Central Univeristy Ghana

What Central Univeristy Ghana does

Central University is a private, faith-based tertiary institution in Ghana, established in 1988 by the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) and granted a Presidential Charter in January 2016 to operate as an autonomous university. It delivers undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and doctoral programmes across nine schools and faculties — Central Law School, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Central Business School, School of Pharmacy, School of Architecture and Design, School of Engineering and Technology, School of Medical Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery, and the School of Graduate Studies and Research — together with a Centre for Distance and Professional Education, operating from three physical campuses (248-acre Miotso main campus in Ningo-Prampram District, Christ Temple campus on Accra's Ring Road West, and the Kumasi campus) and admitting students in two cycles per year (October and February). Cumulative graduates since 2002 exceed 30,000 across 64 programmes, supported by 180+ faculty (over 30% with terminal PhDs), 160+ administrative staff, and nine libraries.

The technology backbone spans a Koha-based library management system integrated with ~18 e-databases (EBSCO, ProQuest, IEEE, Emerald, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, JSTOR, Cambridge UP, IMF, World Bank e-Library, HINARI etc.) via CARLIGH consortium membership; an OSIS student information portal for registration, course selection, and academic records; a Transflow-powered e-voucher application platform with USSD, mobile-money (*887*50#), and multi-bank payment integration (Ecobank, GCB, Access, Zenith and others); a ClearingHub transcript and verification service; and Office 365 for staff operations.

The business model is tuition-driven: the university monetises through per-semester tuition differentiated by programme, level (undergraduate/postgraduate/doctoral) and nationality (Ghanaian vs international), with non-refundable application e-vouchers (GH₵200/270/320 for Ghanaian undergrad/postgrad/doctoral; USD 100 for foreign applicants), on-campus accommodation at GH₵2,600-5,200 per year, international-student fees and administrative handling via the International Programmes Office, and donation-sourced support funding through the CUcare fund. Go-to-market runs in parallel through a D2C digital admissions funnel (website, admissions hotlines, WhatsApp, USSD), event-driven recruitment (education fairs, open days, distinguished-speaker series), sales-led postgraduate/counselling outreach, and partnership channels (notably the 2+2 CU-Gordon College pathway, plus 2024-2025 MOUs with Kastamonu, UniSey, Catholic University West Africa Togo, UFV Canada and others).

Name

Central Univeristy Ghana

Legal name

Central University

Website

https://central.edu.gh

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Central University is a private, faith-based Ghanaian tertiary institution operating across three campuses (Miotso, Accra, Kumasi), delivering 64 undergraduate, diploma, postgraduate and doctoral programmes through nine schools and a Centre for Distance and Professional Education to a recurring B2C cohort of high-school graduates, working professionals, international students and mature learners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Private Tertiary Education)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Business and Secretarial Schools (61141), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Branch Campus & Offshore Program Partnerships (EDAIABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Pathway & Foundation Providers (EDAIAJAB), Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programmes
• Graduate degree programmes
• Distance learning programmes
• Professional education certifications

Headquarters

HQ city

Miotso near Dawhenya

HQ country

Ghana

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Primary revenue stream from student tuition across undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and professional programmes. Fees vary by programme level (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral) and student nationality (domestic vs international). Semester-based billing with multiple payment options including bank deposits, mobile money, and wire transfers.
2. Application Fees: Non-refundable e-voucher and application processing fees charged to applicants. Undergraduate Ghanaian applicants pay GH¢200, postgraduate Ghanaian pay GH¢270, doctoral Ghanaian pay GH¢320, and foreign applicants pay USD 100 equivalent.
3. Accommodation Services: On-campus hostel accommodation revenue from student housing. Fees range from GHS 2,600-5,200 per student per year depending on room occupancy (2-4 persons per room) and gender.
4. International Programme Fees: Revenue from international students including tuition, accommodation deposits, and administrative fees for visa processing support and international student services.
5. CUcare Donations: Student support fund receiving contributions from alumni, corporate partners, staff payroll deductions, and fundraising events to provide financial assistance to students in need.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Central University is a private, faith-based higher education institution in Ghana that delivers undergraduate, graduate, diploma, and doctoral programmes across nine schools and faculties (Law, Business, Arts and Social Sciences, Pharmacy, Architecture and Design, Engineering and Technology, Medical Sciences, Nursing and Midwifery, and Graduate Studies). It operates three campuses in Ghana (Miotso, Christ Temple/Accra, Kumasi) and offers on-campus, evening, weekend, and distance-learning modes through its Centre for Distance and Professional Education. The institution also sells on-campus hostel accommodation and ancillary student services such as library access, counselling and career services, and international student support.

Product overview

Central University is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programmes across nine schools and faculties: Central Law School, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Central Business School, School of Pharmacy, School of Architecture and Design, School of Engineering and Technology, School of Medical Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery, and School of Graduate Studies and Research. The institution also operates the Centre for Distance and Professional Education offering ATHE diplomas and professional certifications. Its product ecosystem includes a Student Portal for academic management, an Eligibility Platform for prospective students, CUcare (a student emergency fund), an International Programmes Office coordinating global partnerships, a Central University Library with electronic database access, a Counselling and Career Services Centre, and an Institutional Review Board for research ethics. The university operates across three campuses in Ghana (Miotso main campus, Christ Temple campus in Accra, and Kumasi campus) and has received Presidential Charter as a fully-fledged autonomous university. Teaching is delivered through weekend, day, and evening modes using a blended learning approach (60/40 face-to-face).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Central Law School School offering Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Law and Economics, Bachelor of Law with Economics, Diploma in Law, and Diploma in Paralegal Studies for prospective law students.
• Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Faculty offering Bachelor of Science in Economics and Computer Science, Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Media Studies, Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Bachelor of Arts in Social Work, Bachelor of Divinity, and Bachelor of Arts in Guidance and Counselling.
• Central Business School Business school offering Bachelor of Science in Management Studies, Bachelor of Science in Banking and Finance, Bachelor of Science Finance with Economics, and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with options in Marketing, Human Resource Management, and Accounting.
• School of Pharmacy School offering Doctor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy (Top Up) programmes for pharmaceutical sciences education.
• School of Architecture and Design School offering Bachelor of Architecture, Bachelor of Science in Planning, Bachelor of Science in Real Estate, Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design, Bachelor of Science in Landscape Design, Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, and Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design.
• School of Engineering and Technology School offering Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with Economics, and Bachelor of Science in IT with Economics.
• School of Medical Sciences School offering Bachelor of Public Health and medical sciences programmes for healthcare education.
• School of Nursing and Midwifery School offering Bachelor of Science in Nursing programme for nursing and midwifery education.
• School of Graduate Studies and Research Graduate school offering Master of Public Health, MA Sacred Ministry, MA Religious Studies, MA Guidance & Counselling, MSc/M.Phil Accounting, MSc Finance, MSc Monitoring Evaluation & Impact Assessment, MBA programmes (Project Management, Finance, HRM, General Management), PhD Finance, PhD Human Resource Management & Organisational Leadership, M.Phil Theology, M.Phil Guidance & Counselling, MSc Nursing, MPhil Nursing, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA).
• Centre for Distance and Professional Education (CDPE) Centre offering ICM UK Certified Courses, Mature Access Course (MAC), Health Assistant Clinical (HAC) and Nurse Assistant Clinical (NAC) Access Course, ATHE Diplomas (Diploma in Business, Diploma in Strategic Management, Diploma in Health and Social Care, Diploma in Information Technology, Diploma in Law), and undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through distance learning.
• Online Application Portal Online application platform for undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional programmes with e-voucher purchase system via USSD (*887*9#) or online.
• Student Portal Online student portal for academic registration, course selection, examination timetable access, and academic record management.
• Eligibility Platform Online platform enabling prospective students to check their eligibility for courses based on academic qualifications.
• ClearingHub Transcript and Verification Service Online portal for transcripts, attestations, and certificate verification services for alumni and third-party verifiers.
• Central University Library System Nine-campus library system offering reference services, circulation services, information literacy programmes, inter-library loans, reprographic services, Turnitin plagiarism services, and electronic access to databases including EBSCO HOST, Emerald, Taylor & Francis, IEEE, and ProQuest E-books.
• International Programmes Office (IPO) Services International student services including recruitment coordination, institutional partnerships, student and faculty exchanges, visiting-scholar programmes, and international research collaborations with universities worldwide.
• Counselling and Career Services Centre providing guidance and counselling, internship coordination, financial aid evaluations, career and placement services, alumni engagement, and student care support for the university community.
• CUcare Student Care and Emergency Response Fund Student emergency fund covering school fees, hostel fees, basic needs, textbooks, and medical emergencies for enrolled students in financial distress.
• CU Institutional Review Board (IRB) Administrative body reviewing research proposals involving human subjects to protect participant rights and welfare and ensure compliance with the Belmont Report principles.
• CU-Gordon College 2+2 Partnership Programme 2+2 degree pathway with Gordon College, Massachusetts, enabling students to study two years at Central University and complete final two years at Gordon College to obtain a Gordon degree in programmes such as BSc Economics, BA Communication Studies, BSc Banking and Finance, BSc Business Administration (Marketing, HRM, Accounting), and BSc Computer Science (minimum GPA 3.00 to transfer).
• On-Campus Hostel Accommodation Student housing at male and female hostels with occupancy-based pricing (GHS 2,600-5,200 per student per year) including 200 electricity units per student per year, plus an off-campus hostel registry for verified external accommodations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduated over 30,000 students since first Congregation in 2002
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration25 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• University of Seychelles (UniSey)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2025International partnership established for student and faculty exchanges between University of Seychelles and Central University.
• The University of the Fraser Valley, CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2025International partnership with Canadian university facilitating student and faculty exchange programmes.
• Catholic University of West Africa, TogominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2025Partnership with Catholic University of West Africa in Togo for academic collaboration and institutional exchanges.
• Kastamonu UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024ERASMUS+ Incoming Staff Mobility partnership facilitating academic exchange between institutions. Kastamonu University in Turkey has established staff mobility exchange programme with Central University.
• Gordon College, Massachusetts, USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership enabling students to study two years at Central University and complete final two years at Gordon College, Massachusetts (one of the foremost Christian Universities in the USA) to obtain a Gordon degree. Available programmes include BSc Economics, BA Communication Studies, BSc Banking and Finance, BSc Business Administration (Marketing, HRM, Accounting), and BSc Computer Science. Students require minimum GPA of 3.00 to transfer.
• The George Washington University, USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with George Washington University for academic collaboration and potential exchange opportunities.
• National Changhua University of Education, TaiwanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelegation visit explored future collaboration including PhD programmes and faculty/student exchanges. NCUE presented scholarship packages for interested faculty members.
• INTI University MalaysiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership with Malaysian university for academic exchange and collaboration.
• Bauhaus-Universität WeimarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with German university facilitating international academic exchanges.
• Seed Global EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for international education collaboration and student exchange opportunities.
• Leadership Consultancy and Training Services LtdminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal consultancy partnership supporting leadership development and training services for students.
• 0800AFRICAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for microdegree programme promotion and African market outreach.
• Ecobank Ghana LimitedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary banking partner for student fee payments. Approved bank for school fees payments with dedicated account for international wire transfers. Students can pay fees via bank deposits, and international wire transfers go to Ecobank Foreign Collection account.
• Access Bank, GCB Bank, Zenith Bank GhanaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved banking partners for student fee payments across Ghana. Students can pay fees at multiple bank branches nationwide.
• Consortium for Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana (CARLIGH)coreTechnology or IntegrationCentral University Library is member of CARLIGH, providing access to E-Journals and ProQuest E-books through consortium membership.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ashesi University: Private, non-profit liberal arts university in Berekuso, Ghana, founded in 2002. Directly comparable as a Ghanaian private university competing for the same high school graduate, working professional, and international student segments across business, sciences, and humanities programmes.
• Methodist University College Ghana: Private university in Accra established by the Methodist Church Ghana. Directly comparable as a faith-based chartered private university offering similar undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across business, sciences, and theology.
• Ghana Communication Technology University: Private technology-focused university in Accra, Ghana. Comparable as a Ghanaian private university competing for similar student segments in IT, engineering, and business programmes.
• Pentecost University: Private Christian university in Accra, Ghana, established by The Church of Pentecost. Directly comparable as a faith-based private university with similar programme portfolio, multi-campus structure, and tuition-driven revenue model targeting Ghanaian and international students.
• Valley View University: Seventh-day Adventist chartered private university in Ghana with multiple campuses. Directly comparable as a faith-based private university competing for the same religiously-affiliated student segments and offering similar business, sciences, and humanities programmes.
• Islamic University College Ghana: Faith-based private university in Accra affiliated with the Islamic community in Ghana. Comparable as a religiously-affiliated private Ghanaian university competing for the same faith-aligned student segments.
• Regent University College of Science and Technology: Ghanaian private university founded in 2003 by Rev. Prof. Kingsley Larbi, the founding President of Central University. Directly comparable as a faith-adjacent private Ghanaian university offering similar undergraduate and graduate programmes in sciences, business, and technology.
• Wisconsin International University College, Ghana: Private university in Accra affiliated with the University of Wisconsin system, focused on business and professional programmes. Comparable as an international-linked private Ghanaian university competing for working professionals and international students.

Broad incumbents

• University of Cape Coast: Major public research university in Cape Coast, Ghana, offering comprehensive programmes across all disciplines. Comparable as a broad incumbent competitor in the Ghanaian higher education market that Central University competes with for students and faculty.
• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology: Leading public science and technology university in Kumasi, Ghana. Comparable as a broad incumbent competitor, particularly given Central University's Kumasi campus and its engineering, architecture, and science programmes competing for the same talent pool.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CentralUniGhana
• Facebookfacebook.com/CentralUniv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/central-university-ghana
• Instagraminstagram.com/centralunigh

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Central Univeristy Ghana