Centura College

What Centura College does

Centura College is a proprietary vocational education institution headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, operating three physical campuses in the Hampton Roads region (Chesapeake, Newport News, and Norfolk). Founded in 1969 and owned by Cotulla Education through its subsidiary Cotulla AcquisitionCo LLC, the institution delivers career-focused training in two divisions: Health Science (Professional Esthetician, Master Esthetician, Medical Assistant, Medical Assistant with Limited Scope Radiologic Technology, Associate of Occupational Science in Medical Assisting, and Bachelor of Science in Operations Management) and Skilled Trades (Combination Welding, Construction Electrician, HVAC, and Electrical Lineworker Certificate). Programs range from 15-week certificates to 19-month bachelor's degrees, with the Bachelor's program delivered fully online and most diploma programs combining classroom instruction with hands-on laboratory training on campus. The college holds ACCSC institutional accreditation, U.S. Department of Education Title IV certification, NC-SARA reciprocity, SEVP authorization to enroll F-1 international students, and approval to participate in the VA Yellow Ribbon Program.

Revenue is generated through tuition and ancillary fees ($25 application fee, $100 administrative fee, $12 library fee), with the majority of tuition funded via federal Title IV financial aid (Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans), military education benefits (Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Military Tuition Assistance), and institutional scholarship programs. Additional revenue streams include textbook and tool kit sales to students. Pricing is not publicly disclosed at the per-program level. The go-to-market model is sales-led and admissions-driven, supported by a multi-channel marketing mix: SEO-optimized website with career readiness quizzes and blog content, active presence across YouTube/Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn/TikTok, a formal referral program, employer-sponsored career fairs, and on-campus recruiting with regional healthcare and skilled trades employers (Sentara, LabCorp, Patient First, NAVFAC, Duke Health, and others). Distribution occurs primarily through the three Virginia campuses plus online inquiry forms and virtual campus tours.

Centura College employs 1,001-5,000 staff and is led by CEO Jason Pfaff, with campus-level Executive Directors and program coordinators overseeing academic delivery. In October 2025, parent company Cotulla Education executed its first geographic expansion by acquiring American Lineman College in Bakersfield, California, signaling an emerging roll-up strategy for the platform. The institution has remained privately held under Cotulla Education ownership with no disclosed external funding rounds or PE backing.

Name

Centura College

Legal name

Cotulla AcquisitionCo LLC

Website

https://centuracollege.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Centura College is a privately held proprietary trade school operating three Virginia campuses, delivering career-focused diplomas and degrees in healthcare (medical assisting, esthetician) and skilled trades (welding, HVAC, electrical lineworker), funded primarily through federal Title IV aid and military GI Bill benefits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community/Tribal Two-Year Colleges (Associate Degree–Granting) (EDAHANAA)

Keywords

• Vocational education
• Healthcare training
• Skilled trades training
• Technical diploma programs
• Career-focused training

Headquarters

HQ city

Virginia Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from tuition charges for diploma, certificate, and degree programs. Additional fees include application fees ($25), administrative fees ($100), and library fees ($12). Textbooks and tool kits are sold separately to students.
2. Federal Student Financial Aid: Revenue from federal grant and loan programs including Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Subsidized Stafford Loans, and PLUS Loans through the U.S. Department of Education.
3. Military Education Benefits: Revenue from VA education benefits including Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program, and Military Tuition Assistance for active-duty personnel, veterans, and their dependents.
4. Scholarships: Institutional scholarship programs including the Scholarship Match Program that matches outside scholarships dollar-for-dollar up to 10% of program cost. Also includes Segal AmeriCorps Education Award matching.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Centura College is a private, accredited vocational school offering career-focused diploma, certificate, and degree programs in healthcare (Medical Assistant, Medical Assistant with Limited Scope Radiologic Technology, Professional and Master Esthetician, Associate of Occupational Science in Medical Assisting, Bachelor of Science in Operations Management) and skilled trades (Combination Welding, Construction Electrician, HVAC, Electrical Lineworker). Programs are delivered through three Virginia campuses in Chesapeake, Newport News, and Norfolk, combining hands-on lab training, classroom instruction, and select online course components, with durations ranging from 15 weeks to 19 months.

Product overview

Centura College is a technical and healthcare trade school offering career-focused vocational training programs across three Virginia campuses (Chesapeake, Newport News, and Norfolk). The institution's portfolio consists of two main divisions: Health Science Training programs (Professional Esthetician, Master Esthetician, Medical Assistant, Medical Assistant with Limited Scope Radiologic Technology, Associates in Medical Assisting, and Bachelor of Science in Operations Management) and Skilled Trades Training programs (Combination Welding, Construction Electrician, HVAC, and Electrical Lineworker). Programs range from short-term certificates (15 weeks) to bachelor's degrees (19 months), with most diploma programs lasting 7-15 months. The school emphasizes hands-on training, industry certifications, and career placement services. Centura College is owned by Cotulla Education and has operated career training programs since 1969, with recent expansion through the acquisition of American Lineman College in October 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Esthetician Diploma A 7-month diploma program training students in fundamental skincare practices, treatments, and client communication, with preparation for the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology licensing exam. Offered at the Chesapeake campus.
• Master Esthetician Diploma A 27-week (7-month) advanced diploma program building on Professional Esthetician training, covering advanced skin care, microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, chemical peels, lymphatic drainage, and preparation for master-level state licensing. Offered at the Chesapeake campus.
• Medical Assistant Diploma A 12-month diploma program (36 credit hours through 12 courses) preparing students for clinical and administrative medical assistant roles. Covers medical terminology, anatomy, phlebotomy, laboratory procedures, and certification exam preparation. Offered at Newport News, Norfolk, and Chesapeake campuses.
• Medical Assistant with Limited Scope Radiologic Technology Diploma A 15-month diploma program combining medical assisting training with X-ray techniques, preparing students for certification as medical assistants and eligibility for the ARRT Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography exam.
• Associate of Occupational Science in Medical Assisting A 15-month (65 weeks) associate degree program offering 60 credit hours through 17 courses, covering anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, pharmacology, and clinical procedures for medical assisting careers, with online course components for flexible learning.
• Bachelor of Science in Operations Management A 19-month (120 total credits) bachelor's degree with two concentrations: Allied Health Management (for healthcare leadership roles) and Operations Management (for general industry management positions). Fully online delivery with 60 transfer credits accepted.
• Combination Welding Diploma An 8-month diploma program (33 weeks, 24 credit hours) covering welding techniques including SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW (TIG), blueprint reading, and AWS qualification preparation. Offered at the Newport News campus.
• Construction Electrician Diploma A 12-month diploma program (48 weeks, 36 credit hours) covering electrical theory, wiring methods, blueprint reading, PLC programming, and OSHA 10-hour certification. Prepares students for entry-level roles in electrical contracting and construction. Offered at Norfolk and Newport News campuses.
• Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Diploma A 12-month diploma program (48 weeks, 36 credit hours) providing training in mechanical, electrical, and airflow HVAC systems. Includes preparation for EPA Section 608 and OSHA certifications. Offered at the Newport News campus.
• Electrical Lineworker Certificate A 15-week certificate program (15 credits) training students in electrical fundamentals, pole climbing, safety protocols, CPR, and field operations. Includes OSHA 10-Hour certification preparation. Offered at the Norfolk campus.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,600 new healthcare openings projected in Hampton Roads region (2025-2030)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Virginia Career Works Hampton Roads RegionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development partnership under the Workforce Investment Opportunity Act (WIOA) providing training support for eligible students.
• Peninsula Council of Workforce DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development partnership providing WIOA training support for eligible students at Newport News campus.
• Hampton Roads Workforce CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional workforce development council partnership supporting workforce training initiatives.
• WINDSdaysminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWind industry workforce development initiative partnership at Norfolk campus.
• National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCER certification and training standards partnership at Norfolk campus for construction and skilled trades programs.
• Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)minorOthersSEVP-certified campus authorized to enroll international students on F-1 visas.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Miller-Motte College: Proprietary career college offering diploma and degree programs in healthcare, business, and trades across the southeastern U.S. Similar proprietary education model, Title IV reliance, and career-focused positioning.
• ECPI University: Virginia-headquartered proprietary institution offering healthcare, technology, and trades programs across multiple campuses. Directly comparable as a for-profit career college serving similar Hampton Roads/Virginia market with overlapping healthcare and skilled trades offerings.
• American National University: Proprietary institution offering associate, bachelor's, and certificate programs in healthcare, business, and information technology across multiple states. Comparable as a Title IV-funded, multi-campus career college with similar student demographics.
• Universal Technical Institute: Publicly traded provider of technical training for the transportation and skilled trades industries, including welding, HVAC, and electrical. Comparable in proprietary status, Title IV reliance, and employer-aligned curriculum.
• South College: Proprietary institution operating in Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia offering nursing, healthcare, and business programs. Comparable in proprietary status, regional multi-campus footprint, and healthcare-skewed program mix.
• Fortis College: Multi-campus proprietary institution owned by Education Affiliates, offering nursing, medical assisting, HVAC, welding, and electrical programs. Direct competitor in the same diploma-and-certificate vocational education category.
• Platt College: Proprietary institution offering diploma and degree programs in healthcare, business, and technical fields across multiple states. Comparable in proprietary status, healthcare-skewed curriculum, and employer-aligned outcomes orientation.
• Lincoln Educational Services: Publicly traded operator of Lincoln Tech campuses, focused on skilled trades and allied health programs including welding, HVAC, electrical, and medical assisting. Closest publicly traded peer to Centura's program mix and employer-driven value proposition.

Broad incumbents

• Perdoceo Education Corporation: Publicly traded parent of American InterContinental University and Colorado Technical University. Larger diversified for-profit education operator with exposure to healthcare, business, and IT programs; comparable business model and regulatory exposure.

Regional players

• Tidewater Community College: Virginia public community college serving the Hampton Roads region with workforce credentials in healthcare, welding, HVAC, and electrical. Operates in the same geography as Centura but as a public, lower-cost alternative that competes directly on price.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CenturaCollege
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/centuracollegeHRVA
• Facebookfacebook.com/centuracollegeedu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centura-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/centuracollege
• TikToktiktok.com/@centuracollege

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Centura College