Carson-Newman University
Carson-Newman University is a private, Baptist-affiliated Christian liberal arts university in Jefferson City, Tennessee serving roughly 2,900 students (undergraduate and graduate) through on-campus, online, and satellite programs with strong athletic and pre-professional offerings.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1851
- HeadquartersJefferson City, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Carson-Newman University does
Carson-Newman University is a private Christian liberal arts university founded in 1851 in Jefferson City, Tennessee, affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention and operating as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit governed by a Board of Trustees representing Baptist churches. It enrolls approximately 2,585-2,900 students — roughly 1,528 undergraduates and 1,058 graduate students — supported by 215 faculty at a 12:1 to 14:1 student-faculty ratio across 50+ undergraduate majors and 11-25+ graduate degrees delivered through on-campus residential programs, the College of Professional Studies for adult learners, the Office of Online Learning, and a satellite location at Pellissippi State Community College's Strawberry Plains campus.
The university's product portfolio spans undergraduate and graduate degree programs, pre-professional tracks (with a stated 90% professional school acceptance rate), Honors, Army ROTC, NCAA Division II athletics (21 teams, 20 national championships), the Appalachian Cultural Center, Campus Ministries, and the AMOS community-service ministry. Course delivery is built on Canvas LMS, Microsoft Office 365, Acadeum course-sharing, Transferology credit evaluation, and Zoom, with study-abroad exchange partnerships spanning Japan, South Korea, China, the UK, Austria, Spain, and beyond.
Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees (priced approximately $3,000 below the median of nearby private schools), residential room and board, auxiliary services, and philanthropy. With 96% of students receiving financial aid, net tuition realization is the key financial lever. The institution is currently executing a major capital and fundraising cycle, including the August 2024 launch of the Legacy campaign — its largest fundraising initiative in nearly 175 years — alongside the 2023 opening of the Drama and Ted Russell Center and the January 2025 opening of West Campus Commons (110,000 sq ft, 520+ beds), the largest construction project in school history.
Carson-Newman University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carson-Newman University
- Legal name
- Carson-Newman University
- Website
- https://cn.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1851
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Carson-Newman University is a private, Baptist-affiliated Christian liberal arts university in Jefferson City, Tennessee serving roughly 2,900 students (undergraduate and graduate) through on-campus, online, and satellite programs with strong athletic and pre-professional offerings.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Carson-Newman University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611), Educational Services (61)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- General Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAA), Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH), Honors Liberal Arts Colleges (Honors College/Program-Led) (EDAHACAL), Private/Independent Community & Junior Colleges (EDAHADAB)
Keywords
Where Carson-Newman University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Jefferson City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Carson-Newman University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, fees for academic programs, and associated charges. Competitively priced approximately $3,000 below median of nearby private schools.
- Room and Board: Housing and dining services revenue from residence halls and meal plans.
- Auxiliary Services: Revenue from bookstore, dining operations, and other student services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard undergraduate tuition |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Carson-Newman University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Carson-Newman University is a private Christian liberal arts institution that delivers higher education through traditional four-year undergraduate programs (50+ majors), graduate and doctoral programs (14+ graduate degrees), online learning through the College of Professional Studies, and an NCAA Division II athletics program. Academic offerings span pre-professional tracks, an Honors Program, study abroad, ROTC, and student support services including career development and campus ministries, all delivered within a Christ-centered faith-based framework on a 150-acre Jefferson City, Tennessee campus.
Product overview
Carson-Newman University is a Christian liberal arts university offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services. The core offering comprises undergraduate programs (50+ majors including associate, bachelor's, pre-professional, and ROTC), graduate programs (11+ degrees including master's, education specialist, and doctoral), and the College of Professional Studies for adult/online learners. Supporting services include Honors Program (for academically gifted students), Study Abroad (faculty-led, exchange, and partner programs worldwide), Student Success Center (tutoring, advising, career services), Career Development Office, Campus Ministries with AMOS community outreach, Athletics (21 NCAA Division II teams), and Appalachian Cultural Center. The university utilizes Canvas LMS, Microsoft Office 365, Acadeum course sharing consortium, Transferology, Focus 2 career assessment, and Zoom for service delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Undergraduate Programs Traditional four-year baccalaureate degree programs across 50 undergraduate majors, including associate degrees, pre-professional tracks (medicine, law, engineering, etc.), and ROTC. Delivered on campus, online, and at Pellissippi State Community College (Strawberry Plains location). Designed for high school graduates and transfer students seeking a Christ-centered liberal arts education.
Companies that use Carson-Newman University
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments6 records
Carson-Newman University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Carson-Newman University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Tennessee Baptist ConventioncoreFormal affiliation with Tennessee Baptist Convention; Board of Trustees representing Baptist churches; partnership for Christ-centered education delivery; shared mission of developing servant-leaders
- Al Akhawayn UniversityminorExchange program partner for international study opportunities
- Kansai Gaidai University (Japan)minorExchange agreement for study abroad in Japan; students may study abroad as exchange students
- Nagoya University of Foreign Studies (Japan)minorExchange agreement for Japanese language and cultural studies
- Namseoul University (South Korea)minorExchange program for South Korea study abroad opportunities
- Seinan Gakuin University (Japan)minorExchange agreement for Japanese study abroad
- Yantai University (China)minorExchange program for China study abroad opportunities
- Aberystwyth University (Wales)minorPartner university for study abroad in the United Kingdom
- Edge Hill University (UK)minorPartner university for international exchange
- Hong Kong Baptist UniversityminorPartner university for Asian study abroad
- Kingston University (London)minorPartner university for London-based study abroad programs
- Salzburg College (Austria)minorPartner for European study abroad in Austria
- Tokyo Christian University (Japan)minorPartner for Japanese study abroad with Christian focus
- University of Glasgow (Scotland)minorPartner for Honors student exchange in Scotland
- Pellissippi State Community CollegecoreArticulation agreement and physical location for C-N classes; students can take courses at Strawberry Plains campus; transfer pathway for associate degree holders
- New Mexico Military InstituteminorArticulation agreement for military institute transfer students
- Georgia Military CollegeminorArticulation agreement for Georgia military institute transfer
- Valley Forge Military CollegeminorArticulation agreement for military college transfer
- Marion Military InstituteminorArticulation agreement for Alabama military institute transfer
- Tennessee Board of Regents Community CollegescoreTennessee Reverse Transfer program; transfer pathway agreements with 13 Tennessee community colleges including Chattanooga State, Cleveland State, Columbia State, Dyersburg State, Jackson State, Motlow State, Nashville State, Northeast State, Pellissippi State, Roane State, Southwest Tennessee, Volunteer State, and Walters State
- Appalachian Ministries of the Smokies (AMOS)coreJoint ministry serving local families through food pantry, home repairs, shelter for women and children, educational programs; reflects commitment to Appalachian community service
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Howard H. Baker Jr. School)minorTransfer agreement announced in 2026 for seamless student transfer to UT Knoxville's Baker School
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Carson-Newman University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bryan College: Private Christian liberal arts college in Dayton, TN with a similar Christ-centered mission and small residential profile. Comparable in faith-based positioning and regional student base.
- Union University: Private Baptist-affiliated university in Jackson, TN. Closely comparable given shared Tennessee Baptist Convention heritage and overlap in academic programs; notably, Carson-Newman's president previously held senior roles at Union.
- Maryville College: Small private liberal arts college in East Tennessee, also affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Directly comparable in size, mission, geography, and religious-affiliated liberal arts model.
- Tusculum University: Private, church-affiliated (Presbyterian) liberal arts university in Greeneville, TN. Direct comparable on size, denominational heritage, and Appalachian regional profile.
- Milligan University: Private Christian liberal arts university in Johnson City, TN affiliated with the Stone-Campbell tradition. Highly comparable in religious affiliation, undergraduate focus, and East Tennessee footprint.
- King University: Private Presbyterian-affiliated (now independent) university in Bristol, TN. Comparable private Christian liberal arts institution in East Tennessee with similar enrollment scale.
- Tennessee Wesleyan University: Small private (United Methodist-affiliated) liberal arts university in Athens, TN. Comparable in scale, denomination-affiliated identity, and Appalachian Tennessee service area.
Broad incumbents
- Samford University: Larger private Baptist-affiliated university in Birmingham, AL. Comparable in denominational heritage and Christ-centered mission but operates at a larger scale with broader graduate offerings.
- Belmont University: Large private Christian university in Nashville, TN. Comparable faith-based identity and Nashville/Tennessee market but at significantly larger scale and broader program portfolio.
Regional players
- Lincoln Memorial University: Private university in Harrogate, TN. Comparable as a private regional institution but with a larger, more career-oriented (notably medical/health sciences) portfolio and less liberal arts focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Carson-Newman University social profiles
Digital presenceCarson-Newman University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance11 records
Carson-Newman University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carson-Newman University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Carson-Newman University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Carson-Newman University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Carson-Newman University
What does Carson-Newman University do?
Carson-Newman University is a private Christian liberal arts institution that delivers higher education through traditional four-year undergraduate programs (50+ majors), graduate and doctoral programs (14+ graduate degrees), online learning through the College of Professional Studies, and an NCAA Division II athletics program. Academic offerings span pre-professional tracks, an Honors Program, study abroad, ROTC, and student support services including career development and campus ministries, all delivered within a Christ-centered faith-based framework on a 150-acre Jefferson City, Tennessee campus.
Is Carson-Newman University a public or private company?
Carson-Newman University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Carson-Newman University founded?
Carson-Newman University was founded in 1851.
Where is Carson-Newman University based?
Carson-Newman University is headquartered in Jefferson City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Carson-Newman University make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are room and Board and auxiliary Services.
Who are Carson-Newman University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bryan College, Union University, Maryville College, Tusculum University, Milligan University, King University and Tennessee Wesleyan University. Broad incumbents are Samford University and Belmont University. Lincoln Memorial University is listed as a regional player.
Does Carson-Newman University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Carson-Newman University.
What industry is Carson-Newman University in?
Carson-Newman University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHACAF, Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges, with a secondary code of EDAHACAA, General Liberal Arts Colleges. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.