Ferris University

What Ferris University does

Ferris University (フェリス女学院大学) is a private women's university located in Yokohama, Japan, operated by the Christian educational foundation Ferris Jogakuin (学校法人フェリス女学院). Founded by Mary E. Kida with a "For Others" educational philosophy, the institution has operated for over 150 years and is positioned within the competitive Japanese private women's university segment. The university operates two campuses in Yokohama (Ryokuen main campus and Yamate) and delivers education through three undergraduate faculties — Global Liberal Arts, Literature, and Music — alongside three graduate schools in Humanities, Global and Intercultural Studies, and Music. Its core academic offering is centered on a Common Liberal Arts (CLA) curriculum, an English Intensive Course, and a recently introduced Data Science minor.

The institution's operational platform comprises FerrisPassport (student portal), Ferris Admissions Navi, Post@net entrance exam system, and Library OPAC, supporting the full student lifecycle from admissions through graduation. Strategic alliances have been formed with Seinan Jo Gakuin University, Fukuoka Jo Gakuin University, Tokyo Metropolitan Nagayama High School, and Shiseido Japan, alongside a merit-based scholarship system launched in May 2026.

The business model is tuition-driven: revenue is generated primarily through recurring undergraduate and graduate tuition and ancillary fees, supplemented by entrance fees, donations, and auxiliary services. The customer base is segmented into undergraduate women, graduate students, international students, and working adults (社会人). No public revenue disclosure is made, and the institution operates as a non-profit educational foundation subject to Japan's gakko-hojin (学校法人) regulatory framework.

Name

Ferris University

Legal name

Ferris University (フェリス女学院大学)

Website

https://ferris.ac.jp

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ferris University (フェリス女学院大学) is a private Christian women's university in Yokohama, Japan, operating since 1870 under Ferris Jogakuin. It serves undergraduate and graduate women across Liberal Arts, Literature, and Music faculties via two campuses and a tuition-based recurring revenue model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Humanities & Creative Research Universities (EDAHABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Women’s Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAB)

Keywords

• Women's higher education
• Liberal arts programs
• Graduate studies
• Music education
• International studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Yokohama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from student tuition and enrollment fees across undergraduate and graduate programs. The university offers various payment plans and scholarship programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Ferris University is a private women's university delivering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across the Global Liberal Arts Faculty, Literature Faculty, and Music Faculty. Programs span humanities, international studies, psychology, communication, cultural expression, literature, and music, with supporting services including an English Intensive Course, career support, and international exchange opportunities.

Product overview

Ferris University is a women's university in Yokohama, Japan, organized as a multi-faculty institution offering undergraduate and graduate education across the Global Liberal Arts Faculty (グローバル教養学部), Literature Faculty (文学部), and Music Faculty (音楽学部). The university's product portfolio centers on academic degree programs spanning the humanities, social sciences, intercultural studies, psychology, media, cultural expression, and music. A distinctive feature is the Common Liberal Arts (CLA) curriculum, which provides interdisciplinary foundational courses including Christian studies, 10-language offerings, and practical liberal arts. The institution operates specialized internal platforms including FerrisPassport (student/ faculty portal), Post@net (online admissions system), and Ferris Admissions Navi (entrance examination guidance platform), as well as a Library OPAC. The English Intensive Course (英語インテンシブ・コース) provides intensive language training across three tracks. Co-curricular offerings include career support, internship programs, study abroad partnerships, and a Data Science minor.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Global Liberal Arts Faculty (グローバル教養学部) Undergraduate liberal arts program for women covering international society studies, psychology and communication, and cultural expression with international and intercultural focus.
• Literature Faculty (文学部) Undergraduate liberal arts program for women focused on literature, language, and communication studies.
• Music Faculty (音楽学部) Music education programs for undergraduate and graduate students with performance, creation, and cultural study focus.
• Graduate Schools (大学院) Master's and doctoral degree programs in humanities research, global and intercultural studies, and music studies.
• English Intensive Course (英語インテンシブ・コース) Project-based intensive English language program transitioning students from passive learners to active English users, with three enrollment tracks.
• Data Science Minor (副専攻データサイエンス) Interdisciplinary minor program offering data science, AI literacy, and quantitative reasoning skills to undergraduate students.
• Career Support System (キャリアサポート) Career services for students including internships, career counseling, employment data, and employer networking.
• Merit-Based Scholarship System (成績優秀者奨学金制度) Merit-based scholarship program offering full 4-year tuition coverage or entrance fee waivers based on entrance examination scores for prospective undergraduate students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Strong employment outcomes with graduates working at major companies including JR East

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 東京都立永山高等学校 (Tokyo Metropolitan Nagayama High School)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2026Tall partnership agreement for high school-university collaboration aimed at providing enhanced educational opportunities for students.
• 西南女学院大学 (Seinan Jo Gakuin University)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 July 2026Mutual cooperation and collaboration agreement between the two women's universities to promote academic exchange and joint initiatives.
• 福岡女学院大学 (Fukuoka Jo Gakuin University)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2026Student exchange agreement enabling students from both institutions to participate in exchange programs and cultural activities.
• Domestic Partner Universities (for 国内留学)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of domestic Japanese universities with which Ferris has credit transfer agreements, enabling students to study abroad domestically.
• Overseas Partner UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university partnerships worldwide providing study abroad opportunities and cultural exchange programs for students.
• 資生堂ジャパン (Shiseido Japan)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partnership through marketing research program 'Omni PBP' where students develop Z-generation fan engagement strategies for the company.
• Local Businesses and Organizations in YokohamaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership program connecting students with local companies, government offices, and organizations for PBL (Project-Based Learning) and collaborative projects.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tsuda University (Tsuda Jukuka Daigaku): Private women's university in Tokyo with a strong emphasis on liberal arts education, English language, and international studies. Closely comparable to Ferris in mission, scale, and academic focus.
• Temple University Japan: US-affiliated university in Tokyo offering liberal arts with an international focus. Comparable to Ferris in international orientation, English-medium instruction options, and appeal to globally-minded students.
• Showa Women's University (Showa Joshi Daigaku): Large private women's university in Tokyo known for liberal arts, humanities, and interdisciplinary programs. Comparable to Ferris in target market and academic positioning, though at larger scale.
• Fukuoka Jo Gakuin University: Private women's university in Fukuoka with Christian educational foundation. Direct comparable to Ferris as a faith-affiliated women's university; already a student exchange partner.
• Seinan Jo Gakuin University: Private women's university in Fukuoka with Christian heritage and liberal arts programs. Direct comparable to Ferris as a peer women's institution; already a mutual cooperation partner.
• Kyoto Notre Dame University (Kyoto Noterudamu Joshi Daigaku): Private women's university in Kyoto founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame, with liberal arts and humanities programs. Comparable to Ferris as a small faith-affiliated women's institution.
• Keisen University (Keisen Jogakuen Daigaku): Private women's university in Tokyo with strong liberal arts, international studies, and small-class teaching philosophy. Comparable to Ferris in mission, scale, and pedagogical approach.
• Japan Women's University (Nihon Joshi Daigaku): One of Japan's largest and most established private women's universities, located in Tokyo. Highly comparable as a private women's institution offering liberal arts, humanities, and social sciences programs with a long Christian/heritage tradition.
• Shirayuri University (Shirayuri Joshi Daigaku): Private women's university in Tokyo founded by Catholic Sisters, offering humanities and social sciences programs. Comparable to Ferris as a faith-affiliated private women's institution with similar liberal arts curriculum.

Others

• Ferris Jogakuin High School (フェリス女学院高等学校): Same Ferris Jogakuin educational foundation but at the secondary level. Not a higher education peer, but a directly related feeder institution and sister brand within the same educational corporation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ferrisuniv
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzeL564tE9e-eU_5JrFv-Dg
• Facebookfacebook.com/FerrisUniversity
• Instagraminstagram.com/ferrisuniv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ferris-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Ferris University