Ecclesia College

What Ecclesia College does

Ecclesia College is a private, Christ-centered higher education institution founded in 1975 by Dr. Oren Paris Sr. on a 10-acre chicken farm in Springdale, Arkansas, now operating across a 200+ acre campus. The institution delivers associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degree programs through two primary channels: an on-campus residential experience at the Springdale headquarters (9653 Nations Drive) and EC Online, a distance-education platform built on the Populi learning management system. Supporting sub-brands include Ecclesia Prep (homeschool electives and community), Early College Pathway (concurrent credit for high school students), the Ecclesia Royals athletics program, and Royal Roast, a student-run on-campus coffee shop launched in August 2023 as a Work-Learning venue.

The college's core academic technology is Populi, a third-party student information and LMS system accessed at ecollege.populiweb.com; tuition and fee payments are processed via GivingFuel. There are no proprietary AI/ML systems or patented technologies. The distinctive operational model is the federally recognized Work-Learning-Service program, in which students complete at least 12 hours per week of campus work (35,691 combined student hours in 2023-2024 and 30,155 in 2024-2025 across 105-113 students) to offset tuition while building professional skills.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees, supplemented by a Matching Church Scholarship program (Ecclesia matches church contributions up to $750 per semester), auxiliary operations such as Royal Roast, and student labor that functions as an internal cost-offset rather than external revenue. The institution is ABHE-accredited (last comprehensive reaffirmation review April 2-4, 2019), independently governed by a Board of Governance (Chairman Chris Kohlman), and led by President Dr. Randall Bell, a former ABHE executive appointed April 2018. The customer base is comprised of individual students and families in five segments: traditional undergraduates, graduate students, online/distance learners, concurrent-enrollment high school students, and homeschool families.

Name

Ecclesia College

Legal name

Ecclesia College

Website

https://ecollege.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Ecclesia College is a private Christ-centered college in Springdale, Arkansas, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees on-campus and online, distinguished by a federally recognized Work-Learning program that requires students to work 12+ hours weekly to offset tuition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Divinity Schools (University-Affiliated) (EDAHAKAC), Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA), Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI)

Keywords

• Christian higher education
• Biblical higher education
• Work-learning programs
• Online degree programs
• Homeschool support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Springdale

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Traditional tuition revenue from undergraduate and graduate programs. The college charges tuition for both on-campus and online programs. 57% of undergraduates receive federal student loans. Median federal student loan debt for completers is $13,019.
2. Matching Church Scholarship Program: Church partners contribute scholarships which Ecclesia matches up to $750 per semester ($1,500 annually). This creates a diversified funding model involving church partnerships and institutional matching.
3. Work-Learning Student Labor: Students work on campus (35,691 combined work hours 2023-2024; 30,155 combined work hours 2024-2025) providing operational labor while gaining professional experience. This offsets student tuition costs.
4. Student Account Payments: Direct tuition payment portal where students and families make payments including special fees (graduation fee $120), tuition payments, and other educational charges

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ecclesia College is a private Christian higher education institution offering associate, bachelor's, and graduate degree programs with biblical integration across all disciplines. Programs are delivered on-campus at the Springdale, Arkansas campus and remotely through EC Online, and are paired with a federally recognized Work-Learning program that requires students to work at least 12 hours per week on campus to build practical skills and offset tuition costs. Supporting offerings include concurrent-credit courses for high school students (Early College Pathway), a homeschool support program (Ecclesia Prep), and a student-run coffee shop (Royal Roast).

Product overview

Ecclesia College is a private Christ-centered higher education institution in Springdale, Arkansas, offering a portfolio of undergraduate and graduate degree programs primarily through two delivery channels: on-campus programs at its 200+ acre campus and EC Online for remote learners. The institution's distinct differentiator is its federally recognized Work-Learning program, in which students work at least 12 hours per week on campus to build practical skills while offsetting tuition costs. Supporting the core academic offerings are the Early College Pathway (concurrent credit for high school students), Ecclesia Prep (homeschool support), and Royal Roast (a student-run coffee shop launched in August 2023 as part of Work-Learning). Athletics (Ecclesia Royals) and various spiritual life programs including weekly assemblies and mission trips round out the student experience. The institution has been experiencing a campus-wide spiritual revival since late 2024, with numerous baptisms and student faith commitments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ecclesia Prep: A program offering electives, extracurricular activities, and community opportunities that support and complement Christian homeschool families. Students may also take concurrent courses through Ecclesia College.
• Royal Roast

Products and services

• On-Campus Undergraduate Programs Associate and bachelor's degree programs delivered at the Springdale, Arkansas campus, designed to help students grow academically, professionally, and spiritually within a Christ-centered environment with an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio and the Work-Learning program.
• EC Online Online undergraduate and graduate degree programs allowing students to pursue education remotely, with asynchronous coursework, electronic transcripts, library resources, an academic calendar, online course schedules, and technical requirements outlined for online learning.
• Graduate Programs Graduate degree programs for students seeking deeper preparation for ministry, leadership, teaching, and Christian thought, available both on-campus and online.
• Early College Pathway (ECP) Concurrent credit program allowing high school students to earn college credit while still enrolled in high school, providing an early start on their college education and a smoother transition to degree completion.
• Ecclesia Prep Electives, extracurricular activities, and community opportunities for Christian homeschool families that complement Christian homeschool education, with the option for students to take concurrent courses through Ecclesia College.
• Royal Roast On-campus student-run coffee shop opened in August 2023 inside the Dome on campus, operating as part of the Work-Learning program. Serves espresso drinks, lattes, and specialty coffee using KYYA syrups, with mural artwork by Ecclesia College alum Emma Lasse.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cross Church (Springdale)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal church partnership instrumental in student spiritual development. Cross Church has been key in baptism services for Ecclesia students, with five students baptized at their Fayetteville campus. Coach Griffin Smith is a member, and the church created a video highlighting the campus spiritual revival.
• 7 BrewminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCoffee shop chain located near campus. Students previously relied on 7 Brew for coffee before Royal Roast opened on campus.
• KYYAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal chocolate company providing syrups and sauces for Royal Roast coffee shop, supporting local business community partnerships.
• GO MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlumni Isaac Carlson serves as Director of Sports Medicine with GO Sports ministry in Dominican Republic. GO Ministries has been operating for 34 years focusing on Medical, Sports, and Church Planting ministries.
• Emma LasseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcclesia College alumna who created hand-painted mural artwork for Royal Roast coffee shop, providing artistic expertise for campus facilities.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bryan College: Dayton, Tennessee evangelical Christian college offering undergraduate and graduate programs with biblical integration. Comparable in Christ-centered mission, small-college scale, and faith-integrated curriculum.
• Mid-America Christian University: Oklahoma City-based Pentecostal/charismatic Christian university offering undergraduate and graduate ministry programs. Comparable in faith-based mission, regional Arkansas/Oklahoma geography, and small private-college profile.
• Heritage Christian University: Florence, Alabama-based Bible college affiliated with the Church of Christ, offering ministry and theological degrees. Closely comparable in scale, religious mission, and small private college structure to Ecclesia.
• Moody Bible Institute: Chicago-based Bible college and theological seminary offering undergraduate and graduate programs rooted in biblical higher education. Closely comparable to Ecclesia on faith-based mission, theological curriculum, and small-college scale.
• College of the Ozarks: Point Lookout, Missouri private Christian college operating a mandatory student work program (the 'Hard Work U.' model). Directly comparable to Ecclesia's Work-Learning differentiation in both faith-based mission and work-to-offset-tuition structure.
• Central Christian College of the Bible: Small Moberly, Missouri Bible college focused on ministry and biblical studies training. Highly comparable in size, mission, ABHE-style accreditation, and target student segment to Ecclesia College.
• Welch College: Free Will Baptist Bible college in Gallatin, Tennessee, offering undergraduate ministry and theological education. Comparable small-scale Christ-centered college with similar denominational-adjacent positioning and ABHE-accredited programs.

Broad incumbents

• Bob Jones University: Greenville, South Carolina fundamentalist Christian university offering K-12 through graduate programs with biblical integration. Larger, more established peer operating in the same conservative evangelical higher-education segment Ecclesia targets.
• Liberty University: Largest evangelical university in the U.S., with extensive online undergraduate and graduate programs in ministry and theology. Direct competitor for Ecclesia's EC Online channel and a primary incumbent shaping price expectations in faith-based higher education.
• Oral Roberts University: Larger Tulsa, Oklahoma charismatic Christian university with broader academic offerings and stronger online programs. Competes with Ecclesia in the ministry/Christian-thought graduate segment, particularly for EC Online students in the region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ecclesiacollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/112461092133277
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecclesiacollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecclesia-college

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Ecclesia College