ADG Business School at Steinbeis University

What ADG Business School at Steinbeis University does

ADG Business School an der Steinbeis-Hochschule GmbH is a private German higher-education institution founded in 2011 as a joint initiative between Steinbeis Hochschule (the accredited degree-granting parent) and the Akademie Deutscher Genossenschaften (ADG). Operating from Schloss Montabaur in Rhineland-Palatinate with 11-50 employees, the school delivers practice-integrated Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science programs in Business Administration through two modalities: ausbildungsintegrierte (combined vocational training plus degree) and berufsintegrierte (career-integrated alongside employment) tracks. The blended-learning model requires only 46 in-person presence days and combines self-paced online study on a Moodle-based LMS (lernen.adg-business-school.de, hosted by Mastersolution AG in Plauen) with on-campus sessions at Montabaur and regional sites in Dortmund and Munich.

The school's core technology stack is conventional: a customized open-source Moodle platform with role-based access for students, lecturers, staff, alumni, and guests; Microsoft Forms for admissions; Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics for web analytics; and YouTube embeds for course video. Project coaching and transfer projects (Transferprojekte applied at the student's employer) bridge academic content with workplace practice, supported by a dedicated project-coaching team.

The business model is a hybrid B2B/B2C tuition-and-sponsorship engine. Revenue is generated from per-student tuition fees (not publicly disclosed) and from corporate sponsorships in which 30+ Kooperationsunternehmen — including Debeka, Vodafone, United Internet, Volksbank Mittelhessen, Dortmunder Volksbank, Klöckner Pentaplast, and Leifheit — recruit and finance dual students in exchange for talent pipelines. The cooperative-banking sector remains the institutional anchor, but the partner base has diversified into insurance, telecommunications, internet services, manufacturing, and packaging. Application and admissions are handled by a Studienberatung (study advisory) team, and prospective students are acquired through personal counseling, virtual info events, trial study days, career fairs, and the partner referral network. The institution has won the StudyCheck 'Beliebteste Hochschule Deutschlands' award in 2020 and 2026, signaling sustained brand recognition in the German private higher-education segment.

Name

ADG Business School at Steinbeis University

Legal name

ADG Business School an der Steinbeis-Hochschule GmbH

Website

https://adg-business-school.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ADG Business School is a private German institution at Schloss Montabaur offering work-integrated Bachelor and Master programs in Business Administration, serving employed professionals and corporate partners via a B2B2C dual-study model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Graduate Schools (Master’s & Doctoral Programs) (EDAHALAD), Executive Education & Corporate Programs (Non-degree) (EDAHAHAN)

Keywords

• Dual study programs
• Higher education
• Business administration
• Vocational training
• Work-integrated learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Montabaur

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition / Program Fees: The primary revenue stream comes from tuition fees charged to students for bachelor's and master's degree programs. Fees are charged per student enrolled in the dual (ausbildungs-/berufsintegriert) study programs. Some programs are fully financed by employer partners, meaning the employer covers tuition in exchange for a committed employment relationship.
2. Employer Partnership / Corporate Sponsorship: Companies (Kooperationsunternehmen) pay for or co-finance the academic education of their employees/students as part of talent retention and development programs. This represents a B2B revenue stream where employers bear all or part of tuition costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The ADG Business School delivers practice-integrated (dual) Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degree programs in Business Administration, awarded by Steinbeis Hochschule. Programs combine online self-study via a Moodle-based learning platform with approximately 46 in-person presence days at Schloss Montabaur and regional locations, allowing employed professionals to earn an accredited degree without interrupting their careers. The school also offers a merchandise store operated in partnership with Spreadshirt.

Product overview

ADG Business School is a higher education institution offering practice-integrated Bachelor and Master programs in Business Administration. The institution operates a dual-track model: (1) ausbildungsintegrierte Studiengänge combining vocational training with university studies, and (2) berufsintegrierte Studiengänge for working professionals who study alongside their employment. The core academic products are the Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (available in both formats), the Bachelor of Arts in Insurance Management (partner-specific), and the Master of Science in Business Management. These programs are supported by the Moodle-based Lernplattform for online learning, supplemented by in-person sessions at Schloss Montabaur and regional locations. Supporting services include Virtuelle Infoveranstaltungen (virtual info sessions), Coffee Chat counseling, Probestudium (trial study days), and the free Campus Meets Talents program for partner companies. The school also operates a Merchandise Store via Spreadshirt partnership. Project-based learning is embedded through Transferprojekte completed at students' employers, supported by dedicated project coaches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (Ausbildungsintegriert)

Quantifiable outcome

• StudyCheck Award 2026: Most popular university in Germany (Beliebteste Hochschule Deutschlands 2026)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

35 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Steinbeis HochschulecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011The ADG Business School was founded in 2011 as a joint initiative between Steinbeis Hochschule and the Akademie Deutscher Genossenschaften (ADG). Steinbeis Hochschule serves as the accredited degree-granting institution, while ADG provides the campus infrastructure at Schloss Montabaur and the network within the cooperative financial sector. The school operates as part of the Business & Economics faculty.
• Akademie Deutscher Genossenschaften (ADG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011ADG (Akademie Deutscher Genossenschaften) co-founded the business school and provides the Schloss Montabaur campus, hotel facilities (Hotel Schloss Montabaur), and the broader ADG campus ecosystem including the ADG Förderverein (support association). The relationship forms the operational and institutional backbone of the school.
• DebekacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDebeka, one of Germany's top five insurance and building society groups, sponsors employees for the Bachelor of Arts in Insurance Management combined with training as Insurance and Financial Products Salesperson. The partnership includes a dedicated Debeka Campus in Koblenz. Debeka employs approximately 16,000 people and serves over 7.5 million customers.
• Vodafone GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVodafone, one of Germany's leading telecommunications companies with around 16,000 employees and nearly 50 million mobile customers, partners with ADG for dual Bachelor of Arts programs. Students work at one of Vodafone's German locations (Berlin, Hamburg, Hannover, Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Dresden, Leipzig, Erfurt, Düsseldorf, Dortmund) while studying.
• United Internet AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Internet AG (brands: 1&1, IONOS, GMX, WEB.DE), a leading European internet specialist with around 11,000 employees and 29+ million paid customer contracts, partners with ADG for Master of Science in Business Management dual programs. Students work at United Internet locations while pursuing their master's degree.
• Dortmunder VolksbankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDortmunder Volksbank, Germany's largest cooperative bank in NRW with 1,200+ employees and a balance sheet of 10.2 billion euros, sponsors dual study programs combining Bank Clerk training with Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (Focus: Management & Finance).
• Volksbank Mittelhessen eGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolksbank Mittelhessen, one of Germany's largest cooperative banks with a 14.6 billion euro balance sheet, sponsors dual study programs for Bank Clerk training combined with Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. The bank is one of the region's largest employers and trainers.
• Westerwald Bank eGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWesterwald Bank eG, one of the largest cooperative banks in Rhineland-Palatinate with a balance sheet of 3.82 billion euros, 460 employees, and 144,000 customers, sponsors dual study programs at ADG. The bank is headquartered in Montabaur, sharing the same location as the ADG campus.
• Böker & Paul AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBöker & Paul AG, a medium-sized owner-managed financial advisory company for entrepreneurs and affluent private clients, offers dual Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration programs combined with roles at the firm. Specializes in wealth management, retirement planning, asset management, and real estate.
• Bank im Bistum Essen eG (BIB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBank im Bistum Essen (BIB), a large German cooperative bank operating on Christian values, offers dual study programs combining Bank Clerk training with Bachelor of Arts (Focus: Management & Finance). BIB specializes in social and healthcare sector banking, renewable energy, and infrastructure financing.
• NOWEDA Apothekengenossenschaft eGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOWEDA, a pharmaceutical cooperative supplying medicines nationwide for over 80 years, partners with ADG for Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science dual programs. Students work at various NOWEDA locations across Germany while completing their studies.
• Volksbank im Münsterland eGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolksbank im Münsterland eG, formed in 2024 from the merger of Volksbank Münsterland Nord and Volksbank Warendorf, employs approximately 1,500 people and is among Germany's leading regional cooperative banks. Offers dual Bank Clerk training combined with Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.
• Volksbank Beckum-Lippstadt eGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolksbank Beckum-Lippstadt eG offers dual study programs combining Bank Clerk training with Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (vocational-integrated and career-integrated tracks), as well as a Master of Science in Business Management for existing employees.
• Jung Elektrotechnik GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJung Elektrotechnik GmbH, a specialist electrical engineering firm offering tailored solutions including building installations, bus systems, and security technology, partners with ADG for a dual Bachelor of Arts combined with Office Management Clerk (Bürokauffrau/-mann IHK) training.
• Hencke Systemberatung GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHencke Systemberatung GmbH, a mid-sized IT consulting company with over 100 employees and 30+ years of experience, offers dual Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration combined with roles in Sales and Finance. Employees receive a free Germany ticket, company mobile phone, and laptop.
• HORN & COSIFAN Computersysteme GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHORN & COSIFAN Computersysteme GmbH, an IT systems house specializing in network technology, security concepts, and data backup solutions, partners with ADG for dual Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration combined with a Sales Manager role.
• MYPEGASUS Transformations-GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMYPEGASUS, a leading provider of employment security, qualification, and personnel transfer services, partners with ADG for a dual Bachelor of Arts in Business Transformation & Informatics combined with consulting roles at the firm.
• HRworks GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHRworks GmbH, a leading DACH-region provider of digital HR cloud solutions (travel expense management, time tracking, personnel administration, payroll preparation) with 25 years of experience and ISO 27001 certification, partners with ADG for dual Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.
• Volksbank im Elbe-Weser-Dreieck eGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolksbank im Elbe-Weser-Dreieck eG, a cooperative bank with 18 branches, 380 employees, and a balance sheet of 2.3 billion euros, offers dual Bank Clerk training combined with Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.
• VR-Bank Main-Rhön eGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVR-Bank Main-Rhön eG, a modern cooperative bank with approximately 400 employees in Unterfranken and Thuringia, offers dual Bank Clerk training (IHK) combined with Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.
• Volksbank Trier Eifel eGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolksbank Trier Eifel eG, a regional cooperative bank with approximately 602 employees, 138,396 customers, and a balance sheet of 4.473 billion euros, fully finances dual study programs and provides equipment (iPad, Pencil, headset). 100% of dual students were hired over the past 5 years.
• VR Bank RheinAhrEifel eGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVR Bank RheinAhrEifel eG, a cooperative bank operating under the 'Wir sind Heimat' brand with a focus on human-centered, simple, and digital banking, offers dual Bank Clerk training combined with Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.
• VR-Bank Bonn Rhein-Sieg eGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVR-Bank Bonn Rhein-Sieg eG, a successful cooperative bank serving Bonn and the Rhein-Sieg district, offers dual Bank Clerk training combined with Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration at the regional vocational school.
• Weller GmbH & Co. KGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeller GmbH & Co. KG, the leading automotive parts supplier in the Westerwald region since 1956, offers dual programs combining Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with Wholesale and Foreign Trade Clerk training (IHK).
• Saferoad Restraint Systems GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaferoad Restraint Systems GmbH, an international group headquartered in Weroth specializing in passive road safety technology (guardrails, road markings, noise barriers), offers both dual vocational training (Industriekauffrau/-mann) and vocational-integrated Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.
• Landpack GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandpack GmbH, a Munich-based tech startup replacing Styrofoam with ecological packaging made from straw and hemp, offers dual Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration combined with sales roles. The company has won multiple innovation awards.
• Westerwald Brauerei H. Schneider GmbH & Co. KGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWesterwald Brauerei (Hachenburger), a family-owned brewery in its 5th generation led by Jens Geimer with approximately 80 employees and 10 apprentices, offers dual Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration combined with roles at the brewery.
• Schütz GmbH & Co. KGaAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchütz GmbH & Co. KGaA, an international plastic and metal processing company with over 3,500 employees at its Selters headquarters and international production sites, holds numerous patents and offers dual Industrial Clerk (Industriekauffrau/-mann IHK) training combined with Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.
• Klöckner Pentaplast GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKlöckner Pentaplast (kp), a global leader in rigid and flexible packaging and specialty films serving pharmaceutical, medical, food, and beverage industries with 30 production sites in 18 countries and over 5,600 employees, partners with ADG for vocational-integrated Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.
• Leifheit AGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeifheit AG, one of Europe's leading household goods brands (Leifheit and Soehnle) with approximately 1,100 employees worldwide, offers dual study programs combining vocational training with Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. The company provides the StudyCheck Award-winning Dual model.
• Vecoplan AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVecoplan AG, a leading international machinery and systems manufacturer for shredding, conveying, and processing of primary and secondary raw materials (wood, biomass, plastics, waste, paper), with over 40 years of experience, offers dual Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration combined with roles at the company.
• Beyer Mietservice KGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeyer Mietservice KG, a rental equipment company offering machines ranging from work platforms and forklifts to construction equipment and event technology, offers dual Industrial Clerk (Industriekauffrau/-mann) training combined with Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.
• PSV BönenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPSB Steuern PartG mbB, a tax advisory and auditing firm (Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft) in Montabaur offering auditing, tax advisory, and compliance services to family businesses, craftsmen, and service providers, offers dual study programs combining tax clerk training with Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.
• ON-POINT Connect GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerON-POINT Connect GmbH, a consulting boutique with offices in Germany, Switzerland, UK, and Singapore specializing in digital transformation for financial institutions (Avaloq, Regulatory Reporting), offers dual Bachelor of Arts in Business Transformation & Informatics and Master of Science in Business Management combined with junior consulting roles.
• nuValid GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnernuValid GmbH, an auditing firm (Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft) headquartered in Montabaur specializing in regulated financial sector clients, with a modern digital practice, extensive home office options, and startup-like culture, offers dual Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Master of Science in Business Management programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SRH Hochschule (SRH Universities): SRH is one of Germany's largest private education groups operating multiple universities across fields including business, engineering, and health. While broader than ADG, SRH's work-integrated business programs and employer partnership model place it as a major incumbent competitor.

Direct peers

• Hochschule Macromedia: Macromedia is a German private university of applied sciences offering bachelor's and master's programs with strong industry partnerships and applied learning models. Its dual-study and employer-integrated formats in business-related fields directly overlap with ADG's positioning.
• IU Internationale Hochschule: IU is Germany's largest and most scaled private university, offering work-integrated bachelor and master programs with employer partnerships (dual study) and a broad catalog of business, IT, and health tracks. It directly overlaps ADG in dual-study business administration and competes for the same employer partner relationships.
• Hochschule Fresenius: Fresenius is one of Germany's largest private university groups, offering work-integrated Bachelor and Master programs in business, with strong employer partnerships across multiple industries. Its employer-sponsored business administration tracks are directly comparable to ADG's offerings.
• Frankfurt School of Finance & Management: Frankfurt School is a German private business school specializing in finance, banking, and management, with strong ties to the cooperative financial sector and corporate partners. Its dual and employer-sponsored programs in business administration overlap directly with ADG's cooperative-banking-focused offerings.
• FOM Hochschule: FOM is Germany's largest private university and the closest direct competitor to ADG, offering work-integrated Bachelor and Master programs in business administration across dozens of German cities. Like ADG, FOM targets employed professionals and partners with corporate employers for dual-study sponsorship.
• ISM International School of Management: ISM is a private German university focused on business and management programs with multiple campus locations and strong industry/practice orientation. Its dual and applied business bachelor's and master's programs serve the same employed-professional segment as ADG.
• EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht: EBS is a German private business and law university historically tied to the cooperative and banking sector and offering dual/executive programs. EBS's deep roots in cooperative banking make it a thematic peer to ADG, particularly within the Genossenschaftliche FinanzGruppe.

Emerging players

• Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (THGA): THGA is a state-recognized German university with employer-integrated bachelor's programs in business, supported by industry partners. While smaller and more regionally focused than ADG, it overlaps in work-integrated business administration targeting employed professionals.
• Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt (HfWU): HfWU is a smaller state-recognized German university offering applied business programs with sustainability and regional employer partnerships. It is an emerging/niche competitor to ADG in dual and work-integrated bachelor/master offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/meineBS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adg-business-school-an-der-steinbeis-hochschule

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 ADG Business School at Steinbeis University