Multnomah University

What Multnomah University does

Multnomah University was a private, non-profit Christian university founded in 1936 and headquartered at 8435 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, Oregon, serving 251-500 employees. It offered Christ-centered undergraduate programs (Bible and Theology, Biology, Business Administration, Exercise Science, Leadership, Psychology) and graduate programs including a CACREP-accredited Master of Arts in Counseling and an MA in Global Development and Justice, generating revenue primarily through recurring tuition and fees with supplementary offerings such as campus housing and NAIA athletics.

The institution became financially non-viable as an independent entity and announced a transformative partnership with Jessup University in Fall 2023. On May 1, 2024, Multnomah ceased independent operations and reopened as the Multnomah Campus of Jessup University under a teach-out agreement running through April 30, 2027. The core technology stack consists of standard university learning management and administrative systems with no proprietary AI, software, or platform features disclosed. Customer acquisition follows a direct-to-consumer enrollment model, with marketing conducted through the official website (multnomah.edu), email communications, and digital feedback forms targeting prospective undergraduate and graduate students seeking faith-integrated higher education.

Post-transition, the business model is being restructured: undergraduate on-ground classes, NAIA athletics, and the MA in Counseling program are being discontinued after Spring 2025, and the Portland campus is pivoting to seminary and graduate education anchored by Multnomah Biblical Seminary of Jessup University. Jessup Global, headquartered in Portland since Fall 2024, provides online and international distribution. Multiple teach-out agreements with Biola, Corban, George Fox, Pacific, Western Seminary, and Warner Pacific University create external continuation pathways for displaced students. The remaining Multnomah entity is therefore a shrinking, graduate-focused subsidiary of Jessup University rather than a standalone growth company.

Name

Multnomah University

Legal name

Multnomah University

Website

https://multnomah.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Multnomah University was a private Christian university in Portland, Oregon that ceased independent operations on May 1, 2024 and now operates as the Multnomah Campus of Jessup University, offering seminary and graduate programs alongside Jessup Global online education through a teach-out arrangement running through April 2027.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Higher Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM), Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA), Missionary Training Colleges & Schools (EDAHAKAF)

Keywords

• Christian higher education
• Theological seminary
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate theological education
• Faith-based education

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Traditional tuition-based revenue model for undergraduate and graduate programs. Tuition and fees remained unchanged for the current academic year during transition. Jessup honored Multnomah institutional scholarships and tuition discounts for transitioning students.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Multnomah University, now operating as the Multnomah Campus of Jessup University, delivers Christ-centered higher education programs including bachelor's degrees in Bible and Theology, Biology, Business Administration, Exercise Science, Leadership, and Psychology, along with graduate degrees such as the MA in Counseling (CACREP-accredited) and MA in Global Development and Justice. The institution also operates Multnomah Biblical Seminary, providing faith-integrated theological and ministry education through on-ground, online (Jessup Online), and international (Jessup Global) delivery channels.

Product overview

Multnomah University, now operating as the Multnomah Campus of Jessup University, offers a portfolio of undergraduate and graduate programs primarily focused on Christian higher education. The core educational offerings include the Multnomah Biblical Seminary of Jessup University (providing Christ-centered theological education), Jessup Global (international education and online platform), and Jessup Online (alternative online delivery). Undergraduate programs span Bible and Theology, Biology, Business Administration, Exercise Science, Leadership, and Psychology. Graduate offerings include MA in Counseling (CACREP-accredited, to be discontinued after Spring 2025) and MA in Global Development and Justice. The Portland Campus is transitioning to focus on seminary and graduate education while undergraduate on-ground classes will relocate to Jessup Online or the Rocklin Campus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Multnomah Biblical Seminary of Jessup University

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Warner Pacific UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Teach-out partner for 2025 cohort located in Portland, Oregon. Offers matching degrees in Biological Science, Business Administration, Kinesiology, and Psychology. Updated teach-out agreement signed February 2025.
• Oregon Higher Education Coordinating CommissionminorOthers · 1 May 2024State regulatory body providing information on tuition recovery fund for students affected by school closure. Contact for eligibility criteria and additional resources.
• Biola UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Teach-out partner for 2024 cohort providing degree completion options for Multnomah students. Teach-out agreement finalized March 2024. Location in La Mirada, California.
• Corban UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Teach-out partner in Salem, Oregon offering matching degrees in Bible and Theology, Biology, Business Administration, Kinesiology/Exercise Science, Psychology, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Teach-out agreements for both undergraduate and graduate programs.
• George Fox UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Teach-out partner with locations in Newberg, Oregon and Portland, Oregon. Offers matching degrees in Theology, Biology, Business Administration, Athletic Training, Christian Ministry, Psychology, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Undergraduate, graduate, and seminary agreements.
• Pacific UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Teach-out partner located in Forest Grove, Oregon. Provides transfer pathways for Multnomah undergraduate and graduate students to complete degrees.
• Western SeminarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Teach-out partner for Master of Counseling students located in Portland, Oregon. Continuing education pathway for graduate counseling program students. Contact: Andrew Hedinger, Director of Admissions.
• Jessup UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Transformative partnership announced Fall 2023 to join Multnomah with Jessup University. Multnomah Campus of Jessup University continues legacy of faith-integrated education. Jessup accepting all Multnomah credits without cap for covered students. Tuition rates locked for MU Legacy students through Spring 2027.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Biola University: Private Christian university in La Mirada, California with comparable Bible/theology, sciences, business, and graduate programs. A teach-out partner for Multnomah's 2024 cohort and a broadly comparable evangelical higher-ed peer.
• Warner Pacific University: Portland-based Christian university offering Biological Science, Business Administration, Kinesiology, and Psychology — the same undergraduate programs Multnomah is discontinuing. Direct local competitor and teach-out partner updated Feb 2025.
• Corban University: Faith-based university in Salem, Oregon offering Bible/Theology, Biology, Business, Kinesiology, Psychology, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling — the exact program set Multnomah students are being taught out into. Most direct academic peer in the Pacific Northwest.
• Seattle Pacific University: Seattle-based Christian university with comparable undergraduate, seminary-adjacent, and counseling programs. Closest geographic competitor outside Oregon for faith-integrated higher education.
• George Fox University: Christian university with Newberg and Portland, Oregon locations offering Theology, Biology, Business, Athletic Training, Christian Ministry, Psychology, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling — a teach-out partner and direct competitor for Multnomah's program mix in the same geography.
• Western Seminary: Portland-based ATS-accredited seminary and the teach-out partner for Multnomah's MA in Counseling cohort. Direct peer in theological and counseling graduate education in the same metro.
• Northwest Christian University (now Bushnell University): Eugene, Oregon-based Christian university offering Bible/theology, education, business, and counseling programs. Direct peer in the Pacific Northwest evangelical higher-education segment.

Broad incumbents

• Azusa Pacific University: Large private Christian university in California with broad undergraduate, seminary, and online offerings — comparable in mission and program breadth to what Multnomah was prior to its contraction.
• Jessup University: Parent institution that absorbed Multnomah. Comparable as a private, faith-based, NWCCU- and ATS-accredited university offering undergraduate, seminary, and online programs — directly overlapping with Multnomah's prior portfolio.

Regional players

• Pacific University: Forest Grove, Oregon university providing transfer and teach-out pathways for Multnomah undergraduates and graduates. Comparable as a regional private institution in the Pacific Northwest with overlapping programs.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/multnomahu
• Facebookfacebook.com/239551189415012
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/multnomah-university

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Multnomah University