What Bryn Athyn College does

Bryn Athyn College of the New Church is a private, nonprofit liberal arts college founded in 1877 and located on a 130-acre campus 14 miles north of Center City Philadelphia in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania. It is governed by a Board of Trustees under parent organization Academy of the New Church and connected to the General Church of the New Jerusalem. The college delivers undergraduate majors across Biology, Business, Computer Science, Education, English, Psychology, Religion, and related fields, alongside graduate programs including Master of Arts in Religious Studies, Master of Divinity, and Master of Special Education. It maintains an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class size of 14, with 100% of students participating in experiential learning; 94% receive financial aid.

The institution operates on a tuition-and-fees revenue model supplemented by alumni donations (managed via Institutional Advancement, including the Founders' Giving Society at $500+) and modest auxiliary revenue from campus dining (1877 Cafe), residence life, fitness, and a newly launched online branded-merchandise store. Its core product is education; its principal differentiator is a focus on a New Church approach grounded in Emanuel Swedenborg's theological writings, supported by the Swedenborg Library — the world's largest collection of Swedenborgiana and New Church materials, including first editions, a recreation of Swedenborg's personal library, and ~1,500 linear feet of Academy archives, partially exposed via a digital collections platform initiated in 2007. Auxiliary services include the Academic Success Center, Career and Experiential Education, Institute for Swedenborg Studies, and an Alumni Association.

The college's operating geography is single-country domestic for instruction, though its digital archive, online store, and Lifelong Learning programming support a global New Church community. Recent restructuring — cutting 11 varsity athletic programs and 20 full-time positions in March 2025 to address deficit and declining endowment — was followed by Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaffirmation of accreditation in March 2026 and a spring 2026 launch of an online campus store, indicating a defensive repositioning with capital-light revenue diversification.

Name

Bryn Athyn College

Legal name

Bryn Athyn College of the New Church

Website

http://www.brynathyn.edu/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1877

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bryn Athyn College is a private, nonprofit liberal arts college founded in 1877 in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, serving undergraduate and graduate students through a New Church theological curriculum anchored by the world's largest Swedenborgiana library collection.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Liberal Arts)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Liberal arts education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate programs
• Theological studies
• Higher education

Headquarters

HQ city

Bryn Athyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from undergraduate and graduate tuition, with 94% of students receiving financial aid.
2. Campus Store and Online Merchandise: Revenue from officially branded apparel and merchandise through on-campus store and new online store launched in 2026.
3. Gifts and Donations: Financial contributions from alumni and friends through one-time gifts, recurring donations, stock gifts, and planned giving. Institutional Advancement office manages fundraising including Founders' Giving Society ($500+ donors) and Student Scholarship Golf Outing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bryn Athyn College is a private liberal arts college delivering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the liberal arts, sciences, business, education, and theology, with a distinctive New Church (Swedenborgian) spiritual foundation. It also operates the world-renowned Swedenborg Library and its New Church Digital Collections, plus supporting services such as campus dining, residence life, an alumni association, and a branded campus store (now with a global online storefront).

Product overview

Bryn Athyn College is a small, private liberal arts college founded in 1877, offering undergraduate and graduate programs grounded in New Church theology. The institution provides undergraduate majors across liberal arts disciplines (Biology, Business, Computer Science, Education, English, Psychology, Religion) and graduate programs including Master of Arts in Religious Studies, Master of Divinity, and Master of Special Education. Supporting the academic mission are research resources including the Swedenborg Library with its renowned Swedenborgiana and New Church collections, and the New Church Digital Collections project. The college also operates auxiliary services including Campus Dining (1877 Cafe), Campus Store with recently launched online e-commerce platform, Fitness Center, and Residence Life facilities. Student development services encompass Career and Experiential Education (internships, study abroad), the Ethical Foundations Honors Program, Institute for Swedenborg Studies with free online courses, and the Academic Success Center. The Alumni Association provides ongoing connection, networking, and lifelong learning opportunities for graduates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs Liberal arts undergraduate education offering majors in Biology, Business, Computer Science, Education, English, Psychology, Religion, and more, with average class size of 14 students, designed for students seeking a small, values-based college experience.
• Graduate Programs Graduate-level programs including Master of Arts in Religious Studies, Master of Divinity, and Master of Special Education, plus articulation agreements for counseling psychology, education, and business administration degrees, for adult learners seeking advanced theological or special education credentials.
• Swedenborg Library Research library holding more resources on Emanuel Swedenborg and the New Church than any other library in the world, including collections of Swedenborg's publications, New Church literature, and the Academy Archives, serving scholars, students, and visiting researchers.
• New Church Digital Collections Digital archive of correspondence, photographs, manuscripts, books, journals, maps and other materials documenting the history of the New Church, organized into three collections: Swedenborgiana, New Church Literature, and New Church History, providing online access to global researchers and the public.
• Online Campus Store E-commerce platform launched in spring 2026 offering officially branded Bryn Athyn College apparel and merchandise shipped globally to students, alumni, and supporters.
• Campus Store On-campus retail store located in the College Center offering officially branded apparel and merchandise, with student attendants, serving enrolled students.
• Institute for Swedenborg Studies Institute offering free online courses and research resources focused on Swedenborg and New Church theological studies, accessible to a global audience of lifelong learners.
• Summer Camp - Tools for Life Summer camp program offering tools for life skills and personal development for youth participants on the Bryn Athyn campus.
• Career and Experiential Education Experiential learning programs including internships, study abroad opportunities in France, Germany, and Scotland, service learning, and career education and development, available to enrolled students.
• Campus Dining Campus dining services including the 1877 Cafe operated by Allen Bread Co., with meal plans available for enrolled students.
• Alumni Association BACNC Alumni Association providing networking, resources, career services, lifelong learning programming, and connection opportunities for graduates.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio (vs. national average ~15:1)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Duquesne UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership agreement enabling seamless transfer pathways and collaborative academic programs between Bryn Athyn College and Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. Partnership announced January 2021, expanding educational opportunities for students.
• Albright CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing seamless transfer pathway for student-athletes following the restructuring of Bryn Athyn's athletics program. Enables student-athletes to continue their academic and athletic pursuits at Albright College.
• Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Exploration (NetVUE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBACNC received $50,000 NetVUE program development grant for vocational exploration programming.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Holy Family University: Catholic-sponsored private university in Philadelphia offering liberal arts and professional programs at small scale. Comparable to Bryn Athyn as a small, faith-affiliated Philadelphia-area institution with undergraduate and graduate offerings.
• Rosemont College: Small Catholic-sponsored liberal arts college in Rosemont, PA (immediately adjacent to Bryn Athyn). Highly comparable in scale, religious sponsorship, and Philadelphia Main Line positioning.
• Gwynedd Mercy University: Small Catholic liberal arts university in Gwynedd Valley, PA, comparable in enrollment, religious sponsorship, and Philadelphia-area private college positioning.
• Eastern University: Faith-affiliated (American Baptist) private Christian liberal arts university in St. Davids, PA, near Philadelphia. Similar enrollment scale, faith-based positioning, and mix of undergraduate and graduate theology programs.
• Chestnut Hill College: Small Catholic liberal arts college in Philadelphia with similar enrollment size, religious affiliation, and undergraduate focus. Operates with a comparable tuition-dependent financial model.
• Alvernia University: Franciscan-sponsored private university in Reading, PA, similar in scale, faith-based identity, and mix of undergraduate liberal arts with graduate professional programs.
• University of Valley Forge: Small Assemblies of God-affiliated Christian liberal arts college in Phoenixville, PA. Directly comparable as a small faith-based residential college within driving distance of Bryn Athyn with similar mission-driven positioning.
• Cairn University: Small private Christian liberal arts university in Langhorne, PA, with Bible/theology emphasis and similar undergraduate residential scale. Directly comparable to Bryn Athyn in size, faith-based identity, and Philadelphia-area geography.

Emerging players

• Westminster Theological Seminary: Graduate theological seminary in Glenside, PA, focused on Reformed/evangelical training with M.Div. and M.A. programs. Comparable to BACNC's Theological School offerings in graduate religious education and theological scholarship.

Broad incumbents

• La Salle University: Larger Christian Brothers Catholic university in Philadelphia with broader program offerings. Broader incumbent in the same Philadelphia private faith-based higher education market, operating with greater scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/brynathyncollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/107310753160
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/bryn-athyn-college-of-the-new-church
• Instagraminstagram.com/brynathyncollege
• Xx.com/bryn_athyn

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Bryn Athyn College