Maitripa Institute

What Maitripa Institute does

Maitripa Institute, doing business as Maitripa College, is a private nonprofit Buddhist graduate institution headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and the only accredited Buddhist graduate program in the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 2004/2005 by Yangsi Rinpoche and affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), the college delivers a low-residency hybrid model combining periodic in-person residencies at the Portland campus, anchored by the Jokhang Meditation Hall and the James A. Blumenthal Library (5,400+ titles), with online coursework delivered through the Rejoice student portal. Its core academic products are the MA in Applied Buddhism (44 credits at $494/credit) and the MDiv with a Buddhist Chaplaincy concentration (72 credits at $494/credit), supported by a Continuing Education program, a community events calendar, and the Maitripa Rabjungma Community formation pathway for women pursuing ordination. The three-pillar pedagogy integrates scholarship, meditation, and service across all programs.

The institution's revenue model blends tuition, donations, and planned giving. Per-credit tuition of $494 is priced below half the average private graduate rate, and the college deliberately opts out of federal financial aid (FAFSA) to avoid a mandated 15% tuition increase. Revenue streams include graduate tuition (with monthly payment plans), non-degree continuing education fees (with a 10% senior discount), Mandala Membership recurring contributions, and charitable donations supporting the Student Scholarship Fund, Research Library Fund, Maitripa Endowment Fund, and the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Endowed Chair in Tibetan Buddhist Studies. Full tuition scholarships are provided for ordained sangha (monks and nuns), and alumni may audit classes tuition-free.

The go-to-market approach is community-led rather than performance-marketed: prospective students are reached through Buddhist center networks, FPMT affiliations, and word-of-mouth referrals within the spiritual community, supplemented by the Maitripa College Podcast (34+ episodes), the Lapis digital journal, email newsletters, and public community events. The institution holds Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) accreditation and is undergoing a planned Fall 2027 transition of both graduate programs to a new low-residency model that emphasizes flexible online and hybrid formats, signaling an intent to broaden geographic reach while maintaining contemplative and lineage-rooted rigor.

Name

Maitripa Institute

Legal name

Maitripa College

Website

https://maitripa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Maitripa College is a nonprofit, DEAC-accredited Buddhist graduate institution in Portland, Oregon, offering low-residency MA and MDiv programs, continuing education, and ordination formation, primarily serving students within the FPMT-affiliated Tibetan Buddhist community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Buddhist Higher Education / Graduate Religious Studies

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Buddhist Monastic Universities & Dharma Colleges (EDAHAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Buddhist graduate education
• Contemplative higher education
• Buddhist chaplaincy training
• Low-residency degree programs
• Religious studies programs

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

Revenue model

1. Graduate Tuition: Per-credit tuition for MA and MDiv degree programs. MA in Applied Buddhism costs $494/credit with 44 total credits ($18,054 total). MDiv costs $494/credit with 72 total credits ($36,480 total). Additional term fees of $150 per term.
2. Continuing Education: Non-degree courses and certificates open to all students at various price points. 10% tuition reduction for students 60+.
3. Donations and Planned Giving: Charitable contributions through wills, living trusts, retirement plan beneficiaries, and life insurance policies. Funds support Student Scholarship Fund, Research Library Fund, and Maitripa Endowment Fund.
4. Mandala Membership: Recurring membership program supporting the college with monthly contributions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Maitripa Institute (Maitripa College) delivers accredited graduate-level Buddhist education through a low-residency model, offering a Master of Arts in Applied Buddhism (MAAB, 44 credits) and a Master of Divinity in Buddhist Chaplaincy (MDiv, 72 credits), alongside non-degree Continuing Education courses. Programs combine periodic in-person residencies in Portland, Oregon with online coursework, integrating scholarship, meditation practice, and community service rooted in the Tibetan Buddhist Nalanda tradition.

Product overview

Maitripa College offers the only Buddhist graduate programs in the Pacific Northwest, grounded in three pillars of scholarship, meditation, and service. The institution provides a Master of Arts in Applied Buddhism (MAAB), a Master of Divinity (MDiv) with Buddhist Chaplaincy focus, and Continuing Education courses. The MAAB is a low-residency, cohort-based program integrating Buddhist wisdom into professional and personal life. The MDiv is a contemplative degree preparing graduates for spiritual care in healthcare, hospice, and community settings. Supporting offerings include the James A. Blumenthal Library (5,400+ titles), the Maitripa College Podcast, Lapis digital journal, Community Program with public practices and events, the Rabjungma Community for women's Buddhist ordination formation, the Rejoice online student portal, and grief support groups. In Fall 2027, both graduate programs will transition to new low-residency models combining online and hybrid formats. The institution is located in Portland, Oregon and is affiliated with FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rejoice: Student portal unifying access to all student services including contact with chaplain, advisor, registrar, librarian, technical support, tuition inquiries, and online class access.
• Maitripa Rabjungma Community
• James A. Blumenthal Library

Products and services

• MA in Applied Buddhism (MAAB) A low-residency, cohort-based master's degree program integrating scholarship, meditation, and service within the Nalanda Buddhist tradition. Designed for individuals seeking graduate-level Buddhist studies or professional development without full-time relocation; 44 credits at $494/credit.
• MDiv - Buddhist Chaplaincy A contemplative Master of Divinity degree preparing graduates for spiritual care in healthcare, hospice, and community settings, with Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) integration. Designed for individuals pursuing Buddhist chaplaincy careers; 72 credits at $494/credit.
• Continuing Education Program Non-degree courses, certificates, and lifelong learning opportunities open to all individuals regardless of academic standing, allowing deepening of Buddhist practice at any stage of life. Includes a 10% tuition reduction for students aged 60+.
• Rabjungma Community Lineage-rooted formation pathway for women pursuing Buddhist ordination and long-term spiritual leadership, integrating rigorous study, Vinaya training, contemplative practice, retreat, and communal life within the Nalanda tradition.
• Buddhist Spiritual Care Grief Support Group Monthly facilitated sharing and listening circle centered on grief, integrating contemplative practices and compassionate presence for those experiencing loss.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of alumni report deepened contemplative practice
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 core and minor.

• FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaitripa College is affiliated with FPMT, an international organization dedicated to the preservation of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. This affiliation provides lineage connection, access to FPMT's global network of Buddhist centers, and alignment with FPMT's educational mission. Yangsi Rinpoche serves as both college President and FPMT teacher.
• Portland State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on secular ethics education. Maitripa faculty have taught at Portland State University, and the institutions have cross-institutional engagement including joint educational programs.
• Deer Park Buddhist CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYangsi Rinpoche served as resident teacher at Deer Park Buddhist Center in Madison, Wisconsin for five years. The center has historical connection to Maitripa College through Rinpoche's teaching history.
• Ganden Shedrup Ling Buddhist CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYangsi Rinpoche serves as Spiritual Director of this Buddhist center in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• Dharma Friendship FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYangsi Rinpoche serves as Spiritual Director of this Buddhist center in Seattle, Washington.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT): International network affiliated with Maitripa College, running its own online learning programs (Lamrim, Basic Program, Masters Program). Comparable as a parent network offering Buddhist study programs that may overlap with Maitripa's offerings; not a competing degree-granting institution but a strategic partner.

Broad incumbents

• Harvard Divinity School: Major graduate theological school at Harvard University offering multi-religious studies including Buddhist studies and chaplaincy. Comparable as a top-tier U.S. institution offering graduate-level religious studies with Buddhist and chaplaincy tracks, but operating at much larger scale than Maitripa.
• Graduate Theological Union: Interfaith consortium in Berkeley, California offering graduate degrees across multiple religious traditions including Buddhist studies with affiliated faculty. Comparable as a U.S. multi-tradition graduate theological institution offering Buddhist and chaplaincy pathways at a broader scale.

Direct peers

• Dongguk University Los Angeles: Los Angeles campus of Dongguk University offering graduate Buddhist studies rooted in Korean Seon (Zen) tradition. Comparable as a U.S. graduate institution offering accredited degrees in Buddhist studies with chaplaincy orientation.
• Institute of Buddhist Studies: Graduate theological school in Berkeley, California focused on Buddhist studies and chaplaincy training, affiliated with the Sōtō Zen tradition and Pacific School of Religion. Directly comparable as an accredited U.S. institution offering graduate degrees in Buddhist studies with chaplaincy pathways.
• University of the West: Private university in Los Angeles offering graduate degrees in Buddhist studies and chaplaincy with a low-residency/hybrid model. Closely comparable as a U.S. accredited Buddhist-aligned graduate institution serving working professionals interested in chaplaincy and applied Buddhist learning.
• Naropa University: Private contemplative university in Boulder, Colorado founded by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche with contemplative education and graduate chaplaincy programs. Comparable because it offers graduate-level contemplative and chaplaincy training in the U.S. with a Buddhist-foundation lineage.
• Soka University of America: Private liberal arts university in Aliso Viejo, California founded on Nichiren Buddhist principles. Comparable as a U.S. accredited higher-education institution with a Buddhist-foundation identity serving graduate and undergraduate students.

Emerging players

• Upaya Zen Center: Zen training center in Santa Fe, New Mexico offering chaplaincy training and contemplative education programs. Comparable because it trains Buddhist chaplains and offers contemplative professional formation, though not offering accredited graduate degrees directly.
• Spirit Rock Meditation Center: Insight Meditation (Theravada) center in Woodacre, California offering teacher training and contemplative programs. Comparable as a U.S. Buddhist organization offering ongoing education and training programs that overlap with Maitripa's continuing education category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXq3
• Xx.com/MaitripaCollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/MaitripaCollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maitripa-college

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 Maitripa Institute