Oak Hills Christian College

What Oak Hills Christian College does

Oak Hills Christian College is a private, non-profit Christian college located in Bemidji, Minnesota, operating since 1946 as the educational arm of the Oak Hills Fellowship (founded 1925). The institution delivers 25 academic programs (17 on-campus, 4 hybrid, and 4 online) from a 185-acre campus on Lake Marquette, maintaining a 1:11 student-to-faculty ratio and ABHE accreditation, under the leadership of President Dr. Martin Giese. Subsidiary entities include Camp Oak Hills, the Center for Indian Ministries (founded 1987), and Oak Hills Church Ministries, which extend the college's ministry footprint beyond degree programs.

The college serves a defined set of customer segments: traditional residential undergraduates, online and hybrid learners, rural ministry leaders (via partnerships with the Rural Church Institute and the Northwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church), Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) high school students, Native American ministry candidates through the Center for Indian Ministries, and continuing education learners. Revenue is generated from four streams: tuition, donations and fundraising, lodging and facility rental, and scholarship-related activity, with go-to-market executed through denominational channels (NAE, Global Leadership Network, EFCA) and articulation agreements with peer institutions including Valley City State University and Lancaster Bible College.

Operationally, the college competes in a structurally challenged small private college market, where its rural focus, faith-based mission, and integrated camp/ministry ecosystem constitute its primary differentiation. No AI/ML capabilities, funding rounds, or M&A activity are evident; strategic emphasis is on partnership-driven enrollment expansion, faculty additions, an upcoming ABHE re-accreditation visit in April 2025, and the 2026 centennial of the Oak Hills Fellowship.

Name

Oak Hills Christian College

Legal name

Oak Hills Christian College

Website

https://oakhills.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Oak Hills Christian College is a private, non-profit ABHE-accredited Christian college in Bemidji, Minnesota, offering 25 on-campus, hybrid, and online programs to residential, online, rural-ministry, and Native American ministry students under the Oak Hills Fellowship umbrella.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Religious Organizations (8131), Junior Colleges (61121)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Missionary Training Colleges & Schools (EDAHAKAF), Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Biblical higher education
• Christian college education
• Undergraduate ministry programs
• Online theological education
• Rural ministry training

Headquarters

HQ city

Bemidji

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from student tuition for on-campus, hybrid, and online programs at associate, bachelor, and certificate levels
2. Student Grant Fund / Institutional Scholarships: Institutional scholarship funding provided to students to support affordability of education
3. Lodging and Facility Rental: Revenue from Thompson Hall rooms, guest apartments, campsites, and food service for group retreats and summer guests
4. Donations and Advancement: Private giving from alumni and supporters through the Office of Advancement, including annual giving, event-based fundraising

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Oak Hills Christian College delivers biblically-centered higher education through on-campus residential, hybrid, and online formats, awarding associate, bachelor, and certificate degrees across ministry, biblical studies, counseling, business, and related fields. It also operates Camp Oak Hills, the Center for Indian Ministries, Oak Hills Church Ministries, and campus lodging and food services that support group retreats and summer guests.

Product overview

Oak Hills Christian College offers a portfolio of educational products and services centered around biblically-centered higher education. The core offerings include on-campus undergraduate degree programs (17 on-campus, 4 hybrid, 4 online) spanning Biblical Studies, Christian Ministry, Addictions Counseling, Business, and other fields. Online education is delivered through Oak Hills Online platform offering asynchronous courses. The institution also provides certificate programs including a one-year Certificate in Biblical Studies and a Rural Leadership and Ministry certificate. Beyond academics, the college operates Camp Oak Hills for summer camping ministry, provides lodging services (Thompson Hall, guest apartments, campsites) for church groups and retreats, and maintains a Church Ministries department offering networking, conferences, resources, and career services. Additional services include the Center for Indian Ministries and an Israel Study Tour program through Jerusalem University College partnership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Camp Oak Hills: Christian camp ministry serving church and ministry groups, staff retreats, youth group events, and family gatherings. Located on shores of Lake Marquette with accommodations including Thompson Hall, Guest Apartments, and campsites.
• Center for Indian Ministries
• Oak Hills Church Ministries
• Oak Hills Online

Products and services

• On-Campus Degree Programs
• Oak Hills Online
• Certificate in Biblical Studies
• Certificate Program in Rural Leadership and Ministry
• Hybrid Degree Programs
• Israel Study Tour
• Center for Indian Ministries (CIM)
• Camp Oak Hills
• Oak Hills Church Ministries
• Campus Lodging and Food Service

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% LADC licensing exam pass rate for Addiction Counseling graduates
• +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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Association of Evangelicals (NAE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOak Hills is a member of NAE whose motto is 'Influence for Good.' NAE President Emeritus Leith Anderson is personal friends with President Martin Giese and has spoken twice at Oak Hills. Current president Walter Kim leads the organization focused on connecting evangelical Christians.
• Global Leadership NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOak Hills has been a member since 2012 and is the northern MN host for The Global Leadership Summit, the primary leadership development conference in the US for all sectors of society.
• EFCA - North Central and Northern Plains DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong denominational connections with Evangelical Free Church of America through shared ministry values. Jim Hodgson serves on the board of the North Central District. Rick Weinert served as District Superintendent for Northern Mountain District.
• All People Initiative (EFCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational coalition of multiethnic and multicultural leaders committed to disciplemaking, gospel impact, and community transformation. Partnered through EFCA affiliation.
• Northwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew ministry partnership providing Rural Ministry training to pastors and lay leaders through online webinars. Martin Giese, Rick Weinert, Mark Hovestol, and Jim Hodgson join NW Conference team providing bimonthly training sessions.
• Rural Church Institute (Wheaton College Billy Graham Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity for pastors and Christian leaders serving in non-urban contexts. Dr. Jeff Clark of the Institute has been a speaker at Rural Impact Leadership Conference. RMI provides support and learning for denominations and churches ministering in rural North America.
• Village MissionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExists to glorify Jesus Christ by developing spiritually vital country churches in rural North America. Places pastors in small town and rural churches, preserving Gospel presence in over 220 communities across US and Canada. Rick Weinert served as a pastor with VM.
• Rural Home Missionary Association (RHMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlants and strengthens churches in small towns, ministering to thousands of town and country churches. President Martin Giese is close friends with Executive Director Ron Klassen, having co-authored 'Leading Through Change' with Barney Wells.
• Town and Country Training (TACT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRHMA program for seminary students. Martin Giese is a frequent presenter. Focus on training leaders for rural church ministry.
• Rocky Mountain Bible MissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaking and equipping disciples in rural areas of northwestern Rocky Mountains for over 50 years. Rick Weinert attends their annual Shepherds' Conference in Missoula, MT.
• International MessengerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommitted to making disciples of all nations through partnering with local churches. Founded by late Bob Rasmussen (OHCC graduate) and begun as a ministry of Oak Hills Fellowship.
• Right Now MediaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChristian video streaming library ('Christian Netflix'). Complimentary access given to all current Oak Hills staff and students. Hosts Work as Worship livestream and resources.
• Next Step ResourcesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEFCA affiliate ministry based in Bloomington MN providing Christian books and church ministry curriculum. One-stop-shop bookstore for OHF Church Ministries team.
• Interim Pastor MinistriesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChurch Ministries team regularly directs churches entering pastoral search processes to contact IPM for assistance. Many evangelical churches in northern MN and eastern ND have been blessed through IPM's experienced pastors.
• Transform MNminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew ministry organization based in Twin Cities focused on ministry collaboration and networking to bring relevant help for current issues churches in Minnesota face.
• SonlifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisciple-making training taking back to the model of Jesus. Oak Hills utilizes their '4 Chair Discipling' approach in ministry training.
• Evangelism ShiftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding a movement of transformed churches whose people have a culture of living as witnesses. Bruce Dick, former Lead Pastor of Bethel EFC, is a guest presenter in Rural Certificate program.
• Lancaster Bible College (LBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership agreement through which Oak Hills offers a wide range of online courses to OHCC online students and traditional on-campus students.
• Valley City State University (VCSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal articulation agreement providing path for students earning Associate of Arts (General) degree from OHCC to earn Bachelor of Science in Education with major in Elementary Education from VCSU.
• Jerusalem University CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOak Hills is an affiliated college with JUC. Students may arrange to take a semester abroad in Israel to broaden grasp of Biblical landscapes and culture. Dr. Gale Struthers oversees this partnership.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Biola University:
• Liberty University: Virginia-based large Christian university with the world's largest online enrollment in theology and ministry. Comparable for direct competition in online ministry degree programs, but materially larger and broader in scope.
• Wheaton College: Illinois-based top-tier evangelical liberal arts college and home of the Billy Graham Center / Rural Church Institute, which is an Oak Hills partner. Comparable in mission and audience, though materially larger and more selective.

Direct peers

• Bob Jones University: South Carolina-based fundamentalist Christian college with a broad undergraduate catalog including biblical studies, ministry, and liberal arts. Comparable as a religiously conservative residential college with ABHE-style mission focus and similar small-college profile.
• Dallas Theological Seminary: Texas-based theological seminary offering graduate theological degrees with extensive online and hybrid programs. Comparable for the theological/biblical studies curriculum overlap and online delivery model that competes with Oak Hills Online.
• Cairn University: Pennsylvania-based Christian university offering biblical studies, ministry, and professional programs with a similar small-college profile. Comparable as a faith-based institution emphasizing biblical integration across undergraduate programs.
• Moody Bible Institute: Chicago-based Bible college offering undergraduate and graduate theological education with strong online and distance programs. Comparable as a faith-based, biblically-centered higher education institution with similar mission focus on ministry training.
• Ozark Christian College: Missouri-based Bible college offering undergraduate ministry and biblical studies programs of similar size and scope to Oak Hills. Directly comparable as a small, ABHE-affiliated, ministry-focused Bible college.
• Lancaster Bible College: Pennsylvania-based Bible college (Capital Seminary & Graduate School) offering undergraduate and graduate biblical education with online and on-campus formats. Direct comparable in size, mission, and program mix; also an active academic partner of Oak Hills.

Others

• Valley City State University: North Dakota public university with formal articulation agreement enabling OHCC Associate graduates to complete a Bachelor of Science in Education. Comparable as an academic pathway partner serving similar rural Upper Midwest student populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OakHillsCollege
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRjWAJHs-TyNxMvgZiepqrw
• Facebookfacebook.com/42491695933
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oak-hills-christian-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/oakhillschristiancollege

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Oak Hills Christian College