Catholic International University

What Catholic International University does

Catholic International University (CIU), founded in 1983 and headquartered in Charles Town, West Virginia, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Catholic institution operating exclusively as a fully online university. Originally established as Catholic Distance University, it rebranded to Catholic International University in 2023 alongside a presidential leadership transition to reflect a more global orientation. CIU delivers asynchronous distance-learning undergraduate and graduate programs through the Canvas LMS, with degree offerings spanning theology, liberal arts, ecclesial management, education, and — as of 2025 — an MS in Prudential Design of Emerging Technologies.

The university's core technology stack consists of the Canvas learning management system for degree delivery and a partnership with Edovo for incarcerated-learner content distribution. Through Edovo, CIU offers 119 courses across 1,651 correctional facilities, having reached 247,849 incarcerated learners since the prison ministry program launched in 2018. The institution is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the Association of Theological Schools, holds Pontifical Institute status under the Vatican's Dicastery for Culture and Education, and is recognized by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

CIU's business model is tuition-funded, with revenue streams from undergraduate and graduate tuition, continuing-education programs, and a Digital Continent initiative supporting faith-formation learners globally. Distribution occurs through direct-to-consumer online enrollment, diocese-level partnerships across the US and Canada, and Spanish-language outreach to Latin America and Africa. The university also pursues grant and donor funding to support its prison ministry and expanding international footprint.

Name

Catholic International University

Legal name

Catholic International University

Website

https://catholiciu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Catholic International University is a fully online, 501(c)(3) Catholic institution founded in 1983, serving global students through asynchronous degree programs in theology, liberal arts, business, and emerging technologies, plus a large-scale prison-education channel via Edovo.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Catholic Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Fully Online Universities (Online-First, Degree-Granting) (EDAHALAA), Divinity Schools (University-Affiliated) (EDAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Online Catholic education
• Theology degree programs
• Distance learning university
• Catechetical formation
• Liberal arts programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Charles Town

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Degree and certificate program tuition revenue from undergraduate and graduate students. Programs include theology, liberal arts, education, business & ecclesial management, and emerging technologies. Most affordable undergraduate tuition among U.S.-based online Catholic universities.
2. Continuing Education: Revenue from independent study courses, continuing education certificates, and online seminars for catechists, Catholic educators, and administrators. Delivered through PathLMS platform.
3. Donations and Fundraising: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization accepting donations through online portal, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, stock transfers, DAF, checks, and wills. Annual Gala is the largest in-person fundraising event.
4. Transcript Fees: Official transcript ordering service through Parchment partnership. Electronic copies $10.00, paper copies $15.00 per address.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Catholic International University delivers fully online undergraduate, graduate, and certificate degree programs in theology, liberal arts and education, business and ecclesial management, and emerging technologies, taught asynchronously through Canvas LMS. The institution also operates a digital prison ministry delivering catechetical courses via Edovo and continuing education certificates through PathLMS, targeting Catholic learners worldwide including incarcerated individuals.

Product overview

Catholic International University operates as a fully online Catholic university offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products across multiple academic disciplines. The core offerings include online theology degree programs (MA, BA, AA) and certificates spanning Catholic Social Teaching, Sacred Scripture, and Catechetics. The university provides liberal arts and education programs at undergraduate and graduate levels, plus a Master of Arts in Ecclesial Administration & Management for Church leadership. A notable newer addition is the Emerging Technology Program (launched 2025) featuring an MS in Prudential Design of Emerging Technologies and certificates in Person-Centered Technology, integrating faith and ethics with AI and emerging technologies. Continuing education includes PathLMS-based courses, catechetical certificates, and online seminars. The institution also serves incarcerated learners through its Prison Ministry Program on Edovo (119+ courses), and provides Spanish-language programs for global learners. Students access coursework through Canvas LMS, with library, student services, and mobile app support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Theology Program Comprehensive online theology degree program including Master of Arts in Theology, Bachelor of Arts in Theology, Associate of Arts in Theology, and various graduate and undergraduate certificates with specializations in Catholic Social Teaching, Sacred Scripture, and Catechetics. Targets Catholic learners worldwide seeking academically rigorous, faithful theological formation.
• Master of Science in Prudential Design of Emerging Technologies Graduate program at the intersection of AI application development and ethics, preparing leaders to advance technology while ensuring it serves the common good. For professionals seeking to integrate faith and ethics with emerging technology innovation.
• Graduate Certificate in Person-Centered Technology Certificate program focusing on designing technology with purpose, integrating faith and ethics with emerging technology innovation. Targets graduate-level students and professionals.
• Liberal Arts & Education Programs Programs including Master of Arts in Liberal Arts Education, Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts, Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts, and certificates in Catholic school leadership and philosophy. Targets Catholic educators and learners seeking broad liberal arts formation.
• Master of Arts in Ecclesial Administration & Management (MEAM) Graduate program equipping clergy and laity with management skills for Church leadership, emphasizing financial strategies and best practices in ecclesial administration grounded in Catholic Social Teaching.
• Business & Management Certificates Undergraduate certificates in Management & Marketing and Management & Finance, plus graduate certificates in Ecclesial Administration & Management. For Church administrators and business students.
• Continuing Education Independent study courses, continuing education certificates (Basic Certificate in Catechetics, Diocesan Lay Leadership Certificate, Certificate in Catechism of the Catholic Church), and three-week online seminars in Theology, Philosophy, and Apologetics delivered through PathLMS. For catechists, Catholic educators, and administrators.
• Early College Program College-level courses for high school juniors and seniors (16+ with 3.0 GPA) to earn transferable college credit early. Maximum 5 courses (15 credits). For high school students seeking to start college education early through dual enrollment with partner schools.
• Prison Ministry Program Digital prison ministry providing 119 catechetical courses to incarcerated individuals through Edovo platform, with 3,297,663 lessons completed and 247,849 learners engaged since 2018. Includes Gatekeepers Re-Entry program, Behind the Walls, Digital Rosary, and Spanish-language content.
• Spanish Language Programs Degree and certificate programs offered entirely in Spanish, including Maestría en Teología con Especialidad en Doctrina Social de la Iglesia and undergraduate certificates. Targets Spanish-speaking Catholic learners globally.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80%+ graduation rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Edovo Technology CompanycoreTechnology or Integration · 14 March 2018Digital platform partner providing technology infrastructure for delivering Catholic catechetical courses to incarcerated individuals. Partnership began in March 2018 with launch of The Gospel of St. Matthew course when Edovo served under 50 prisons. Expanded to 119 courses across 1,651 facilities as of April 2026. Edovo enables access to education for prisoners who would otherwise have limited religious formation opportunities.
• Order of MaltacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSovereign Military Order of Malta has supported creation of many prison ministry courses including Gatekeepers Re-Entry program (English and Spanish), Stations of the Cross program, Behind the Walls, Digital Rosary, Quarterly Newsletters, and COVID-19 pandemic content. The partnership has enabled development of 208 audio files for the Hallow Company Audio Series. Order of Malta members also serve as volunteers visiting the incarcerated.
• Kolbe AcademymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEarly college partnership allowing qualified high school students to begin earning college credit while continuing to grow within their home communities. Kolbe offers classical Catholic education emphasizing critical thinking, virtue formation, and engagement with Western intellectual tradition. Students can take 100/200-level courses through CIU's online platform.
• Seton Home Study SchoolmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEarly college partnership with nationally recognized Catholic homeschooling program providing structured curriculum rooted in Church teachings. Decades of experience supporting Catholic families. Seton students are well prepared for rigorous college-level study while remaining grounded in Catholic formation through CIU's online coursework.
• Angelicum Online Learning CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEarly college partnership delivering rich classical Catholic education through live and recorded online instruction. Strong focus on literature, philosophy, and theology forming students in the great conversation of Church and Western Civilization. Students access CIU college-level courses through this partnership.
• Oxrose AcademyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEarly college partnership with Catholic fully online homeschool program committed to academic excellence and personal formation. Combines structured coursework with family flexibility, equipping students with discipline, intellectual maturity, and faith foundation for college-level learning at CIU.
• PathLMScoreTechnology or IntegrationLearning management system platform for continuing education courses, certificates, and online seminars. Hosts Basic Certificate in Catechetics, Diocesan Lay Leadership Certificate, Certificate in Catechism of the Catholic Church, and three-week Online Seminars in Theology, Philosophy, and Apologetics.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Pontifical University of the Holy Cross: Vatican-based pontifical university producing theology faculty for global Catholic institutions. Comparable as the source institution for several CIU faculty and as a higher-prestige Catholic theology credentialing alternative primarily serving European and international students.

Direct peers

• Wyoming Catholic College: Small traditional Catholic liberal arts college. Comparable as a small, faithful Catholic higher-ed institution targeting similar value-driven Catholic student segments, though primarily residential rather than online.
• Ave Maria University: Faithful Catholic university offering theology, philosophy, and liberal arts programs with online options. Comparable as a Catholic institution explicitly endorsed by the Cardinal Newman Society and competing for the same traditional Catholic student persona.
• Franciscan University of the Steubenville: Catholic university with strong theology and catechetics programs plus online offerings. Comparable as a faithful Catholic higher-ed option targeting the same formation-focused student segments.
• Christendom College: Small faithful Catholic liberal arts college with online graduate programs in theology and Catholic studies. Comparable as a niche Catholic institution serving catechists, educators, and lay faithful.
• Holy Apostles College and Seminary: Online Catholic college and seminary offering catechetics, theology, and philosophy degrees. Directly comparable as a fully online Catholic institution serving lay ministers, deacon candidates, and religious educators — competing head-to-head with CIU in catechetical formation.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic University of America: National pontifical university with extensive theology, religious education, and Church administration programs. Comparable as a broader Catholic institution in Washington, DC with deeper academic infrastructure — CIU's president Maria Sophia Aguirre previously taught there.
• Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU): Largest online university in the U.S. operating fully online degree programs at scale via Canvas-like infrastructure. Comparable as a fully online university competitor on online pedagogy and non-traditional student recruitment, though secular.
• University of Notre Dame (Theology Online): Major Catholic research university with growing online and continuing education programs in theology. Comparable as a broader, higher-prestige Catholic institution competing for theological formation students with significantly greater resources and brand recognition.

Others

• Edovo: Digital education platform serving incarcerated learners across 1,600+ facilities. Comparable as a technology and distribution partner underpinning CIU's prison ministry program and key channel to that learner segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CatholicIU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CatholicInternationalU
• Facebookfacebook.com/CatholicInternationalUniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catholic-international-university

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 Catholic International University