Bakke Graduate University

Name

Bakke Graduate University

Legal name

Bakke Graduate University

Website

https://bgu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Graduate Theological Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Graduate Schools (Master’s & Doctoral Programs) (EDAHALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA), Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG)

Keywords

• Graduate theological education
• Transformational leadership programs
• Online ministry degrees
• Executive MBA programs
• Professional development certificates

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Degree Program Tuition: Revenue from graduate-level degree programs including DTL, MATL, Ph.D., DMin, and EMBA. Programs charge tuition per module/course with costs varying by program.
2. Graduate Certificates: Graduate certificates at $6,720-$7,200 providing 12 graduate credit hours. Professional Development certificates range from free to $3,000.
3. City Immersion Fees: Fees for experiential on-site urban immersion courses. Standard student cost includes tuition plus $450 admin fee; auditing costs $950 for non-students.
4. Donations and Giving: Financial donations from supporters to fuel global impact. The university solicits year-end donations and ongoing financial support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bakke Graduate University is a private, nonprofit graduate institution that delivers contextual, Christian-based transformational leadership education globally. Its core offerings include five graduate degree programs (Doctor of Transformational Leadership, Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership, Ph.D. in Innovative Urban Leadership, Doctor of Ministry, and Executive MBA), language-specific variants (Mandarin EMBA, Korean, Spanish MATL), approximately 30 certificate programs (graduate and professional development), and experiential city immersion courses held across global cities.

Product overview

Bakke Graduate University (BGU) is a global, online graduate education institution offering a portfolio of degree programs, graduate-level certificates, professional development certificates, experiential city immersion courses, and published faculty books. The core degree offerings consist of five graduate programs: the Doctor of Transformational Leadership (DTL), Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership (MATL), Ph.D. in Innovative Urban Leadership, Doctor of Ministry (DMin), and Executive MBA (EMBA). Language-specific variants include a Mandarin EMBA and a MATL in Spanish delivered through a partnership with CETI. Beyond degree programs, BGU offers approximately 30 certificates split into Graduate Certificates (12-credit academic credentials that can transfer into degrees, including Business Administration, Creative Leadership, Transformational Leadership for the Global City, Teaching Theology of Work, and Conflict Resolution) and Certificates of Professional Development (non-accredited, ranging from free to $3,200, covering coaching, conflict resolution, giftedness, economic peacemaking, workplace transformation, responsible entrepreneurial leadership, executive leadership development, spiritual direction, and more). BGU also publishes books by faculty through its Books news section and maintains a dedicated coach training program. All programs incorporate BGU's eight Transformational Leadership Perspectives and are delivered through online platforms including Populi (student information system), Zoom (live sessions), and the OLE Education Platform (for certificate programs). Experiential learning is provided through city immersion courses held in various global cities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Doctor of Transformational Leadership (DTL) A doctoral degree program focused on transformational leadership, incorporating BGU's eight proprietary perspectives on leadership in business, theology, and urban studies. Designed for advanced leaders seeking to produce world-class research projects that address societal challenges.
• Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership (MATL) A master's degree program providing advanced leadership training with global perspectives, networking opportunities with students worldwide, and integration of BGU's transformational leadership principles across diverse ministry contexts.
• Ph.D. in Innovative Urban Leadership A research-focused doctoral program designed to develop scholars and practitioners capable of leading innovation in global urban environments with theological grounding and cross-cultural competencies.
• Doctor of Ministry (DMin) A professional doctoral degree for ministry leaders seeking to deepen their theological understanding and leadership effectiveness in church, mission, and community contexts.
• Executive MBA (EMBA) A U.S.-accredited, values-driven 36-credit online EMBA degree completed in approximately two years, integrating Christian-based leadership with global market trends, business ethics, and multi-stakeholder stewardship across people, planet, and profit.
• Mandarin EMBA A Mandarin-language version of the Executive MBA program, offered as an online degree with global immersion experiences, taught entirely in Chinese and designed for experienced Chinese-speaking business leaders.
• MATL in Spanish (CETI Partnership) A Spanish-language Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership delivered in partnership with CETI (Community of Interdisciplinary Theological Studies), designed specifically for the Latin American context through a formal academic alliance.
• Certificates of Professional Development Non-accredited certificate programs ranging from free to $3,000, covering topics such as transformational leadership coaching, conflict resolution, giftedness discovery, economic peacemaking, workplace transformation, responsible entrepreneurial leadership, executive leadership development, public speaking, Ignatian spiritual exercises, and missional spiritual direction. Self-paced, online, or instructor-led options available.
• Graduate Certificates Graduate-level certificate programs worth 12 academic credits that can transfer into degree programs. Includes concentrations in Business Administration, Creative Leadership, Transformational Leadership for the Global City, Teaching Theology of Work, and Conflict Resolution. Priced at approximately $6,720 plus travel costs.
• Urban Immersion Courses (City Immersions) Experiential on-site learning courses held in cities worldwide (Honduras, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Dallas, Fresno, New York City, Seattle, Philadelphia, Memphis, Mexico City, Costa Rica), combining online coursework with on-site immersions that utilize the city as a classroom for transformational leadership training.
• Certified Arbitrator Certificate (CertArb) A professional certification providing 50 hours of arbitration skills training with case studies and live dispute arbitration, followed by a professional debriefing, enabling holders to serve as professional arbitrators in domestic and international cases.
• Certified Mediator Certificate (CertMed) A professional certification providing 45 hours of mediation skills training with case studies and live conflict resolution practice, followed by a professional debriefing, qualifying holders as professional mediators for diverse conflict resolution settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45 graduates from 22 countries celebrated at June 2026 commencement
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CETI (Community of Interdisciplinary Theological Studies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCETI and BGU formed a formal partnership to develop and implement the Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership (MATL) degree in Spanish, specifically designed for the Latin American context. CETI contributes contextual theological expertise while BGU provides the degree framework.
• Dr. Lisa Anderson-UmanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Lisa Anderson-Umana serves as Professor of Record for Honduras urban immersion courses, leading site visits and providing expertise on Central American context.
• Giftedness GuidesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGiftedness Guides, created by Bill Hendricks (Co-founder and President), provides certificate curriculum for discovering individual giftedness. Bill Hendricks also serves as Executive Director for Christian Leadership at The Hendricks Center, Dallas Theological Seminary.
• Youth With A Mission (YWAM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKudzai Masimira serves at various leadership levels with YWAM for 18 years, bringing transformational leadership training across multiple continents through Mozaik Institute and University of the Nations.
• Center for Transformational Leadership (Nigeria)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Oladotun Reju founded the Center for Transformational Leadership in Jos, Nigeria, and serves on BGU's Board of Regents. He has been stewarding the Theology of Work Grant Program for the Mustard Seed Foundation for 12 years.
• Madonna Doyle & Associates (MDA)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDr. Madonna Doyle provides facilitation for the High Impact Public Speaking certificate program, bringing two decades of expertise in communication strategies.
• Global AdvanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnie Parker's women's leadership curriculum (Raising Up Modern Day Esthers) developed in partnership with Global Advance, translated into 20 languages and used in 37 nations.
• Credit Union PartnershipminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHigh Impact Public Speaking certificate specifically tailored for credit union professionals in the Caribbean, distributed through credit union networks.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Biola University: Christian university in La Mirada, CA offering Talbot School of Theology graduate degrees plus an online MBA. Comparable as a Christ-centered institution with graduate theological education and professional graduate programs targeting faith-integrated leadership development.
• Wheaton College Graduate School: Evangelical Christian graduate school offering M.A. and doctoral programs in theology and ministry. Comparable as a faith-based graduate institution; faculty member Dr. Bruce Jackson earned an M.A. from Wheaton Graduate School, illustrating faculty cross-mobility between the two schools.
• Dallas Theological Seminary: Dallas-based evangelical seminary offering Th.M., D.Min., and Ph.D. programs with hybrid online and on-site delivery. Directly comparable as a Christ-centered graduate institution in the same metro area with overlapping DMin and doctoral audiences and a shared faculty network (Bill Hendricks serves at The Hendricks Center at DTS).
• Tyndale University: Canadian evangelical Christian university offering graduate theological and leadership programs. Comparable as a smaller Christ-centered graduate institution serving a globally diverse student body, with overlapping mission of integrating faith and leadership practice.
• Regent University: Christian graduate university offering online doctoral, MBA, and seminary programs with a faith-based leadership framework. Closely comparable in mission, online delivery model, and audience of marketplace and ministry leaders seeking accredited graduate credentials integrated with Christian worldview.
• Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary: Multi-campus evangelical seminary offering M.Div., D.Min., and doctoral programs with online and residential formats. Comparable in delivering accredited graduate theological leadership education with a global student reach; referenced as the alma mater of BGU faculty member Rev. Dan Lee.
• Fuller Theological Seminary: Multi-denominational evangelical seminary offering online and residential M.Div., D.Min., and Ph.D. programs. Comparable in providing graduate theological education with contextual urban and global leadership emphasis, serving an internationally diverse student body.
• Phoenix Seminary: Evangelical seminary offering M.Div., M.A., and D.Min. programs with online and hybrid formats. Comparable in size, scope, and target audience to BGU as a faith-based graduate theological school focused on equipping ministry and marketplace leaders.

Broad incumbents

• Liberty University Online: Largest Christian university online graduate division, offering accredited M.Div., D.Min., MBA, and doctoral programs at scale. Comparable in online delivery of faith-integrated graduate degrees, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader program breadth than BGU.
• Oral Roberts University: Pentecostal Christian university offering online and residential graduate programs including MBA, M.Div., and doctorate in ministry. Comparable as a faith-based graduate education provider, though broader in scope with undergraduate programs and a larger enrollment base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bakke-graduate-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bakke Graduate University