Steinbeis Business Academy

What Steinbeis Business Academy does

Steinbeis Business Academy (SBA | Management School der Steinbeis Hochschule) is a Germany-based, for-profit higher education institution founded in 2001 as an institute of Steinbeis Hochschule, a state-recognized private university. SBA delivers career-integrated (berufsintegriert) bachelor and master degree programs alongside shorter continuing-education certificate courses, targeting working adults aged 18-55 who want to earn a state-recognized academic qualification without leaving their jobs. The core academic model is the Projekt-Kompetenz-Studium (PKS), in which students execute real company projects throughout their studies, embedding theory directly into professional practice.

The product portfolio centers on the B.A. Soziale Arbeit – Sozialpädagogik and the B.A. Management with roughly 14 industry-aligned specializations (General Management, Business Development, HR Management, Public Management, Digital Intelligence, Logistikmanagement, Health and Social Sector Management, Security Management, Emergency Management, Digital Leadership, and others), plus the M.A. Business Development. SBA also runs certificate programs (Zertifikatslehrgänge) in Sustainability Management, Business Coaching, Wirtschaftspsychologie, Business Intelligence Management, and Zeit- & Selbstmanagement. Programs are delivered at three physical campuses — Gaggenau (headquarters, opened 2016), Stuttgart (Steinbeis-Haus für Management und Technologie), and Berlin (Steinbeis-Hochschule Adlershof) — and fully online through the E-Campus platform (sba-ecampus.de), a proprietary LMS hosting course materials, web-based trainings, online library access, assignment and exam submission, and instructor communication.

SBA generates revenue primarily through recurring monthly tuition fees — €269/month for B.A. Management – General Management, €285/month for B.A. Soziale Arbeit – Sozialpädagogik, with comparable Master pricing — billed across 36-month bachelor and 24-month master programs. Approximately 1,500 students are currently enrolled, with 10,000+ graduates produced since founding. Go-to-market is consultative and event-driven: prospective students book personalized educational advising sessions, attend regular Infoveranstaltungen (online and in-person), apply directly via the website, and may qualify for Anrechnung (recognition of prior vocational training) that shortens study duration by up to 12 months. Corporate partnerships (Siemens, Charité Berlin, Vivantes, Daimler Truck, BG Kliniken, Diakonie) and vocational-school referral networks (Handwerkskammern, Berufliche Schulen) serve as indirect distribution channels for employer-sponsored enrollment.

Name

Steinbeis Business Academy

Legal name

Steinbeis Business Academy

Website

https://steinbeis-academy.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Steinbeis Business Academy is a German career-integrated higher education institution offering bachelor and master degree programs alongside certificate courses to employed working adults. Its Projekt-Kompetenz-Studium model embeds real company projects into multi-year subscription-based study pathways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Career-Integrated Degree Programs)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Management Research Institutes & Doctoral (PhD/DBA) Programs (EDAHAHAO), Financial Services & Insurance (FINRA, CFP, IAR, Insurance CE) (EDAAALAJ), Payments, Cashiering & Payment Plans (EDALAJAE), University-Affiliated Pathway & Foundation Programs (EDAIAJAA)

Keywords

• Career-integrated education
• Work-integrated degree programs
• Bachelor management programs
• Social work bachelor programs
• Project-based learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Gernsbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

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/Study Fees (Studienentgelt): SBA generates revenue primarily through recurring tuition fees charged to enrolled students on a monthly basis. Bachelor programs are priced from €269/month (General Management) to €285/month (Soziale Arbeit – Sozialpädagogik), payable monthly throughout the study period. Master programs are priced separately and available upon request (price list). Fees are charged continuously over the study duration (36 months for Bachelor, 24 months for Master), providing predictable recurring revenue. The institution also offers a reduced fee for apprentices (Auszubildende). An extension of study duration up to one additional year is offered free of charge.
2. Professional Development / Certificate Programs (Zertifikatslehrgänge): SBA offers continuing education certificate programs in areas such as Sustainability Management, Business Coaching, Business Intelligence Management, Wirtschaftspsychologie, and Zeit- & Selbstmanagement, as well as custom corporate programs tailored to specific company needs. These represent additional revenue streams alongside the degree programs.
3. Referral Incentive Program: The student referral program (SBA empfehlen) awards a €300 credit to referring students/alumni 6 months after successful enrollment of the referred candidate. This is a cost-efficient student acquisition mechanism rather than a direct revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SBA delivers state-recognized career-integrated (berufsintegriert) Bachelor and Master degree programs plus continuing-education certificate courses, anchored on the Projekt-Kompetenz-Studium (PKS) model in which every student carries out a real employer project alongside their studies. Tuition is charged as recurring monthly fees (€269–€285/month for B.A.), with seminars held on weekday evenings and Saturdays at three German campuses and via the proprietary E-Campus online learning platform.

Product overview

Steinbeis Business Academy (SBA) | Management School der Steinbeis Hochschule is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of bachelor's and master's degree programs alongside continuing education certificate courses. The academic offerings center on the Projekt-Kompetenz-Studium (PKS) — a practice-integrated study model where students conduct real-world company projects while studying. Bachelor programs include the B.A. Soziale Arbeit – Sozialpädagogik and the B.A. Management with 14 specializations (General Management, Business Development, Personal und Recht, HR Management, Public Management, Betreuungsmanagement, Digital Intelligence, Logistikmanagement, Digital Business Development, Gesundheits- und Sozialwesen, Controlling im Gesundheitswesen, Hygienemanagement, Security Management, Emergency Management, Kommunikation und Design, Digital Leadership, Outdoormanagement, and Sportmanagement). The M.A. Business Development offers four specializations (General Management, Public Management, Human Resource Management, Digitalization). Continuing education includes certificate courses in Sustainability Management, Business Coaching, Wirtschaftspsychologie, Business Intelligence Management, and Zeit- & Selbstmanagement. Supporting platforms include the E-Campus online learning portal and the Steinbeis Transfer-Magazin triannual publication. The institution operates across campuses in Gaggenau (headquarters), Stuttgart, and Berlin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• B.A. Soziale Arbeit – Sozialpädagogik A 6-semester (36-month) work-integrated Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Social Pedagogy, targeted at educators, nurses and social workers seeking a state-recognized academic degree while remaining employed. Includes the PKS project model and from €285/month tuition.
• B.A. Soziale Arbeit – Sozialpädagogik für pädagogische Fachkräfte Career-integrated B.A. Soziale Arbeit – Sozialpädagogik accelerated pathway for trained educators (Erzieher/in, Heilerziehungspfleger/in etc.) who can have up to 12 months of prior vocational training credited, with reduced monthly fees for apprentices.
• B.A. Management – General Management Career-integrated Bachelor in Management with General Management specialization — corporate management, controlling and organizational leadership. From €269/month with Anrechnung available to shorten total duration.
• B.A. Management – Business Development Career-integrated Bachelor in Management with Business Development specialization — entrepreneurship, strategy, leadership, internationalization and marketing. Pricing on request.
• B.A. Management – Personal und Recht Career-integrated Bachelor in Management with HR and Law specialization — company law, legal services, organizational development and personnel development.
• B.A. Management – HR Management Career-integrated Bachelor in Management with HR Management specialization — strategic HR, recruiting, personnel controlling and labor law.
• B.A. Management – Public Management Career-integrated Bachelor in Management with Public Management specialization — administrative science, state law and public-sector controlling.
• B.A. Management – Betreuungsmanagement Career-integrated Bachelor in Management with Care Management specialization — guardianship law, asset and personal care, psychosocial foundations for professional guardians.
• B.A. Management – Digital Intelligence

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 graduates since 2001, each completing an average of one company project — totaling approximately 10,000 real-world business projects delivered.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• Siemens AGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSiemens AG is listed as a partner of SBA Management School. As a major international technology and industrial company, Siemens likely serves as a source of student projects and corporate training programs, particularly for management and digitalization-related study programs.
• Charité BerlinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharité Berlin, one of Europe's largest university hospitals, is a partner of SBA. The partnership provides healthcare and management study project opportunities, particularly for programs in Health and Social Sector Management, Controlling in Healthcare, and Hygiene Management.
• VivantesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVivantes is one of the largest hospital operators in the Berlin/Brandenburg region and a partner of SBA for healthcare management study programs. The partnership enables practical project opportunities for students in healthcare administration, controlling, and management programs.
• Daimler Truck AGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDaimler Truck AG is listed as a partner of SBA. As a major automotive and commercial vehicle manufacturer, Daimler Truck provides project opportunities for students in management, logistics, and business development programs.
• Steinbeis-Hochschule (Steinbeis University of Applied Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBA | Management School is an institute (Institut) of Steinbeis Hochschule, a private, state-recognized university founded in 1998 and one of Germany's largest private universities. This is the foundational institutional relationship underpinning all of SBA's academic programs, accreditation, and degree-granting authority.
• BG Kliniken (BG-Unfallklinikum Ludwigshafen, Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBG Kliniken are accident and emergency hospital groups (provider of statutory accident insurance healthcare) that partner with SBA, particularly for Security Management, Emergency Management, and Healthcare study programs.
• Diakonie KorkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiakonie Kork is a major social service institution (diaconal/charitable organization) providing services for people with epilepsy and disabilities. It serves as a partner for social work and social pedagogy study programs.
• Handwerkskammer Konstanz, Handwerkskammer Ulm, Handwerkskammer Karlsruhe (Chambers of Crafts)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe three regional Chambers of Crafts (Handwerkskammern) covering southern Baden-Württemberg serve as channel partners for SBA, recommending the institution to members seeking to upskill through part-time study programs.
• Edith-Stein-Schule, Modedesignschule Manuel Fritz, Modefachschule Sigmaringen, Berufliche Schulen Achern, BSZ Stockach, BSL (Berufliche Schulen Achern)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMultiple vocational schools (Berufliche Schulen) are listed as partners, providing a pipeline of students who can transition from vocational training into SBA's degree programs with recognized prior learning credits. These include schools focused on social pedagogy, fashion, and general vocational training.
• Ludwig-Schlaich-AkademieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ludwig-Schlaich-Akademie (part of Diakonie Stetten) is a training and further education institution serving as a partner for SBA's social pedagogy and continuing education programs.
• Lebenshilfe Baden-BadenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLebenshilfe Baden-Baden is a charitable organization providing services for people with disabilities, serving as a partner for social work study programs.
• Sportbusiness CampusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSportbusiness Campus is a specialized sports business education platform listed as a partner, supporting SBA's Sports and Event Management study programs.
• Hotel Traube TonbachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotel Traube Tonbach, a renowned hotel and restaurant in Baiersbronn (Black Forest), is listed as a partner, likely supporting SBA's Event Management and Outdoormanagement study programs.
• Klinikum Frankfurt a.d. OderminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKlinikum Frankfurt a.d. Oder is a regional hospital serving as a partner for healthcare management and health and social sector study programs.
• Bayrische PflegeakademieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBavarian Nursing Academy (Bayrische Pflegeakademie) is a healthcare education institution partnering with SBA for health management and nursing study programs.
• Steinbeis Transfer-MagazinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Steinbeis Transfer-Magazin is a quarterly publication of the Steinbeis network covering technology transfer, research projects, and industry case studies. SBA contributes to and promotes this publication as part of its knowledge transfer and thought leadership positioning.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• AKAD University: One of Germany's oldest private distance-learning universities, offering Bachelor, Master, and certified continuing education programs primarily for working adults. Similar flexible-study, recurring-tuition business model targeting employed learners.
• FOM Hochschule: Germany's largest private university for working professionals, offering berufsbegleitende Bachelor and Master programs across 30+ campuses. Directly comparable to SBA in target audience (employed adults), part-time/evening delivery model, and tuition-based subscription pricing.
• HFH Hamburger Fern-Hochschule: State-recognized private distance-learning university serving working professionals across Germany with flexible Bachelor and Master programs. Comparable subscription-style tuition model and adult-learner positioning.
• DIPLOMA Hochschule: Private state-recognized distance-learning university in Germany offering Bachelor, Master, and certificate programs targeted at working professionals. Overlaps with SBA's adult-learner target and online/remote delivery model.
• Europäische Fernhochschule Hamburg (Euro-FH): State-recognized private distance-learning university offering Bachelor and Master programs for working professionals across Germany. Comparable subscription tuition model and target demographic, with similar flexibility positioning.
• PFH Private Hochschule Göttingen: Private German university offering career-integrated and distance-learning Bachelor and Master programs in business and technology. Comparable target segment and flexible-study delivery, though with a more technology-oriented portfolio than SBA.
• SRH Hochschule (SRH Universities): Private university group offering career-integrated Bachelor and Master programs at multiple German campuses with a strong practice-orientation philosophy. Closely aligned with SBA in its emphasis on combining academic learning with workplace application.
• IU Internationale Hochschule: Germany's largest private university by enrollment, offering flexible, partly work-integrated Bachelor and Master programs with strong online delivery. Competes head-to-head with SBA for working adults seeking accredited degrees with career-integrated formats.
• Hochschule Fresenius: Private German university offering full-time, part-time, and dual Bachelor/Master programs with specializations in management, health, and therapy. Comparable in career-integrated delivery and specializations overlapping with SBA's health and social sector programs.

Emerging players

• Carl Remigius Medical School (Hochschule Fresenius Group): Specialized private institution focused on healthcare and therapy education, part of the Hochschule Fresenius group. Comparable to SBA's healthcare/social work vertical, particularly for working professionals seeking academic credentials in social pedagogy and care management.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SBAManagementSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sba-management-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/steinbeis_sba/?hl=de

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 Steinbeis Business Academy