a close-knit residential community supported by chapel, counseling, library, and writing-center resources.

The core product set comprises associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees delivered via two channels: on-campus residential instruction in Grand Rapids and asynchronous online instruction through the Blackboard learning management system. Distinctive offerings include a 4+1 accelerated bachelor's-to-master's pathway, dual-degree articulation partnerships covering construction trades (with WMCI), aviation, cyber defense, and early childhood education, a dual enrollment program with an Advantage Scholarship for high school students, and a Hispanic Center offering Spanish-language instruction. Pricing is subscription-based annual tuition, positioned as one of the lowest in Michigan and the Midwest, with 100% institutional aid for on-campus freshmen and a 20% alumni tuition discount for graduate degrees.

Revenue mechanics rely on a two-pillar model in which student tuition and fees fund approximately 65% of the operating budget and donor gift income funds approximately 35%, supplemented by endowment income that funds scholarships. The go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-consumer: prospective students are recruited through campus visits, college fairs, high school visits, alumni referrals, and church partnership networks, then supported through dedicated enrollment advisors who provide financial aid counseling. The institution also operates a development office under a Chief Development Officer that sustains donor cultivation via a Legacy Society, GiftWise estate-planning tool, and named endowment funds. Compliance posture includes FERPA, Title IX, and non-discrimination policies consistent with U.S. federal requirements for higher education institutions.

Name

Grace Christian University

Legal name

Grace Christian University

Website

https://gracechristian.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Grace Christian University is a private nonprofit Christian university in Grand Rapids, Michigan, founded in 1939, offering 25+ on-campus, online, and graduate degree programs with an integrated Bible and Theology core, serving traditional, online, graduate, dual-enrollment, Hispanic, and military students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Christian Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Bible Colleges (Undergraduate Ministry & Biblical Studies) (EDAHAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Christian higher education
• Bible college programs
• Online graduate degrees
• Dual enrollment programs
• Ministry leadership training

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

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 Fees: Student tuition and fees represent approximately 65% of total operating budget. Multiple program types with different tuition structures for on-campus undergraduate, online undergraduate, and graduate programs.
2. Donations and Gifts: Gift income provides approximately 35% of operating budget. Includes designated gifts for scholarships, financial aid, or general operations, as well as undesignated giving.
3. Endowment Income: Endowed funds generate scholarship awards for students annually. Multiple named endowments support various student populations and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Grace Christian University is a private, nonprofit Christian university that delivers associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs on its Grand Rapids, Michigan campus and online. Every degree program embeds a 30-credit-hour Bible and Theology core, and the university supplements instruction with academic support, counseling, chapel services, and dual-enrollment and dual-degree pathways.

Product overview

Grace Christian University is a Christ-centered higher education institution offering a unified portfolio of on-campus and online undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The university's core educational offerings include three academic schools (Arts & Sciences, Bible & Ministry, and Business Innovation & Public Service) providing degrees from associate through master's levels. All programs incorporate a mandatory Bible & Theology Core (30 credit hours) as a foundational element. Supplementary services including academic tutoring, counseling, library resources, and writing support enhance the student experience. The institution also offers accelerated pathways (4+1 program), dual enrollment for high school students, and partnership dual-degree programs with external institutions. Programs are delivered through traditional on-campus residential learning and fully online formats, with select offerings available in Spanish.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grace Tigers: The university's athletic teams and mascot identity.

Products and services

• On-Campus Undergraduate Programs Traditional residential undergraduate degree programs delivered at the Grand Rapids, Michigan campus, integrating a 30-credit Bible & Theology core with majors in Arts & Sciences, Business, Ministry, and Public Service fields.
• Online Undergraduate Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of on-campus first-time freshmen receive Institutional Aid
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Partner Universities for Dual DegreescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership agreements allow students to earn two degrees - one from Grace and one from partner institutions. Students complete Grace's spiritual core and pursue additional degrees at partner institutions.
• Velting FoundationminorOthersVelting Foundation provides gracious underwriting for annual Whitecaps fundraising event that raised nearly $68,000 for Grace students.
• WMCI Partnership (Construction Trades)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Carpentry and Construction, Plumbing, and Sprinkler Systems programs. Students can transfer certificate credits toward degree completion at Grace.
• Aviation PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing pathway for students to pursue aviation-related degrees with partner institution while completing Grace's biblical core.
• Cyber Defense PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for cybersecurity education pathway allowing students to combine Grace's biblical foundation with specialized technical training.
• Early Childhood Education PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual degree pathway for elementary education combining Grace's Christian foundation with partner institution's teacher certification program.
• Pre-Professional Studies PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing pathway for pre-professional studies students to complete bachelor's degree with Grace while pursuing specialized professional training.
• GiftWiseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFree will creation tool for alumni and supporters, providing peace of mind for estate planning while supporting Grace's mission.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Indiana Wesleyan University: Midwest Christian university with extensive online adult-learner programs and a Wesleyan theological identity — directly comparable in the online Christian higher-education segment where Grace competes.
• Biola University: SoCal-based evangelical Christian university with strong biblical core, online programs, and graduate theological degrees — closely matches Grace's faith-integrated curriculum and online growth strategy.
• Dallas Baptist University: Texas-based Baptist university with strong online graduate programs and Christian core requirements — direct comparable in faith-based online higher-ed and graduate ministry programs.
• Moody Bible Institute: Chicago-based evangelical Bible college offering undergraduate and graduate theological education with a strong biblical core — the closest direct comparable to Grace's Bible-college roots and Christ-centered curriculum.
• Calvin University: Grand Rapids-based Christian university with broader program offerings (liberal arts and professional) and a Reformed theological identity — competes for the same Midwest Christian-student pool as Grace.
• Bob Jones University: Fundamentalist Christian university in Greenville, SC, offering biblical core curricula across undergraduate and graduate programs — directly comparable faith-based residential college with similar program structure.
• Wheaton College: Top-tier evangelical liberal arts college in Illinois with a Bible/Theology core and graduate school — comparable on faith-integrated curriculum and small-campus identity, though with stronger academic brand.
• Cornerstone University: Grand Rapids-based Christian university offering undergraduate, graduate, and online programs with a Bible/Theology core — same geography, similar size, and overlapping faith-based positioning as Grace Christian University.

Broad incumbents

• Grand Canyon University: Large for-profit Christian university with extensive online undergraduate and graduate programs — competes in the same online faith-based segment as Grace at much greater scale.
• Liberty University: Large evangelical university with massive online enrollment and a faith-integrated curriculum across hundreds of programs — the dominant scale competitor in Christian online higher education and direct overlap in online undergraduate/graduate delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_gracechristian
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GraceChristianUniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/GraceChristianU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gracechristianuniversity
• Instagraminstagram.com/gracechristianu

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Grace Christian University