Keystone College
Keystone College is a private nonprofit higher education institution in Northeastern Pennsylvania serving approximately 1,100 students across 50+ associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs, differentiated by affordability, a 10:1 faculty ratio, and a job-placement guarantee.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1868
- HeadquartersLa Plume, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Keystone College does
Keystone College is a private, nonprofit higher education institution founded in 1868 and headquartered on a 276-acre campus in La Plume, Northeastern Pennsylvania, serving approximately 1,100 students (roughly 800 on-campus plus online/graduate) across 50+ associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs. Programs are organized into two academic schools—the Turock School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Professional Studies—with notable graduate offerings in business administration, criminal justice, wildlife biology, education, accountancy, and sport leadership. The institution differentiates on affordability (positioned as the most affordable private college in NEPA), a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, The Keystone Promise (job or graduate school placement within six months of graduation), and a social mobility mission with 41% first-generation college students and ~100% receiving financial aid.
The business model is tuition-driven, with revenue streams spanning undergraduate tuition and fees, graduate tuition and fees (including a new competency-based MBA launching Fall 2026, the first in the region), continuing education and professional development, and auxiliary services such as dining, bookstore, and on-campus retail tenants. Distribution channels include the Office of Admissions, the Keystone College Virtual Campus (KCVC) for online learners, the Professional Development Institute for workforce training, an eCampus textbook partnership, summer/youth programs, and recurring community partnerships. The institution holds MSCHE accreditation (reaffirmed February 27, 2026) and IACBE specialized business accreditation, and contributes approximately $16 million annually to the local economy through 25,000 service hours, $9 million in payroll, and $430,000 in student spending.
On May 30, 2025, Keystone College completed a merger with the Washington Institute for Education and Research (WIER), a nonprofit formed to support higher education, restructuring as Keystone College LLC with WIER as sole member. The institution is led by President John F. Pullo, Sr., the twelfth president and first alumnus to serve in the role, appointed in May 2023. Operational footprint includes the main La Plume campus, the Thomas G. Cupillari '60 Astronomical Observatory in Fleetville, and a 170-acre Woodlands Campus open to the public.
Keystone College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Keystone College
- Legal name
- Keystone College LLC
- Website
- https://keystone.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1868
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Keystone College is a private nonprofit higher education institution in Northeastern Pennsylvania serving approximately 1,100 students across 50+ associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs, differentiated by affordability, a 10:1 faculty ratio, and a job-placement guarantee.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Keystone College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Junior Colleges (6112)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private/Independent Community & Junior Colleges (EDAHADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Rural/Regional Community Colleges (EDAHADAK)
Keywords
Where Keystone College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- La Plume
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Keystone College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Undergraduate Tuition and Fees: Tuition revenue from undergraduate students enrolled in on-campus and online programs. Keystone College is the most affordable private college in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Financial aid, scholarships, grants, loans, and veteran benefits are used by students to fund education.
- Graduate Tuition and Fees: Revenue from graduate degree programs including MBA, MS in Criminal Justice, MS in Wildlife Biology, Master of Education in Early Childhood Education Leadership, and Master of Sport Leadership and Management.
- Student Spending and Auxiliary Services: Revenue from student on-campus spending including dining services, bookstore, and retail complex tenants (Steak n' Shake, Starbucks, Keystone Fitness, Penn East Federal Credit Union, College Green Eatery & Market).
- Continuing Education and Professional Development: Revenue from non-degree certificate programs, customized workforce training, apprenticeship programs, personal enrichment courses, and self-paced courses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Affordable Private College Education |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Keystone College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Keystone College is a private, nonprofit higher education institution offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs across two academic schools: the Turock School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Professional Studies. Programs are delivered on a 276-acre residential campus in La Plume, Pennsylvania, and online via the Keystone College Virtual Campus (KCVC). The college also provides continuing education, professional development, workforce training, apprenticeship programs, and dual-enrollment options for high school students.
Product overview
Keystone College is a private higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs through two main schools: the Turock School of Arts and Sciences (Biological & Physical Sciences, Communications, Art, Humanities, Social Sciences) and the School of Professional Studies (Business, Management, Technology, Education). The institution provides undergraduate associate and bachelor degrees, graduate master's degrees including an MBA, continuing education certificates, apprenticeship programs, and online learning through the Keystone College Virtual Campus (KCVC). Supporting facilities include the Thomas G. Cupillari Observatory, KCEEI Environmental Education Institute, Regional 3-D Center, Woodlands Campus, and student radio station WKCV-LP 103.5 FM. A notable new launch includes the competency-based MBA program for Fall 2026.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice
- Master of Science in Wildlife Biology
- Master of Education in Early Childhood Education Leadership
- Master of Accountancy (MACC)
- Master of Science in Sport Leadership and Management
- Competency-Based MBA Program
- Keystone College Virtual Campus (KCVC)
- Thomas G. Cupillari Observatory
- KCEEI - Keystone College Environmental Education Institute
- Regional 3-D Center (KC3D)
- Professional Development Institute
- Apprenticeship Programs
- Dual Enrollment/High School Programs
- WKCV-LP 103.5 FM Radio
- Keystone College Presses
- Woodlands Campus
- eCampus Online Bookstore
Quantifiable outcome
- Within six months of graduating, students will have received at least one job offer or been accepted into a transfer or graduate program (The Keystone Promise).
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Keystone College
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Keystone College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Keystone College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Pennsylvania State Police (PSP)coreKeystone College partnered with the Pennsylvania State Police to provide students with a unique pathway to complete their degree while beginning a career as a Pennsylvania State Trooper.
- Dennis Farm Charitable Land TrustcoreKeystone College is an educational partner with the Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust, hosting the annual Dennis Farm Symposium and Field Tour on campus since 2012. The Dennis Farm is a 153-acre historic farm in Susquehanna County settled by free African American ancestors of Denise Dennis.
- eCampusminorKeystone College partners with eCampus, a premier online retailer of new, used, and electronic textbooks for sale or rent. Students order textbooks online prior to the start of the semester.
- Veterans Stand TogetherminorVeterans Stand Together, a national non-profit, offers vocational programs through Keystone College. All vocational programs offer credit towards academic degrees and are grant-based at no cost for those who qualify.
- Lackawanna Trail Elementary SchoolminorKeystone College assists Lackawanna Trail Elementary students with apple orchard project, with the College's Woodlands Campus Director featured on WNEP.
- Lackawanna Astronomical SocietyminorPartnership with the Lackawanna Astronomical Society for Observatory Astronomy Day events, featured by WNEP at the Thomas G. Cupillari Observatory.
- American Red CrossminorRegularly scheduled blood drives held on campus in partnership with the American Red Cross.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Keystone College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wilkes University: Private university in Wilkes-Barre, PA, that competes for the same NEPA undergraduate market and runs comparable online MBA and graduate programs for working adults.
- Susquehanna University: Private liberal arts university in Selinsgrove, PA, similar in size and program portfolio, competing for Pennsylvania residents and out-of-region students with a similar small-college value proposition.
- King's College: Small private Catholic college in Wilkes-Barre, PA, that competes head-to-head for the same first-generation and traditional students in NEPA with a similar tuition and financial aid model.
- Marywood University: Private Catholic university in Scranton, PA, within 20 miles of Keystone. Offers similar undergraduate and graduate programs with a comparable small-college feel and regional draw.
- Misericordia University: Private Catholic university in Dallas, PA, comparable in size, mission, and program mix (health sciences, education, business) and competing in the same NEPA regional market.
- Lycoming College: Small private liberal arts college in Williamsport, PA, with comparable enrollment size, residential model, and dependence on tuition discounting and financial aid.
- University of Scranton: Jesuit university in Scranton, PA, that competes directly for the same Pennsylvania and Northeast student pool, including a large online graduate presence and similar professional/business programs.
Regional players
- Lackawanna College: Two-year private college headquartered in Scranton, PA, that competes with Keystone for local associate-degree, transfer, and adult-learner students in the same NEPA market.
- Luzerne County Community College: Public community college in Nanticoke, PA, that competes on price for the same first-generation and adult learners in NEPA, particularly for associate-degree and transfer pathways.
Emerging players
- Penn Foster: Online career and degree-granting provider headquartered in Scranton, PA, that competes with Keystone's KCVC and continuing education channels for adult, online, and workforce learners in the same region.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Keystone College social profiles
Digital presenceKeystone College compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Keystone College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Keystone College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Keystone College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Keystone College 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 Keystone College
What does Keystone College do?
Keystone College is a private, nonprofit higher education institution offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs across two academic schools: the Turock School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Professional Studies. Programs are delivered on a 276-acre residential campus in La Plume, Pennsylvania, and online via the Keystone College Virtual Campus (KCVC). The college also provides continuing education, professional development, workforce training, apprenticeship programs, and dual-enrollment options for high school students.
Is Keystone College a public or private company?
Keystone College is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Keystone College founded?
Keystone College was founded in 1868. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Keystone College based?
Keystone College is headquartered in La Plume, United States, in the North America region.
How does Keystone College make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Undergraduate Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are graduate Tuition and Fees, student Spending and Auxiliary Services and continuing Education and Professional Development.
Who are Keystone College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wilkes University, Susquehanna University, King's College, Marywood University, Misericordia University, Lycoming College and University of Scranton. Regional players are Lackawanna College and Luzerne County Community College. Penn Foster is listed as an emerging player.
Does Keystone College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Keystone College.
What industry is Keystone College in?
Keystone College's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHADAB, Private/Independent Community & Junior Colleges, with a secondary code of EDAHADAK, Rural/Regional Community Colleges. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.