What Spring Arbor University does

Spring Arbor University is a private Christian liberal arts university founded in 1873 and headquartered in Spring Arbor, Michigan. The institution serves approximately 2,468 students across three delivery channels: residential campus undergraduate programs (949 students, 13:1 student-faculty ratio, average class size of 17), online undergraduate degree-completion programs targeting adult learners, and graduate programs (1,335 students, the largest cohort). It also enrolls dual enrollment high school students, transfer students through articulation agreements with regional community colleges, and military/veteran students via a dedicated Veteran Resource Office.

The university's product portfolio spans associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees with concentrations in business, nursing, counseling, education, social work, cybersecurity, human services, music, and engineering (via 3+2 partnerships with Michigan State, University of Michigan, and Western Michigan). Specialized offerings include the E.P. Hart Honors Program (Great Books curriculum), a comprehensive music department with a Nashville semester partnership, and the wholly-owned Spring Arbor University Physical Therapy Center, which provides outpatient rehabilitation services to the public. The technology backbone is the MySAU learning management system with Virtual Classroom delivery for online students, supported by a Salesforce-integrated self-service enrollment portal.

Revenue mechanics are tuition-driven: campus undergraduates pay $48,960 in annual tuition, fees, room, and board before an average $29,900 financial aid package that reduces net cost to roughly $19,060. Online undergraduate tuition is $432-$541 per credit hour and graduate tuition is $549-$892 per credit hour, billed per semester. The go-to-market motion combines territory-based regional admissions representatives covering Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and 45 additional states with campus visit events, Scholarship Days, and an online self-service channel enabled by SARA membership. The institution is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, participates in Title IV federal student aid programs, and is governed independently with no parent company or external ownership stake.

Name

Spring Arbor University

Legal name

Spring Arbor University

Website

https://springarbor.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1873

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Spring Arbor University is a private Christian liberal arts university in Michigan serving 2,468 students across residential campus undergraduate, online undergraduate, and graduate programs, with revenue generated primarily through tuition, fees, and room/board.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Christian Liberal Arts)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH)

Keywords

• Christian liberal arts education
• Online undergraduate degrees
• Graduate professional programs
• Higher education services
• Residential undergraduate programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Spring Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Campus Undergraduate Tuition: Full-time campus undergraduate students pay annual tuition of $36,200 plus fees ($714), room ($5,728), and board ($6,318) totaling $48,960 annually before financial aid. Revenue is recurring per academic year.
2. Online Undergraduate Tuition: Online undergraduate programs charged per credit hour at $432-$541 depending on program, with total degree costs ranging from $12,960 to $64,920.
3. Graduate Tuition: Graduate programs charged per credit hour at $549-$892 depending on program. Graduate degrees total $16,470-$49,410 for most programs.
4. Federal Student Aid Administration: University administers federal financial aid including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, Parent PLUS, Graduate PLUS, and TEACH Grants. SAU serves as pass-through for federal student aid programs.
5. Athletic Programs: University operates NCAA Division II athletic programs generating revenue through student athletics fees and recruiting student-athletes. Athletic scholarships provided to recruited athletes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Spring Arbor University is a private Christian liberal arts institution delivering post-secondary education through residential campus undergraduate programs, online undergraduate degree-completion programs, and graduate master's and doctoral programs. Offerings span business, nursing, education, counseling, social work, cybersecurity, human services, music, honors, and liberal arts disciplines, supported by NCAA Division II athletics, a Physical Therapy Center clinic, and federal student aid administration.

Product overview

Spring Arbor University is a Christian liberal arts college offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs. The institution operates three main program delivery channels: Campus Undergraduate Programs (traditional residential programs with spiritual life and athletics), Online Undergraduate Programs (flexible online degree completion for adult learners), and Graduate Programs (master's and doctoral degrees in business, counseling, education, nursing, and social work). Supporting offerings include High School Dual Enrollment, Non-Degree Programs, and CORE Education general curriculum. Specialized programs include Music Programs (with commercial music, music education, and multiple ensembles), the E.P. Hart Honors Program (Great Books curriculum), and the Physical Therapy Center (university-owned clinic providing sports medicine services). The university maintains articulation agreements with partner institutions for seamless transfer pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• E.P. Hart Honors Program: An honors program providing students with a Great Books curriculum centered around the world's most important, enduring texts, featuring spiritual transformation through intellectual community participation.
• Tune Up Tomorrow

Products and services

• Campus Undergraduate Programs Traditional residential undergraduate degree programs for first-time college students, offering a Christian liberal arts education with spiritual life, NCAA Division II athletics, residence life, and student activities on the Spring Arbor, Michigan campus. Includes bachelor's degrees across multiple disciplines.
• Online Undergraduate Programs Flexible online degree completion programs for adult learners, including Associate of Arts, Bachelor's in Business, General Studies, RN-BSN Nursing, Cybersecurity, Human Services, and Social Work. Delivered via Virtual Classroom and fully online formats nationwide.
• Graduate Programs Graduate-level degree programs including MBA, Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC), Education degrees (MAEC, MEDL, MSE, MTESOL), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Master of Social Work (MSW), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Designed for working professionals pursuing career advancement.
• High School Dual Enrollment Dual enrollment opportunities for high school students to earn college credits before graduation, managed by the Dual Enrollment Coordinator.
• Non-Degree Programs Non-degree seeking enrollment options for students who wish to take courses without pursuing a full degree.
• CORE Education General education curriculum providing foundational liberal arts knowledge integrated with Christian worldview perspectives, required for undergraduate degree programs.
• Music Programs Comprehensive music education offerings including Commercial Music, Music, Music Education K-12, Music Ministry Leadership, Songwriting, and Music Production programs with multiple ensembles (Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, University Singers, Rooted vocal ensemble). Includes a semester-long Nashville program at the Contemporary Music Center.
• E.P. Hart Honors Program Elite academic honors program featuring a Great Books curriculum centered on timeless texts from Scripture to philosophy, with an annual honors seminar and senior thesis project, designed for spiritual transformation through intellectual community participation.
• Spring Arbor University Physical Therapy Center University-owned outpatient clinic offering physical therapy and sports medicine services including Astym therapy, concussion management, cupping, dry needling, orthopedics, and vestibular treatment to both the SAU community and the general public.
• Federal Student Aid Administration University administration of federal financial aid programs including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, Parent PLUS, Graduate PLUS, and TEACH Grants for enrolled students (Federal School Code 002318).
• NCAA Division II Athletic Programs University-operated NCAA Division II athletic programs providing competitive sports opportunities and athletic scholarships for recruited student-athletes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 78% first-year retention rate for first-time, full-time students (2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jackson CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArticulation agreement for degree completion programs in Early Childhood Teacher Education and Social Work. Students can transfer seamlessly from Jackson College to SAU for degree completion. Agreement active since 2013.
• North Central Michigan CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArticulation agreement for Teacher Education degree completion program. Revised agreement active since 2016 for seamless transfer pathways.
• Oakland Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArticulation agreements for all degree completion programs and RN-MSN nursing program. Active 2017-2020 with continued operation pending renewal.
• Michigan State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner3+2 Engineering Program partnership where students complete 3 years at SAU (typically in physics or chemistry) then transfer to MSU for 2 years of engineering coursework. Active since 1995.
• University of MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner3+2 Engineering Program partnership allowing students to complete pre-engineering coursework at SAU before transferring to U-M for engineering degree completion. Active since 1995.
• Western Michigan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner3+2 Engineering Program partnership for students to complete engineering degrees through transfer pathway. Active since 1995.
• TriState UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner3+2 Engineering Program partnership for engineering degree completion. Active since 1995 but TriState University has since closed.
• Wuhan University of Technology (China)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational articulation agreement for General Education coursework transfer. Active since 2010 for international student pathways.
• Great Lakes Christian CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative transfer relationship covering programs in communication, computer science, education, health and exercise science, marketing, nursing, professional writing, social work, and sports management.
• Terra Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative transfer relationship for Social Work degree completion program.
• Owens Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative transfer relationship for student pathways.
• Contemporary Music Center (Nashville, TN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSemester-long program partnership allowing SAU Music students to spend a semester at CMC in Nashville, TN. 16 credit hour program preparing students for music industry careers. Faculty are music industry professionals.
• U.S. Department of EducationcoreOthersParticipating institution in federal student aid programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. Adheres to Principles of Excellence for educational institutions serving service members, veterans, and their families per Executive Order 13607.
• U.S. Department of Veterans AffairscoreOthersParticipating institution in VA education benefits programs including Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program, and other veteran education assistance programs. Veterans Resource Office provides support for benefit navigation.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hillsdale College: Christian-affiliated private liberal arts college in Michigan known for its Great Books-style core curriculum and residential undergraduate focus — comparable on the Christian liberal arts and Great Books dimensions of SAU's honors program.
• Hope College: Private Christian liberal arts college in Holland, Michigan with residential undergraduate programs, NCAA athletics, and pre-professional pathways — directly comparable as a Michigan-based faith-rooted residential college.
• Concordia University Ann Arbor: Lutheran-affiliated private university in Ann Arbor, Michigan offering residential undergraduate and online/graduate programs — closely comparable faith-based institution with similar size and program portfolio.
• Taylor University: Private Christian liberal arts university in Upland, Indiana with residential undergraduate programs, intercollegiate athletics, and faith integration — directly comparable as a Midwest evangelical Christian residential college.
• Calvin University: Private Christian liberal arts university in Grand Rapids, Michigan offering campus undergraduate, online, and graduate programs with a similar faith-integrated curriculum and similar enrollment scale; directly comparable as a Michigan-based Christian liberal arts competitor.
• Alma College: Private liberal arts college in Alma, Michigan with residential undergraduate focus and NCAA Division III athletics — comparable as a small Michigan private liberal arts peer in the same recruitment region.
• Adrian College: Private liberal arts college in Adrian, Michigan with residential undergraduate programs and NCAA Division II athletics — comparable as a Michigan-based small private liberal arts institution.
• Grace Christian University: Small Christian university in Grand Rapids, Michigan focused on Bible-centered and professional programs with online offerings — comparable as a smaller Michigan-based faith-rooted higher education competitor.
• Cornerstone University: Christian university in Grand Rapids, Michigan offering campus undergraduate, online, and graduate programs including Bible/theology and professional tracks — highly comparable as a smaller Christian institution with similar delivery mix.

Regional players

• Malone University: Christian university in Canton, Ohio with campus undergraduate and graduate programs plus online offerings — comparable evangelical Christian institution in a neighboring state with overlapping Ohio recruitment territory.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/springarboru
• YouTubeyoutube.com/springarboru
• Facebookfacebook.com/springarboru
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/spring-arbor-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/springarboru
• TikToktiktok.com/@springarboru

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Spring Arbor University