University of Providence

What University of Providence does

The University of Providence is a private Roman Catholic liberal arts university headquartered on a 44-acre, 17-building campus in Great Falls, Montana, founded in 1932 by the Sisters of Providence and sponsored by Providence Ministries. It serves undergraduate, graduate, veteran, international, transfer, and adult learners through 11 undergraduate majors and more than 30 programs and concentrations spanning the liberal arts, health professions (nursing, healthcare administration, clinical mental health counseling, infection prevention), and professional studies (organizational leadership, criminal justice, business). Teaching is delivered on-campus and through online/distance graduate programs using a Moodle-based learning management system with Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, ArgoExpress student information system, Microsoft 365 productivity tools, and stackable RIZE Concentrations, supported by a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 15 NCAA Argo Athletics teams.

The university operates a multi-channel admissions-driven GTM motion combining dedicated counselors, campus visits (in-person and virtual), and centralized application services (NursingCAS, GradCAS, BusinessCAS) for graduate and nursing programs, while driving community engagement through faith initiatives, alumni programs (Argo Weekend, Providence Forum, Athletic Hall of Fame), and healthcare employer partnerships (ACHE Montana, AUPHA). Revenue is generated primarily from tuition and fees (no undergraduate application fee; graduate CAS fees of $38-$80), philanthropy and endowed donations, federal student aid administration, athletic program revenue, and facility rentals; approximately 96% of students receive some form of financial assistance and the 2020 cohort default rate was 0.0%.

The institution is currently executing a strategic sustainability plan announced March 9, 2026, to address an anticipated $8 million annual budget gap through a $16 million four-year fundraising campaign under a new Chief Advancement Officer, refreshed executive leadership (President Dr. Caroline Goulet appointed December 12, 2025; Interim Provost Barbara Aranda-Naranjo appointed March 26, 2026), expanded healthcare vertical partnerships, and new program launches including the Fall 2026 SpeakUP Speech & Debate Team.

Name

University of Providence

Legal name

University of Providence

Website

https://uprovidence.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The University of Providence is a private Roman Catholic liberal arts university in Great Falls, Montana, founded in 1932, offering 30+ undergraduate and graduate programs in-person and online to traditional, graduate, veteran, international, and adult learners under a 7:1 faculty ratio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Liberal Arts)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Liberal arts university
• Graduate nursing programs
• Online degree programs
• Faith-based education

Headquarters

HQ city

Great Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, including program-specific fees. No application fee for undergraduate programs. Graduate programs charge CAS application fees ranging from $38-$80.
2. Philanthropy and Donations: Annual donations, endowed scholarships, and major gift fundraising. 2025-2026 Argo Athletics Fundraiser campaign. Endowed donations support student scholarships, academic and athletic programs.
3. Federal Student Aid Administration: Federal aid processing including grants, loans, and work-study programs administered on behalf of students.
4. Athletic Programs: Revenue from athletic programs including tickets, merchandise (ArgoStore), and related activities.
5. Facility Rentals and Event Services: Rental income from event spaces including University Center Conference Room (seats 304-420), Providence Forum Room (seats 120-130), and other venues for weddings, corporate events, conferences, and fundraisers. Summer camps and conference housing during May-July.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The University of Providence is a private Roman Catholic liberal arts university that delivers undergraduate majors (11 fields including Biology, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Nursing, Psychology, Exercise Science) and graduate degrees (MHA, MSN, MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Infection Prevention & Epidemiology, Organizational Leadership) on a residential campus in Great Falls, Montana, and through online/distance learning formats. Supporting offerings include Argo Athletics (15 competitive teams), Corps of Discovery freshman experience, library services, career and vocational services, an online bookstore via Vitalsource, and an upcoming SpeakUP Speech & Debate Team launching Fall 2026.

Product overview

The University of Providence is a Roman Catholic liberal arts university offering a portfolio of educational products and services centered on undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. The core educational offerings span 11 undergraduate majors and multiple graduate degrees in healthcare administration, nursing, counseling, and organizational leadership. Teaching and learning are delivered through Moodle (the primary learning management system) and RIZE Concentrations (stackable credentials). Supporting infrastructure includes ArgoExpress (student portal), an online bookstore via Vitalsource, and comprehensive library services with integrated research databases. Co-curricular products include Argo Athletics (15 competitive teams), the Corps of Discovery freshman experience program, and the new SpeakUP Speech & Debate Team launching Fall 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs Eleven undergraduate majors across disciplines including Biology, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Nursing, Psychology, and Exercise Science, offered on the Great Falls, Montana campus with some hybrid options.
• Graduate Programs Graduate-level degree programs including Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Science in Infection Prevention & Epidemiology, and Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, delivered primarily via distance/online format.
• Argo Athletics Intercollegiate athletic program offering 15 men's and women's teams including basketball, cross country, track and field, eSports, golf, rodeo, soccer, softball, volleyball, wrestling, and ice hockey.
• Corps of Discovery Freshman experience program combining weekly classroom sessions with outdoor adventures, service projects, and retreat weekends to build community and leadership skills in the first year.
• SpeakUP Speech & Debate Team Speech and debate team launching Fall 2026 for undergraduate students to build confidence, sharpen communication skills, and compete at regional and national events.
• Library Services Academic library support including research databases (Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, PQ Central), interlibrary loan, writing center, testing center, and access to Browzine, RefWorks, and the TRAILS Montana library network.
• Career and Vocational Services Career guidance services supporting students from first semester through graduation and beyond, including vocational discernment, job preparation, and graduate school readiness.
• University of Providence Online Bookstore Online textbook and course materials ordering platform powered by Vitalsource, integrated with student course enrollments for personalized material recommendations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio - indicates small class sizes and personalized attention
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Association of University Programs in Healthcare Administration (AUPHA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Healthcare Administration programs officially joined AUPHA, a nationally recognized organization advancing excellence in healthcare management education. Membership provides access to Journal of Health Administration Education, national webinars, Exchange newsletter, shared curricular tools, case studies, and syllabi. For students: scholarships, professional development webinars, case competitions, and Upsilon Phi Delta honor society engagement.
• American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Montana ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026Educational partnership hosting healthcare career seminars and networking events. UP is the sole educational partner of ACHE Montana. Joint events feature executive panelists from regional healthcare organizations. Students gain access to professional development credit and career networking opportunities with healthcare executives.
• Montana HOSAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontana HOSA students attended University of Providence healthcare career seminar and networking event, creating pipeline for future healthcare students.
• NursingCAScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCentralized application service for nursing program applications (RN-BSN, ABSN, TBSN). Streamlines application process for nursing applicants with standardized requirements and transcript submission.
• GradCAScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCentralized application service for non-nursing graduate programs. Handles application processing and transcript submission for graduate admissions.
• BusinessCAScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCentralized application service for business graduate programs including Organizational Leadership Management MS.
• Providence MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsoring organization of the University of Providence. The university's Roman Catholic identity and educational mission are part of the Providence System. Guides shared values of dignity, compassion, justice, excellence, and integrity.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Carroll College: Private Catholic liberal arts college in Helena, Montana, with similar small-class-size model, faith-based mission, and 4-year residential undergraduate programs serving the Montana market. Most directly comparable to UP by geography, size, and mission.
• Saint Mary's University of Minnesota: Private Catholic Lasallian university with a strong online graduate program portfolio in healthcare, leadership, and counseling, similar in scale, mission, and distance-learning mix to UP.
• Rockhurst University: Small Jesuit Catholic liberal arts university in Kansas City with comparable student-to-faculty ratio, faith-based identity, and 4-year residential experience anchored in professional and pre-professional programs.
• Spring Hill College: Small private Catholic Jesuit liberal arts college in Mobile, Alabama, with comparable enrollment size, faith-based mission, broad liberal arts curriculum, and small class sizes.
• University of Mary: Private Catholic university in Bismarck, North Dakota, with comparable Benedictine mission, similar program mix in nursing, business, and healthcare administration, and a similar mix of online and residential offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/UProvidence
• Instagraminstagram.com/universityofprovidence
• Xx.com/uprovidence

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 University of Providence