Pacific Crest
Pacific Crest is a private education services company that delivers Process Education curricula — including the Learn to Learn for Success course and active-learning workbooks — to colleges, universities, and individual educators seeking to improve retention and graduation outcomes for at-risk students.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersHampton, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Pacific Crest does
Pacific Crest is a private education services company founded around 1992 that develops and delivers Process Education curricula and active-learning content focused on teaching students how to learn. The company is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, operates with 1–10 employees, and is founder-led. Its core product is the Learn to Learn for Success course, offered as a one-week in-person or four-week online program targeting college students at risk of dropping out or recovering from academic dismissal, with reported outcomes including a 76% college-success rate among completers. The company also operates the Self-Growth Institute (a personal-development program), self-paced faculty professional development workshops, and a portfolio of active-learning workbooks spanning chemistry, biochemistry, organic chemistry, algebra, and self-directed learning, supplemented by a monthly podcast and newsletter.
The underlying methodology is the proprietary Process Education framework paired with the SII (Strengths, Areas of Improvement, Insights) Assessment approach, developed over approximately 32 years of research originating from an experiment comparing college seniors' and freshmen's ability to learn new material. The framework is academically connected to the NSF-supported POGIL (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning) Project and validated through the International Journal of Process Education. Pacific Crest earns revenue through three streams: custom-quoted institutional course licensing (minimum 25 students per section, multi-year contracts), recurring professional development subscriptions via mypcrest.com, and one-time book and digital activity sales through bookstore.pcrest.com (including a $15 '10 for $15' digital activity bundle).
Documented institutional customers include Western Governor's University, Hinds Community College (9+ year relationship, 66% nursing-program graduation rate among completers), and Grand Valley State University. In January 2023, Auston Van Slyke was appointed President, succeeding founder Dan Apple, who transitioned to Vice President of Research and Development. No external funding rounds, M&A activity, or revenue figures are disclosed.
Pacific Crest firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pacific Crest
- Legal name
- Pacific Crest
- Website
- https://pcrest.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Pacific Crest is a private education services company that delivers Process Education curricula — including the Learn to Learn for Success course and active-learning workbooks — to colleges, universities, and individual educators seeking to improve retention and graduation outcomes for at-risk students.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pacific Crest industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education and Professional Development Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC), Special Education / Intervention & Differentiated Instruction Content Development (EDAGAKAO)
Keywords
Where Pacific Crest is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hampton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pacific Crest business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Course Licensing and Delivery: Pacific Crest offers the Learn to Learn for Success course as a 1-week in-person course for college-bound students or a 4-week online course. Institutions pay for course access and licensing, with pricing customized based on individual requirements and student enrollment (minimum 25 students per section).
- Professional Development Workshops: Self-paced online workshops offered through mypcrest.com for faculty and professional development. Provides ongoing professional development revenue through institutional or individual subscriptions.
- Book Sales: Sale of active learning workbooks and textbooks including Foundations of Chemistry, Foundations of Biochemistry, Foundations of Organic Chemistry, Solving Real Problems with Chemistry, Learning to Learn: Becoming a Self-Grower, Student Success Toolbox, and others. Includes instructor resources and site licenses.
- Custom Activity Packages: The '10 for $15' program allows instructors to choose 10 digital activities from specific chemistry books for $15 total, providing a digital download. Individual activities available for $2 each in PDF format.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One-time | 10 for $15 Custom Activity Package |
| Unit Pricing | One-time | Individual Activity Purchase |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Course Sponsorship - Custom Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Pacific Crest product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pacific Crest delivers the "Learn to Learn for Success" course, professional development workshops, and a self-growth institute grounded in its Process Education methodology. It also publishes related books and learning materials for both institutional and individual learners.
Product overview
Pacific Crest is an education services company offering a portfolio of learning-focused products and services centered on Process Education methodology. The core offerings include the Learn to Learn for Success course (a 1-week in-person or 4-week online learning skills program with demonstrated 76% student success rates), Professional Development workshops, and the Self-Growth Institute for personal development. Pacific Crest also publishes a comprehensive line of active learning workbooks spanning chemistry (Foundations of Chemistry, Foundations of Biochemistry, Foundations of Organic Chemistry, Solving Real Problems with Chemistry), mathematics (Foundations of Algebra), and self-directed learning (Learning to Learn: Becoming a Self-Grower, Student Success Toolbox). Supporting products include the 10 for $15 custom digital activity package and the Listening to Learn monthly podcast. The company serves higher education institutions, students recovering from academic dismissal, and faculty seeking professional development in active learning methodologies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Learn to Learn for Success A signature course teaching students how to learn effectively, available to institutions and individuals.
- Professional Development Workshops Workshops and training programs delivered to educational institutions to enhance faculty capability and teaching effectiveness.
- Self-Growth Institute An institute offering self-growth and learning programs for individual learners seeking personal development.
- Pacific Crest Books Books and learning materials published by Pacific Crest on learning and process education, sold directly to consumers.
Companies that use Pacific Crest
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Pacific Crest technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Pacific Crest partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Western Governor's UniversitycorePacific Crest's Learn to Learn for Success course has been offered multiple times at WGU. 125 students were successful in first 5 offerings with 72% completion rate and 76% of re-enrolled students completing their next term. WGU students reported 95% found the course 'HIGHLY beneficial' and 54% rated it 'LIFE CHANGING'.
- Hinds Community CollegecoreOver 9 years, Hinds Community College has offered the Learn to Learn for Success course. Students who had been academically dismissed were allowed to return if they completed the course. 66% of those who completed graduated and became practicing nurses.
- Grand Valley State UniversitycoreSuccessfully implemented the Learn to Learn for Success course for academic recovery. GVSU used a 'train the trainers' approach to shift facilitation to their own faculty, demonstrating successful knowledge transfer. 2015-2017 data shows consistent student re-enrollment success.
- International Academy of Process EducatorsminorPacific Crest is connected to this international organization dedicated to Process Education. The Academy promotes the Process Education approach and provides resources for educators implementing these methodologies.
- International Journal of Process EducationminorPacific Crest is connected to this peer-reviewed journal focused on Process Education research and practice, supporting the academic validation of their educational methodologies.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Pacific Crest competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Course Hero: Course Hero is an online study resource platform serving college students with course-specific materials. Comparable to Pacific Crest in serving college students seeking academic support and supplemental learning resources, but as a broad consumer-facing platform rather than an institutional contract.
- EAB (Education Advisory Board): EAB delivers research, advisory services, and student success technology to higher education institutions. Comparable to Pacific Crest in serving college administrators focused on retention and graduation outcomes, but as a broader research and technology platform rather than a specific intervention course.
- Pearson Education: Pearson is a global education company publishing textbooks and digital learning platforms for higher education. Comparable to Pacific Crest in chemistry and STEM active learning content, plus institutional sales motion, but operates as a broad incumbent across many subjects.
- Knewton: Knewton provides adaptive learning technology for higher-ed publishers and institutions, including personalized STEM courseware. Overlaps with Pacific Crest in active learning and chemistry content delivered to college students, though via a software platform integrated into publisher products.
- Elsevier Education: Elsevier publishes textbooks and digital learning solutions in health sciences, chemistry, and life sciences for higher education. Comparable to Pacific Crest in chemistry/biochemistry active learning workbooks and institutional sales, but at much larger scale and broader portfolio.
- McGraw-Hill Education: McGraw-Hill Education publishes higher-ed textbooks and adaptive learning platforms in STEM and other disciplines. Comparable to Pacific Crest in chemistry/algebra active learning workbooks and institutional channel, though it serves a much wider curriculum footprint.
- Cengage: Cengage is a major educational publisher offering textbooks, digital courseware, and student success tools across higher education. Overlaps with Pacific Crest in active learning chemistry content and higher-ed instructional materials, though at vastly larger scale and broader subject coverage.
Direct peers
- Civitas Learning: Civitas Learning provides student success analytics and predictive retention tools to colleges and universities. Directly comparable to Pacific Crest in targeting institutional buyers with the goal of improving retention, graduation rates, and stop-out recovery, though via a software/analytics stack rather than a course.
- StraighterLine: StraighterLine offers low-cost online general education and introductory college courses that transfer to partner institutions. Comparable to Pacific Crest in providing alternative pathways for non-traditional or underprepared college students, with a similar institutional partnership model.
Others
- POGIL Project: The POGIL Project is a national dissemination network for Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning, co-developed with Pacific Crest's founder Dan Apple. It is a strategic partner rather than competitor, sharing methodology and NSF-supported chemistry/STEM content that underlies Pacific Crest's Foundations workbooks.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Pacific Crest social profiles
Digital presencePacific Crest financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pacific Crest leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Pacific Crest funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pacific Crest M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pacific Crest
What does Pacific Crest do?
Pacific Crest delivers the "Learn to Learn for Success" course, professional development workshops, and a self-growth institute grounded in its Process Education methodology. It also publishes related books and learning materials for both institutional and individual learners.
Is Pacific Crest a public or private company?
Pacific Crest is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Pacific Crest founded?
Pacific Crest was founded in 1992. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Pacific Crest based?
Pacific Crest is headquartered in Hampton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pacific Crest make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Course Licensing and Delivery is the primary driver. The others are professional Development Workshops, book Sales and custom Activity Packages.
Who are Pacific Crest's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Course Hero, EAB (Education Advisory Board), Pearson Education, Knewton, Elsevier Education, McGraw-Hill Education and Cengage. Direct peers are Civitas Learning and StraighterLine. POGIL Project is listed as an others.
Does Pacific Crest have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pacific Crest.
What industry is Pacific Crest in?
Pacific Crest's product category is Education and Professional Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAEAA, University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs, with a secondary code of EDAGAKAC, Corporate Learning & Training Content Development. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.