Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family

What Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family does

The Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family is a graduate theological institution offering Catholic scholarship in marriage, family, and human anthropology. Founded by Pope John Paul II in Rome via the 1982 Apostolic Constitution Magnum matrimonii sacramentum, the Washington D.C. session was established in 1988 as the first international chapter at The Catholic University of America, where it remains housed in McGivney Hall. The Institute offers four civil degrees (M.T.S. in Marriage and Family, M.A. in Catholic Liberal Education, M.T.S. in Biotechnology and Ethics, and a Ph.D. in Theology) accredited through CUA, alongside two pontifical degrees (S.T.L. and S.T.D.) conferred under Holy See authority. Faculty are recognized scholars in metaphysics, theological anthropology, patristics, bioethics, and family law, and the Institute operates with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio that supports individualized mentorship.

The Institute's business model rests on three pillars: tuition and academic fees from its civil and pontifical degree programs; donor-funded scholarships, with 85% of full-time students receiving financial aid through the Knights of Columbus; and revenue from two publishing arms—Humanum Review (an online academic journal) and Humanum Academic Press (scholarly book publishing). The curriculum is unified around John Paul II's nuptial anthropology, integrating theology, philosophy, scripture, ethics, law, and natural science. Distribution is conducted in person at the Washington, D.C. campus, with newer evening and continuing education offerings extending access to working professionals. Marketing is primarily organic, via the Institute's website, academic conferences, newsletter, YouTube lecture archive, and the worldwide Sessions that convene its international scholarly community—most recently evidenced by Pope Leo XIV addressing the Institute during an October 2025 Jubilee pilgrimage in Rome.

Name

Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family

Legal name

Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at The Catholic University of America

Website

https://johnpaulii.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Pontifical John Paul II Institute is a Catholic graduate theological institution at The Catholic University of America offering civil and pontifical degrees in marriage and family studies, serving clergy, religious, and lay students through a faculty of internationally recognized Catholic scholars.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Graduate Theological Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAKAD

Theological Universities & Pontifical Universities

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Religious & Theological Colleges

SECONDARYEDAHAKAA

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Religious & Theological Colleges

SECONDARYEDAHAKAM

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Religious & Theological Colleges

Keywords

• Graduate theological education
• Marriage and family studies
• Catholic scholarship
• Pontifical degrees
• Theological anthropology

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: The Institute generates revenue through tuition and fees from its civil degree programs (M.T.S., M.A., Ph.D.) and pontifical degree programs (S.T.L., S.T.D.). Financial aid is available, with 85% of full-time students receiving scholarships through the generosity of the Knights of Columbus.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Institute delivers graduate-level theological education focused on marriage, family, and the human person, offering civil degrees (M.T.S., M.A., Ph.D.) accredited by The Catholic University of America and pontifical degrees (S.T.L., S.T.D.) recognized by the Holy See. It also provides non-degree certificate, non-degree-seeking enrollment, and continuing education programs, along with academic publishing through Humanum Review and Humanum Academic Press. The curriculum integrates Scripture, theology, philosophy, ethics, law, natural science, and literature through the unifying lens of John Paul II's nuptial anthropology and theology of the person.

Product overview

The Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family is an academic institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs. It provides three civil degrees (M.T.S. in Marriage and Family, M.A. in Catholic Liberal Education, M.T.S. in Biotechnology and Ethics, and Ph.D. in Theology), two pontifical degrees (S.T.L. and S.T.D. in Marriage and Family), and three non-degree programs (Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies, Non-Degree-Seeking Enrollment, and Continuing Education). The Institute also operates two academic publishing arms: Humanum Review (an online journal on family, culture, and science) and Humanum Academic Press (for scholarly works in metaphysics and theological anthropology). The programs center on understanding the human person through the lens of marriage and family, grounded in Catholic theological and philosophical tradition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Humanum Review: An online academic journal exploring issues in family, culture, and science, examining what makes us human.
• Humanum Academic Press

Products and services

• Master of Theological Studies in Marriage and Family (M.T.S.) A civil graduate degree program providing comprehensive understanding of marriage and family studies rooted in Catholic theological tradition.
• Master of Arts in Catholic Liberal Education (M.A.) A civil graduate degree focused on Catholic liberal education within the Catholic intellectual tradition.
• Master of Theological Studies: Concentration in Biotechnology and Ethics (M.T.S.) A civil graduate degree exploring bioethical questions at the intersection of biotechnology and moral theology.
• Doctor of Philosophy in Theology with a Specialization in Person, Marriage, and Family (Ph.D.) The highest civil academic degree, offering doctoral specialization in the study of the person, marriage, and family within theological frameworks.
• Licentiate in Sacred Theology of Marriage and Family (S.T.L.) A pontifical degree awarded by the Holy See, providing specialized theological formation in marriage and family studies.
• Doctorate in Sacred Theology with a Specialization in Marriage and Family (S.T.D.) The highest pontifical theological degree, specializing in marriage and family studies at the doctoral level.
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies An advanced graduate certificate program for students seeking specialized formation without completing a full degree.
• Non-Degree-Seeking Enrollment Opportunity for students to take individual courses without pursuing a formal degree.
• Continuing Education Program Ongoing educational offerings for professional development and lifelong learning in theological and family studies.
• Humanum Review: Issues in Family, Culture, and Science An online academic journal exploring what makes us human, examining family, culture, and science through theological and philosophical lenses.
• Humanum Academic Press Academic press publishing contemporary scholarship in metaphysics, philosophical and theological anthropology, focusing on works that deepen Vatican II teaching and theology of love.

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• The Catholic University of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Washington Session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute is located at The Catholic University of America campus. The Institute offers both civil (U.S.-accredited) and pontifical (Vatican-recognized) degrees, providing students with dual credentials that leverage CUA's institutional infrastructure and academic accreditation while maintaining its pontifical canonical erection.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boston College School of Theology and Ministry: Major U.S. Catholic graduate school offering M.Div., M.A., and Ph.D. programs in theology and ministry, serving a comparable lay/ordained Catholic student body with similar intellectual orientation.
• Pontifical Lateran University: The Vatican-based parent institute of the JPII Institute's degree lineage; awards the S.T.L./S.T.D. pontifical credentials the DC session confers, and shares the same theological anthropology tradition. Most direct institutional peer.
• Pontifical Gregorian University: Major Rome-based Jesuit pontifical university offering graduate theology (S.T.L./S.T.D.) and serving an international Catholic student body — directly comparable in offering pontifical degrees and forming priests, religious, and laity.
• University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary: U.S. Catholic seminary and graduate school of theology forming priests and lay ministers — comparable in graduate theological formation, though more focused on priestly formation than marriage/family specialization.
• Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum): Rome-based Dominican pontifical university offering S.T.L./S.T.D. and theology graduate programs to an international Catholic audience, with comparable ecclesiastical accreditation.
• Pontifical University of the Holy Cross: Rome-based pontifical university offering graduate theology, philosophy, and canon law; comparable pontifical-degree structure and international Catholic student audience.
• Dominican House of Studies: Washington D.C.-based Catholic graduate school of theology offering the M.Div., S.T.L., and S.T.D.; shares the same city and graduate Catholic theology audience with strong Thomistic tradition overlap.

Emerging players

• Ave Maria University: Newer Catholic university with graduate theology programs and a John Paul II-oriented intellectual culture; less established but with meaningful overlap in audience and theological orientation.
• Augustine Institute: Catholic graduate school offering M.A. theology programs (and a nascent Ph.D.) with strong online distribution; competes for the same lay Catholic graduate audience with a more accessible delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• The Catholic University of America: The host parent institution at whose Washington D.C. campus the JPII Institute operates. Offers a much broader portfolio of civil and religious graduate degrees in theology, canon law, and philosophy; broader incumbent in the same space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLeifPMILG4KaU7hccbyDjTPeRgunLwwSa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/pontifical-john-paul-ii-institute-for-studies-on-marriage-and-fam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family