Hope International University, Fullerton

What Hope International University, Fullerton does

Hope International University (HIU) is a private, nonprofit Christian university founded in 1928 in Fullerton, California, operating from a single main campus in North Orange County with Googie-architecture buildings from the 1930s-1960s era. The institution delivers higher education through three primary channels: residential undergraduate on-campus programs, 100% online undergraduate and graduate programs, and hybrid offerings that include a doctoral program in Marriage & Family Therapy, master's degrees, credential programs, and certificate programs. Core academic technology is built around an online and hybrid course delivery platform, a virtual campus tour, and an integrated student portal (MyHIU), supplemented by operational systems for registration, housing, and dining services. The university holds regional accreditation from the WSCUC (since 1969) and membership in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (since 1993), which underpins federal financial aid eligibility and study abroad access through CCCU GlobalEd.

HIU generates revenue through four primary streams: tuition and fees for undergraduate, graduate, credential, and certificate programs; auxiliary services including residence hall housing (Quad, Double, and Single rooms at $2,925-$4,575/semester), meal plans through The Commons and The Hub (up to $3,550/semester), and campus parking permits; donations and fundraising via signature annual events such as the Spirit of Hope Concert & Awards Gala and the HIU Golf Challenge; and ancillary revenue from facility rentals. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer across five distinct student personas — traditional residential undergraduates, online learners, graduate students, international students (drawn from 16+ countries), and ministry professionals — supported by campus visit events, Preview Days, the PURSUE Ministry event, and a multi-channel digital presence across major social platforms. With 101-250 employees serving 2,000+ current students and a 14,000+ alumni network, HIU operates as a small, faith-integrated teaching institution with a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an NAIA athletics program (HIU Royals).

Name

Hope International University, Fullerton

Legal name

Hope International University

Website

https://hiu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hope International University is a private nonprofit Christian university in Fullerton, California, founded in 1928, serving 2,000+ students worldwide through residential undergraduate, online, and graduate programs — including a doctoral program in Marriage & Family Therapy — with a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Christian university programs
• Online degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Undergraduate residential programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Fullerton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, credential programs, and certificate programs for on-campus and online students
2. Auxiliary Services: Revenue from student housing (residence halls), meal plans (The Commons, The Hub), and campus food services
3. Donations and Fundraising: Annual fundraising events including Spirit of Hope Concert & Awards Gala, HIU Golf Challenge, and general donor contributions supporting student scholarships
4. Parking and Facility Rental: Revenue from campus parking permits ($100/semester) and facility rentals to external parties for events

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hope International University is a private Christian university that delivers higher education services through undergraduate on-campus residential programs, 100% online undergraduate and graduate degree programs, a doctoral program in Marriage & Family Therapy, certificate and credential programs, and auxiliary student services including on-campus housing and dining. The university integrates Christian faith with academic instruction across all programs and operates from its main campus in Fullerton, California.

Product overview

Hope International University offers a comprehensive suite of Christian higher education services centered around its undergraduate residential campus in Fullerton, California. The institution operates three primary academic delivery models: Undergraduate On Campus Programs (residential), Undergraduate Online Programs (100% online), and Graduate Programs (including a doctoral program in Marriage & Family Therapy). These core educational offerings are supplemented by certificate and credential programs, campus support services (housing, dining, counseling center), co-curricular programs (Campus Ministries, athletics, performing arts), and study abroad opportunities. The university serves more than 2,000 students worldwide with a highly personalized 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio, integrating Christian faith with academic excellence across all programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate On Campus Programs Residential undergraduate degree programs offered on the Fullerton campus, featuring a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio with personalized education and Christian integration.
• Undergraduate Online Programs 100% online college courses and degree programs providing the same one-on-one attention as traditional classroom learning for remote and working-adult students.
• Graduate Programs Graduate-level degree programs including master's degrees and a doctoral program in Marriage & Family Therapy, offered on campus, online, and in hybrid formats.
• Certificate and Credential Programs Professional certificate programs and credential offerings for skill development, continuing education, and career advancement.
• Hope Counseling Center Low-cost counseling and consulting services for university students, faculty, families, and the local community, providing clinical training for MFT graduate students.
• Campus Housing (Alpha and Omega) On-campus residential facilities for students, including Quad, Double, and Single room options with meal plan requirements, located in the Alpha and Omega residence halls.
• Campus Dining Services Food services including The Commons (all-you-care-to-eat dining) and The Hub (grab-n-go café) operated by an external food service provider for students, faculty, and guests.
• Study Abroad Programs International study opportunities including faculty-led travel courses, CCCU GlobalEd programs (such as Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford and the Middle East Studies Program), and semester abroad options through partner institutions such as Nazareth Evangelical Theological Seminary.

Segments5 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.

• Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993Hope International University became a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities in 1993. Through this partnership, HIU students access special study abroad programs including the CCU GlobalEd programs offering opportunities like Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford (SCIO) and the Middle East Studies Program.
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)coreOthersRegional accreditation body that first accredited Hope International University in 1969. WSCUC accreditation affirms the university's academic quality and enables student financial aid eligibility.
• Nazareth Evangelical Theological Seminary (Israel)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy abroad partnership providing semester-length (12 weeks) program for Biblical Studies and Church Ministry majors, as well as 2-3 week inter-term programs for students of any major.
• Jerusalem University CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution through CCCU GlobalEd Middle East Studies Program offering study abroad opportunities in Israel.
• Provider Contract Food ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal food service provider managing Dining Services for HIU including The Commons all-you-care-to-eat restaurant and The Hub cafe.
• Think:Kids, Massachusetts General HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative Problem Solving (CPS) training partnership providing professional development credit and trauma-informed practices training to participants.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Biola University: Private Christian university in La Mirada, California, sharing the same WSCUC accreditation, CCCU membership, and faith-integration mission, plus overlapping online and graduate program portfolios.
• Azusa Pacific University: Private Christian university in the greater Los Angeles area offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs with WSCUC accreditation. Directly comparable as a California-based, faith-affiliated, multi-modal-delivery institution within the CCCU ecosystem.
• Whitworth University: CCCU-member private Christian university in Spokane, Washington, similar in mission, scale, and undergraduate-plus-graduate program composition — a useful comparator for tuition pricing and fundraising benchmarks.
• Concordia University Irvine: Private Christian university in Irvine, California, comparable in size, faith-based mission, undergraduate residential delivery, and WSCUC/CCCU alignment.
• Point Loma Nazarene University: San Diego-based private Christian university with similar WSCUC accreditation, faith integration, and undergraduate residential model — comparable in size and program mix to HIU.
• Oral Roberts University: Private Christian university with strong online and graduate programs, comparable faith-integration thesis and ministry training pipeline, though at larger scale than HIU.
• Vanguard University: Private Christian university in Costa Mesa, California, with overlapping Assemblies-of-God heritage, similar scale (~2,000 students), and identical WSCUC/CCCU positioning.
• George Fox University: CCCU-member private Christian university in Oregon, comparable in faith-integration, small-class philosophy, and mix of undergraduate residential plus online/graduate programs.

Broad incumbents

• Grand Canyon University: Large for-profit Christian university with significant online footprint and broad program portfolio; sets the pricing and content benchmark against which HIU's online growth must compete.
• Liberty University: Largest private Christian university in the U.S., dominant in online and graduate enrollment; relevant as a scale benchmark and online-program competitor for HIU's expanding online channel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HIUnow
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@HopeInternationalUniv
• Facebookfacebook.com/34259944120
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hope-international-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/hope_international_university
• TikToktiktok.com/@hopeinternationaluni

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Hope International University, Fullerton