St. Stephen's University

What St. Stephen's University does

St. Stephen's University (SSU) is a private graduate school of theology, peace, and reconciliation located in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada, incorporated under Bill 49 in New Brunswick. Operating under Strategic Plan 2027 ("Anchored With Wings"), the institution offers master's degrees (M.A., M.Min., M.T.S., Master of Peace & Justice) and graduate certificates across three academic divisions: the School of Theology & Culture, the Jim Forest Institute for Religion, Peace & Justice, and the Centre for Reconciliation Studies. Programs are delivered in a hybrid format combining asynchronous online coursework via Canvas LMS with short in-person intensives (collegiums) at the St. Stephen campus and international study-abroad modules in Ireland & Britain, South Africa, Winnipeg/Treaty 1 territory, and Palestine.

The university serves working adults — primarily graduate students seeking credentials in theology, peacebuilding, reconciliation, and transformative leadership, as well as ministry/chaplaincy professionals seeking continuing education. Its core technology stack is off-the-shelf: Canvas LMS for course delivery, Sycamore Student Portal for student records, and a Wix-hosted website with built-in CRM. Programs are differentiated by a contemplative-trauma-informed pedagogy, Indigenous co-development aligned with Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action, and experiential learning through travel-study.

SSU generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees (per-semester program charges), supplemented by a $200 CAD confirmation deposit, a $10 CAD per-transcript fee, an annual $100 thesis/capstone continuation fee, and charitable donations amplified by a $50,000 USD matching grant from the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education through 2025. The institution is governed by a Board of Governors chaired by Judith Moses (University Kahn-tineta), operates with 11–50 employees, and has no disclosed venture capital, private equity, or parent company ownership.

Name

St. Stephen's University

Legal name

St. Stephen's University

Website

https://ssu.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

St. Stephen's University is a private Canadian graduate school offering master's degrees and certificates in theology, peace & justice, reconciliation studies, and transformative leadership, delivered through hybrid online coursework with short in-person intensives and international study-abroad modules.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Graduate Theological and Peace Studies)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities (EDAHABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theological Universities & Pontifical Universities (EDAHAKAD), Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Graduate theological education
• Peace and reconciliation studies
• Multifaith chaplaincy training
• Transformative leadership programs
• Hybrid online seminary

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Stephen

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: SSU generates primary revenue from tuition fees charged for graduate certificate and master's degree programs. Students pay per semester/course according to published tuition schedules. A $200 CAD confirmation deposit is required upon acceptance.
2. Transcript Fees: SSU charges $10 CAD per transcript copy for official transcript requests, processed through the Registrar's Office.
3. Donations and Fundraising: SSU solicits charitable donations through its 'Give to SSU' program, including a matching grant campaign with the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education ($50,000 USD through 2025, with donations matched at 50%).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

St. Stephen's University is a private graduate school that delivers master's degrees (M.A., M.Min., M.T.S., Master of Peace & Justice) and graduate certificates in theology, peace and justice, reconciliation studies, transformative leadership, story/trauma/peacebuilding, and multifaith chaplaincy. Programs are delivered in a hybrid online format via Canvas LMS, supplemented by short in-person collegiums at the St. Stephen, New Brunswick campus and mandatory travel-study intensives in Ireland & Britain, South Africa, Winnipeg/Treaty 1 territory, and Bethlehem.

Product overview

St. Stephen's University is a graduate school of theology, peace and reconciliation offering a portfolio of degree programs (M.A., M.Min., M.T.S., Master of Peace & Justice) and certificate programs across three academic schools: Theology & Culture, Peace & Justice (through the Jim Forest Institute), and Reconciliation Studies (through the Centre for Reconciliation Studies). Programs combine online learning with intensive study abroad components. The university also offers non-degree programming including webinars, a podcast, and a pilgrimage journal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• M.A. in Theology & Culture

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Anglican Church of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019SSU's Reconciliation Studies program and broader mission are closely aligned with the Anglican Church of Canada. Judith Moses (University Kahn-tineta) was elected the first Indigenous person as Deputy Prolocutor of the Anglican Church of Canada's General Synod in 2019 and has worked to bridge Western Anglican and Indigenous spiritual practices.
• Jim Forest Institute for Religion, Peace & JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Jim Forest Institute (JFI) is a specialized institute housed within SSU focused on the inner transformation of peacemakers, theology of peace & justice, religion in peace & violence, and practical peacebuilding. Dr. Andrew Phillip Klager is the founding Director. JFI offers the online Certificate in Religion, Peace & Justice and hosts guest lecturers from around the world.
• Peskotomuhkati NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSU is located on the traditional territory of the Peskotomuhkati (Passamaquoddy) Peoples. The university has an ongoing relationship with Chief Hugh Akagi and the Peskotomuhkati people, with some program components held on the Peskotomuhkati Nation's Camp Chiputneticook. Judith Moses (University Kahn-tineta) has fostered a relationship of trust and respect with Chief Akagi and his community.
• Bethlehem Summer Intensive (BIPJ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSU partners with Bethlehem Summer Intensive (BIPJ) to offer a study abroad experience in Bethlehem as part of its Reconciliation Studies Learning Tour and broader travel study program.
• Orthodox Peace FellowshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Andrew Phillip Klager serves as Director of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship, an international community of peacemakers in the Orthodox tradition founded in 1968, bringing an Orthodox presence into the peace world and a peace presence into the Orthodox world.

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• St. Stephen's College: A graduate theological school at the University of Alberta in Edmonton offering M.A. and M.Div. programs. Directly comparable as a small faith-affiliated Canadian graduate theology institution serving similar professional audiences.
• Acadia Divinity College: A Baptist-affiliated graduate theological school in Wolfville, Nova Scotia offering M.A., M.Div., and D.Min. programs. Comparable as a small faith-based Canadian graduate theology institution.
• Providence Theological Seminary: An evangelical graduate theological seminary in Otterburne, Manitoba offering M.A., M.Div., and Th.M. programs. Comparable in faith-based graduate theology programming with hybrid and on-campus formats.
• Atlantic School of Theology: An ecumenical graduate theological school in Halifax, Nova Scotia offering master's degrees in theology and divinity. Similar geographic positioning (Atlantic Canada), faith affiliation, and graduate-only model.
• Eastern Mennonite University: A faith-affiliated private university in Harrisonburg, Virginia operating the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, which offers graduate certificates and master's degrees in conflict transformation and peacebuilding — directly comparable to SSU's peace & justice focus.
• Vancouver School of Theology: An ecumenical graduate theological school affiliated with the Anglican Church of Canada, offering M.A. and M.Div. degrees. Comparable in faith-affiliated graduate theology programming and small institutional scale.
• Tyndale University: A faith-affiliated private graduate school in the Toronto area offering theological degrees (M.A., M.Div.) with hybrid delivery. Closely comparable to SSU in mission, scale, and faith-based graduate programming.
• Regent College: A graduate theological school in Vancouver offering M.A. and M.T.S. programs with a similar emphasis on theology, culture, and Christian thought. Directly comparable in niche focus and small-scale graduate-only model.
• Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary: A graduate theological seminary affiliated with Mennonite and Anabaptist traditions, offering hybrid M.A. and M.Div. programs with online and intensive formats. Comparable in hybrid delivery model and peace/justice emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• Fuller Theological Seminary: A large, established multi-denominational graduate theological school offering M.A., M.Div., and Th.M. programs with extensive online delivery. Serves overlapping audiences in theology and peace studies but at significantly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ssunews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/BradJersakauthor
• Facebookfacebook.com/st.stephens.university
• Instagraminstagram.com/ststephensuniversity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St. Stephen's University