Woodbury University

What Woodbury University does

Woodbury University is a private, non-profit higher education institution headquartered at 7500 N Glenoaks Blvd in Burbank, California, now operating as the Los Angeles campus of the University of Redlands following a recent merger. The university delivers undergraduate and graduate programs across four academic units: the School of Media, Culture & Design (animation and VFX, filmmaking, fashion design, game art and design, and experience design/graphic design), the School of Architecture (B.Arch, M.Arch, M.S. in Architecture, and interior design), the School of Business (accounting, computer information systems, fashion marketing, management, marketing, and an MBA), and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Its core technology is classroom-, studio-, and project-based instruction in creative disciplines, supported by institutional systems such as Canvas LMS and shared University of Redlands administrative infrastructure.

The institution serves prospective undergraduate students, graduate students, transfer students, international applicants, veteran applicants, and undocumented applicants, with primary revenue generated from tuition and fees billed on an annual, subscription-like cadence. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer recruitment through the admissions office, campus tours, virtual tours, SOAR orientation, counselor resources, and student ambassador programs. Woodbury's competitive positioning rests on Burbank's proximity to major entertainment studios and a multi-disciplinary creative curriculum.

Woodbury's customer base is highly fragmented — the institutional counterparty is the student body, while the "employer" side of the value chain (animation studios, film and television production companies, fashion houses, video game studios, and design agencies) functions as the destination for graduates rather than a paying customer. Accreditation through WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and Title IX compliance provide the regulatory foundation required to confer federal financial aid and degrees. The university holds memberships in AICAD and the Cumulus Association, and maintains industry-access partnerships with the Academy (Academy Gold Rising Production Track) and the Sony Digital Media Production Center.

Name

Woodbury University

Legal name

Woodbury University

Website

https://mcd.woodbury.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Woodbury University is a private non-profit institution in Burbank, California, now operating as the University of Redlands' Los Angeles campus, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in creative disciplines, architecture, business, and liberal arts. It serves domestic, international, and transfer students through studio-based instruction near major entertainment studios.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Humanities & Creative Research Universities (EDAHABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Secular/Nonsectarian Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAG)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Creative arts education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate programs
• Design education

Headquarters

HQ city

Burbank

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Woodbury University is a private non-profit higher education institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in creative disciplines (animation, filmmaking, fashion design, game art, graphic design), architecture, business, and liberal arts at its Burbank, California campus. The institution operates as the Los Angeles campus of the University of Redlands following a merger and is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

Product overview

Woodbury University is a non-profit, fully accredited higher education institution that offers a diverse portfolio of undergraduate and graduate programs across multiple academic schools. The School of Media : Culture : Design provides creative professional programs in Animation + VFX, Fashion Design, Filmmaking (BA and BFA), Game Art & Design, and Experience Design (Graphic Design). The institution also houses the School of Architecture (offering architecture and interior design programs), the School of Business (including accounting, management, marketing, and MBA programs), and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The university is located in Burbank, California, near major entertainment industry centers, and operates as part of the University of Redlands system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• School of Media : Culture : Design: One of the main academic schools at Woodbury University offering programs in animation, fashion design, filmmaking, game art and design, and graphic design.
• School of Architecture
• School of Business
• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Products and services

• Animation + VFX (BFA) A Bachelor of Fine Arts program located near major animation studios, teaching hand-drawn, stop motion, and computer-based animation techniques in a studio environment. Offered by the School of Media, Culture & Design for undergraduate students.
• Fashion Design An undergraduate program where students produce original fashion designs and develop unique collections in womenswear, menswear, swimwear, knitwear, activewear, or tailoring, with senior collections showcased in professional runway shows.
• Filmmaking (BFA) A Bachelor of Fine Arts program preparing graduates for careers in film, television, and web programming, covering film production, screenwriting, editing, sound, cinematography, directing, producing, and film marketing.
• Filmmaking (BA) A professional liberal arts degree focusing on film as an art form, business, and technology for creating moving images, engaging with the entertainment industry from multiple angles.
• Game Art & Design An undergraduate program where students learn to design and develop video games through 2D & 3D art, animation, programming, sound design, story development, and game design, with focus on character art, environmental design, and gameplay development.
• Experience Design (Graphic Design) A Bachelor of Design program ranked nationally by GDUSA Magazine, teaching visual communication including branding, publication, entertainment, advertising, packaging, web, app, and motion design. Students have won over 100 national and international awards.
• Master's in Interdisciplinary Design A graduate-level interdisciplinary design program cultivating advanced skills across multiple design disciplines.
• School of Architecture Programs Offers architecture programs including Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture, Master of Interior Design, Master of Science in Architecture, and Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, plus the BFA in Interior Design.
• School of Business Programs Offers business programs including Accounting, Computer Information Systems, Fashion Marketing, Management, Marketing, BBA-MBA Accelerated Program, and MBA.
• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Programs Offers interdisciplinary studies, psychology, media studies, public safety administration, and other liberal arts programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graphic Design students have won over 100 national and international awards in the past decade
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Sony Digital Media Production CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2026Woodbury students gained hands-on industry experience at Sony Digital Media Production Center, providing practical exposure to professional media production environments.
• Academy Gold Rising Production TrackcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Woodbury University current students and graduates from the last two years are eligible for the Academy Gold Rising Production Track, focusing on cinematography, costume design, film editing, production design, sound, and visual effects. Individuals in this track get hands-on experience shooting on a soundstage.
• Cumulus AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2025Woodbury University joined the Cumulus Association, an international network of institutions dedicated to art, design, and media education.
• AICAD (Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2023Woodbury University earned AICAD membership, joining a consortium of independent art and design colleges focused on educational excellence and professional preparation.
• The Academy / OscarscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the Academy Gold Rising Production Track, providing Woodbury students and recent graduates access to the Academy's filmmaking programs and industry connections.
• Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProximity to Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network studios provides students with industry resources and networking connections, though not formal partnerships.
• Warner Bros. DiscoveryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents have explored the entertainment and media industry through visits to Warner Bros. Discovery facilities.
• Paramount PicturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlumni have been hired by Paramount Pictures, including Juan Hernandez (CFA Film, '15) who builds diversity at Paramount.
• KCET Fine Cut Festival of FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoodbury Animation + VFX Students have participated in KCET's Fine Cut Festival of Films, providing festival screening opportunities.
• Mount Saint Mary's UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the 'Call and Response' project between BFA Graphic Design students and MFA Creative Writing students at Mount Saint Mary's University.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• University of Redlands: Private nonprofit university that has merged with Woodbury University (now branded University of Redlands, Los Angeles); functions as the parent/incumbent institution providing administrative and accreditation scale to Woodbury's creative programs.

Direct peers

• ArtCenter College of Design: Private Pasadena design school with programs in graphic design, illustration, film, photography, and entertainment design; comparable as a Southern California creative-focused private nonprofit with strong industry placement.
• Pratt Institute: Private New York art and design school with programs in graphic design, fashion, film, and architecture; comparable to Woodbury's creative and architecture schools as a design-focused private nonprofit.
• Otis College of Art and Design: Private Los Angeles art and design college with undergraduate programs in animation, fashion, graphic design, and game design; directly comparable to Woodbury in size, location (LA), and creative-discipline portfolio.
• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): Private Providence, RI art and design college; comparable to Woodbury as a leading private nonprofit design school with similar undergraduate-focused portfolio in creative disciplines.
• California Institute of the Arts (CalArts): Private Valencia, CA arts institution offering animation, film, graphic design, and game design programs; comparable as a California-based creative-arts private nonprofit serving similar target students.
• Academy of Art University: Private San Francisco art and design university offering animation, fashion, game design, and graphic design; comparable to Woodbury as a for-profit/private creative-arts institution with overlapping program mix.
• Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM): Private Los Angeles college focused on fashion, graphic design, and entertainment industry programs; directly comparable to Woodbury's fashion design, marketing, and design offerings.
• Emerson College: Private Boston college with strong film, animation, and media programs; comparable to Woodbury as a private nonprofit specializing in creative/communications disciplines for undergraduate and graduate students.
• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD): Large private nonprofit art and design university with strong animation, film, fashion, and game design programs; comparable as a creative-discipline-focused private nonprofit peer with national standing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/woodbury.mcd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/woodbury-university_2

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Woodbury University