Community HigherEd

What Community HigherEd does

Community HigherEd (CHE) is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered at 4242 South Sheridan Rd, Tulsa, Oklahoma, that serves as the parent entity for three career-focused colleges: Community Care College (medical, legal, fitness, veterinary, dental, and business programs), Clary Sage College (cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, fashion design, interior design, makeup artistry, massage therapy, and nail technology), and Oklahoma Technical College (automotive, diesel, electrical, HVAC, and welding). The organization was founded in 2015 by Teresa Knox, who converted the underlying for-profit enterprise — originally established in 1995 as Dental Directions, The School of Dental Assisting — into a non-profit to prioritize student outcomes over financial returns. CHE serves approximately 1,500 students per year across 40+ diploma and degree programs with day, evening, and online course delivery, employing over 120 staff including 62 instructors.

The organization reports a 79.65% graduation rate (versus 46% in the public sector) and an 86.72% gainful employment rate, supported by Career Services relationships with 4,339 regional employers. Average student age is 28, with over 50% being first-generation college students. The colleges operate under ACCSC accreditation and OBPVS licensing, with student loan default rates of 11.3% — below both the national and state averages. Community HigherEd operates a defined CARES culture (Courtesy, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, Success) and small class sizes (25:1 lab, 30:1 lecture).

The business model combines three revenue streams: educational tuition and fees across the three colleges, tax-deductible donations channeled through the Community HigherEd Scholarship Fund, and corporate event sponsorships for recurring fundraisers including the Swings Fore Scholarships Golf Tournament, Trivia Night: Brainstorm, and the Clary Runway fashion show. Tuition pricing is not publicly disclosed. The organization has no venture capital or private equity backing, no proprietary technology platform, and no AI/ML capabilities; operations and instruction are people-driven. Geographic reach is concentrated in Oklahoma with a small student footprint in 11 other states.

Name

Community HigherEd

Legal name

Community HigherEd

Website

https://communityhighered.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Community HigherEd is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating three career colleges in Tulsa, Oklahoma, serving approximately 1,500 adult learners annually across 40+ vocational programs in healthcare, skilled trades, creative arts, and business, funded through tuition, donations, and event sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career-Focused Vocational Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD)

Keywords

• Vocational education
• Career colleges
• Technical training
• Non-profit education
• Workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Tulsa, OK

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Educational Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition and fees for diploma and degree programs across three colleges: Community Care College, Clary Sage College, and Oklahoma Technical College offering over 40 programs in medical, legal, fitness, veterinary, dental, business, cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, fashion design, interior design, makeup artistry, massage therapy, nail technology, automotive, diesel, electrical, HVAC, and welding fields.
2. Donations and Fundraising: As a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, Community HigherEd accepts donations designated for scholarships, capital improvements, and academic operations. Various donation options are available including online giving, mail, and wire transfers.
3. Event Sponsorships: Revenue generated from corporate sponsorships of fundraising events including Swings Fore Scholarships Golf Tournament, Trivia Night Brainstorm, and Clary Runway fashion show. Sponsorship tiers range from $20 to $25,000.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Community HigherEd is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational foundation that operates three career-focused college campuses in Tulsa, Oklahoma—Community Care College, Clary Sage College, and Oklahoma Technical College—delivering more than 40 diploma and degree programs in medical, legal, fitness, veterinary, dental, business, cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, fashion design, interior design, makeup artistry, massage therapy, nail technology, automotive, diesel, electrical, HVAC, and welding fields through day, evening, and online course formats to approximately 1,500 adult learners per year.

Product overview

Community HigherEd is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that operates three career-focused college campuses: Community Care College (medical, legal, fitness, veterinary, dental, and business programs), Clary Sage College (cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, fashion design, interior design, makeup artistry, massage therapy, and nail technology), and Oklahoma Technical College (automotive, diesel, electrical, HVAC, and welding trades). The organization supports over 40 diploma and degree programs across its campuses, serving approximately 1,500 students annually with career-focused education that leads to employment in under a year. Community HigherEd also operates fundraising events including Trivia Night: Brainstorm, Swings Fore Scholarships Golf Tournament, and Clary Runway fashion show to support student scholarships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Care College
• Clary Sage College
• Oklahoma Technical College
• Community HigherEd Scholarship Fund

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 4,339 Regional EmployerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer Services maintains relationships with thousands of regional employers who recruit graduates from the three colleges. These employer partnerships support student job placement and ensure curriculum alignment with industry needs.
• Let's RoamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdventure experience company that partnered with CHE Events for scavenger hunt activities as part of community engagement events.
• Battle Creek Golf ClubminorGTM or Marketing Partner18-hole golf course in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma hosting the annual Swings Fore Scholarships golf tournament benefiting CHE students.
• Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)coreOthersThe colleges maintain ACCSC accreditation which reflects commitment to accountability and excellence in education standards.
• Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools (OBPVS)coreOthersThe colleges maintain OBPVS licensing, reflecting commitment to both accountability and excellence.
• Cox Media GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrevious sponsor of Swings Fore Scholarships golf tournament.
• Gragg MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrevious sponsor of Swings Fore Scholarships golf tournament.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Aveda Institutes: Aveda Institutes operate cosmetology and esthetics schools nationally, directly comparable to the cosmetology, esthetics, makeup artistry, and beauty programs at Clary Sage College.
• ECPI University: ECPI University is a career-focused institution offering degree programs in health sciences, technology, and business with multiple campuses, mirroring the multi-campus career college approach of Community HigherEd.
• Lincoln Tech: Lincoln Tech operates multiple campuses offering career training in skilled trades, healthcare, automotive, and cosmetology, with a similar multi-discipline career college model to Community HigherEd's three colleges.
• Remington College: Remington College is a non-profit career college system offering diploma and degree programs in healthcare, trades, and business across multiple campuses, similar to Community HigherEd's three-college structure.
• WyoTech: WyoTech specializes in automotive, diesel, HVAC, and welding training programs, directly comparable to Oklahoma Technical College's skilled trades portfolio.
• South College: South College is a non-profit institution offering career-focused degree programs in healthcare, business, and education with multiple campus locations, comparable to Community HigherEd's three-campus structure.
• CollegeAmerica: CollegeAmerica is a non-profit institution offering career-focused degrees in healthcare, business, and technology, comparable to Community HigherEd's mission-driven, career-oriented educational model.
• Paul Mitchell Schools: Paul Mitchell Schools is a national network of cosmetology and barbering schools offering diploma programs, directly comparable to Clary Sage College's cosmetology, barbering, and esthetics offerings.
• Platt College: Platt College operates career-focused campuses offering programs in health sciences, business, and creative fields, comparable to the multi-discipline diploma and degree portfolio at Community Care College and Clary Sage College.
• Universal Technical Institute: Universal Technical Institute is a publicly traded career college specializing in automotive, diesel, welding, and skilled trades training, directly comparable to Oklahoma Technical College's trades portfolio within Community HigherEd.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/commcarecollege
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CommunityCareCollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/communitycarecollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-highered

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 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 Community HigherEd