What Warner University does

Warner University is a private, Christ-centered institution of higher education established in 1968 and located in Lake Wales, Florida (Polk County). The institution, previously known as Warner Southern College until a 2010 renaming, offers 44 undergraduate majors plus master's-level graduate programs delivered through residential on-campus, fully online, and hybrid formats. Core academic infrastructure is built on a standard Learning Management System for online degree delivery, supported by digital engagement assets including the ROAR Podcast (targeting prospective high school students), live and on-demand virtual chapel services streamed via YouTube, and a Barnes & Noble-operated campus store. The university competes in 19 NAIA and NCCAA athletic programs and maintains a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio with 62% of full-time faculty holding terminal degrees.

The institution serves four customer segments: traditional undergraduates (primary), graduate students, online learners, and student-athletes, with faith-integrated learning positioned as the central value proposition. The business model is tuition-dependent (subscription/recurring), with revenue streams from tuition and fees, financial aid administration (federal Direct Loans, Parent PLUS, Work-Study), philanthropic donations and grants (including a first-ever $2.25M Florida state appropriation in 2023 and corporate gifts from Publix and the George W. Jenkins Fund), and auxiliary campus store operations. The pricing model is anchored on published tuition offset by institutional aid — 100% of students receive institutional financial aid, and 64% of tuition was covered by aid for the average 2022-2023 student (excluding loans), indicating limited net tuition realization. Recruitment is direct-to-consumer via campus visits, the Royal Cup scholarship competition, community college transfer pipelines, and digital content marketing.

Operationally, the institution is undergoing a leadership refresh cycle: Dr. Gentry Sutton was appointed fourth President in February 2025, with subsequent senior hires including a VP of Advancement (April 2025), Director of Alumni Development (September 2025), and Athletic Director (June 2026). The Board approved a mission statement update in February 2026, signaling active strategic repositioning. Enrollment appears stable with a record-breaking 2023 incoming class cited in admissions leadership promotions, and 300+ students named to the Fall 2024 Dean's List suggesting an enrollment base in the low thousands across undergraduate and graduate programs.

Name

Warner University

Legal name

Warner University

Website

https://warner.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Warner University is a private, Christ-centered institution of higher education in Lake Wales, Florida, offering 44 undergraduate and graduate degree programs via residential, online, and hybrid delivery to roughly 1,000-2,000 students, with 19 NAIA/NCCAA athletic programs and a faith-integrated curriculum as its core differentiator.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Christian Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

College/University Athletic Departments & Varsity Programs (MPAKACAB), Intercollegiate Athletics (Varsity Sports Programs) (EDALAIAA)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Christ-centered university
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Online degree programs
• Graduate degree programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake Wales

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

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: Revenue from tuition and mandatory fees for undergraduate and graduate programs, both traditional and online delivery formats
2. Financial Aid Administration: Distribution of scholarships, grants, and federal student loans including Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and Federal Work-Study
3. Donations and Grants: Philanthropic contributions from alumni, donors, and corporate partners including Publix Super Markets Charities ($5,000), George W. Jenkins Fund ($10,000), and Florida state appropriations ($2.25M)
4. Campus Store Operations: Revenue from Barnes & Noble campus bookstore selling merchandise, apparel, and school supplies

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Warner University provides Christ-centered higher education through 40+ undergraduate and graduate degree majors, delivered both residentially at its Lake Wales, Florida campus and via fully online programs. Beyond academics, it operates 19 NAIA/NCCAA athletic programs, administers institutional financial aid (covering 100% of students), and provides student support services including the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) and the Royal Cup scholarship competition.

Product overview

Warner University offers a comprehensive educational portfolio consisting of undergraduate programs (associate and bachelor's degrees across 40+ majors), graduate programs (master's degrees), and online programs including the recently launched Online Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business. The institution also operates the Royal Cup Scholarship Competition as a flagship recruitment event and maintains 19 athletic programs competing in NAIA and NCCAA. Financial Aid Services and the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) provide student support. All programs integrate biblical truth with academic learning within a Christ-centered educational philosophy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs Associate and bachelor's degree programs across 40+ majors providing foundational undergraduate education grounded in biblical truth and academic excellence for first-time college students.
• Graduate Programs Master's degree programs for students seeking advanced education beyond the bachelor's level, with online options available for flexibility.
• Online Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business Fully online, four-year Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business degree designed to equip students with essential skills and knowledge for the agribusiness field, with flexible learning options.
• Online Programs Fully online degree programs offering flexibility and convenience for students who need to balance education with other commitments, including the online Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business.
• Athletic Programs 19 athletic programs providing opportunity for students to compete in NAIA and NCCAA conferences, representing one of the most competitive conference offerings at those levels.
• Royal Cup Scholarship Competition Annual scholarship competition hosted by Warner University to celebrate academic achievements of incoming high school seniors. All competitors receive scholarships, with one winner receiving a full tuition scholarship.
• Financial Aid Services Comprehensive financial aid services including scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs; 100% of students receive institutional financial aid, with 64% of tuition covered by aid for average 2022-2023 students.
• Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) Academic support center offering tutoring, writing support services, time management coaching and additional academic assistance to help students succeed.

Quantifiable outcome

• 13:1 student-to-professor ratio ensures personalized attention
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Polk County Farm Bureau Women's CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2026Collaborative partnership for the annual Vine and Branches Brunch event focusing on faith and fellowship for women in agriculture. Event held at Warner University's Swindle Ag Complex featuring speaker presentations and networking opportunities.
• University of FloridaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration through Mycota FL project for DNA barcoding of mushrooms collected on Warner campus. Biology students submitted samples for species identification research.
• Florida Department of EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation department collaboration where Dr. Lori Hutto served on workgroup to write new requirements for Uniform Core Curriculum governing Florida teacher preparation programs.
• Florida School Boards AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional development partnership where Mr. Justin Sharpless earned Advanced Certified Board Member distinction through completion of 30 professional development points.
• OneBloodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlood drive partnership with Warner's Pre-Health Club hosting successful blood donation events on campus.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Florida Southern College: Larger private college in Lakeland, FL operating in the same Central Florida market with broader program offerings — comparable geography and private college positioning, but a more established and broader incumbent.
• Stetson University: Established private Florida university — comparable in Florida geography and private higher education positioning, but materially larger and more research-oriented.
• Colorado Christian University: Larger private, Christ-centered university with NCAA Division II athletics — comparable in faith-based mission and athletic platform, but operates at meaningfully greater scale and a different conference level.

Regional players

• Polk State College: Public community college serving Polk County, FL — overlapping geography and some program overlap (associate degrees, transfer pathways), though differentiated by public vs. private and community vs. four-year model.

Direct peers

• Southeastern University: Private, Christ-centered university located in Lakeland, FL — directly comparable to Warner in mission, religious affiliation, Central Florida geography, and undergraduate/graduate program mix.
• Palm Beach Atlantic University: Private, Christ-centered Florida university offering undergraduate and graduate programs with faith integration — directly comparable in mission, faith-based positioning, and Florida residential model.
• Sterling College: Small private Christian college in Kansas — directly comparable in scale, faith-based mission, and small-campus model; also serves as the prior employer of Warner's current President.
• Dallas Christian College: Small private, Christ-centered college — highly comparable in size, mission, and faith-based program mix; serves as a near-direct functional analogue and is the prior institution of Warner's incoming Athletic Director.
• Webber International University: Small private university in Babson Park, FL offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees with a residential campus — closely comparable in size, Florida geography, and program structure.
• Southeastern Baptist College: Small Baptist-affiliated private college — comparable in religious affiliation, small scale, and faith-integrated curriculum, though based outside Florida.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WarnerUniversity/streams
• Xx.com/warneru
• Facebookfacebook.com/90822890646
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/warner-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Warner University