Shorter College

What Shorter College does

Shorter College is a private, faith-based, two-year liberal arts college founded in 1886 by the African Methodist Episcopal Church, headquartered at 604 N Locust St., North Little Rock, Arkansas. It is one of the nation's 110 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and holds the unique distinction of being the only private, two-year HBCU in the United States. The institution offers six associate degree programs — Business Administration & Entrepreneurship, Computer Science, Child Development, Christian Leadership, Criminal Justice, and General Studies — alongside workforce training, career training, an Adult Education Program, an Anchor Program, and a Prison Education Program delivered inside Arkansas correctional facilities. Athletics comprise men's and women's basketball competing in NJCAA Region 2, plus a choral ensemble that has performed at Carnegie Hall.

The college operates on a traditional higher-education revenue model with multiple streams: tuition ($2,400/semester flat for 12-15 credit hours), all-inclusive fees ($2,000/semester), housing ($2,498-$3,200/semester), and meal plans ($1,600/semester for on-campus students), plus federal Pell Grants, FSEOG, federal loans, and state scholarships administered under Title IV. No out-of-state surcharge is applied. A $40 million, 7-year capital campaign structured around 18 anchor donor partnerships supplements operating revenue with philanthropic funding for scholarships and campus transformation.

The technology stack is fully commodity: Ellucian Self-Service for student records, Canvas LMS for course delivery, CAMS Enterprise as a student/faculty/staff portal, Microsoft 365 (Outlook) for email, and standard web/marketing tooling (Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, Wufoo, Donately, JotForm, PayPal, Google reCAPTCHA, Canva, YouTube). Institutional accreditation is held through TRACS, and the college participates in SARA on a provisional status tied to a U.S. Department of Education cash management agreement. Marketing and admissions rely on a sales-led GTM with website, in-person and virtual campus tours, recruitment events, church/community outreach, and SMS opt-in campaigns.

Name

Shorter College

Legal name

Shorter College

Website

https://shortercollege.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1886

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Shorter College is a private, faith-based, two-year HBCU in North Little Rock, Arkansas, offering associate degrees, workforce training, and a Prison Education Program. It serves traditional students, adult learners, incarcerated individuals, and workforce candidates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Two-Year College

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112), Junior Colleges (61121), Junior Colleges (611210)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private/Independent Community & Junior Colleges (EDAHADAB), Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG)

Keywords

• Two-year liberal arts
• Associate degree programs
• Historically black college
• Workforce development training
• Higher education services

Headquarters

HQ city

North Little Rock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from tuition charges per credit hour and comprehensive fees covering student services. Full-time tuition is $3,600/semester with additional all-in-one fees of $2,000/semester. No additional out-of-state fees charged.
2. Room and Board: Housing fees ranging from $2,498-$3,200 per semester and meal plan fees of $1,600 per semester for on-campus students
3. Scholarship Endowment and Donations: Donations received through the Office of Advancement supporting the $40M capital campaign, scholarships, and campus improvements. Alumni Association and Choral scholarships provide financial assistance to students.
4. Federal and State Financial Aid Administration: Administration of Pell Grants, FSEOG, federal loans, and state scholarships. While these are student aid programs, the college receives funds through the Title IV program for eligible students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Shorter College is a private, faith-based, two-year liberal arts college offering associate degrees across six academic programs (Business Administration & Entrepreneurship, Computer Science, Child Development, Christian Leadership, Criminal Justice, and General Studies). The college also delivers workforce development and career training programs, special programs including adult education, prison education, and an anchor program, along with intercollegiate athletics and a choral ensemble. Core delivery is on-campus in North Little Rock, Arkansas, supplemented by distance education through Canvas LMS.

Product overview

Shorter College operates as a private, faith-based, two-year liberal arts college offering associate degrees across six academic programs (Business Administration & Entrepreneurship, Computer Science, Child Development, Christian Leadership, Criminal Justice, and General Studies). Beyond traditional academics, the college provides workforce development and career training programs, special programs including adult education, prison education, and an anchor program, as well as athletics (men's and women's basketball) and the Shorter College Choral ensemble. The institution primarily serves its student body through a suite of administrative technology platforms including Canvas LMS, Ellucian Self-Service, and CAMS Enterprise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Administration & Entrepreneurship Degree
• Computer Science Degree
• Child Development Degree
• Christian Leadership Degree
• Criminal Justice Degree Two-year associate degree program in Criminal Justice at Shorter College.
• General Studies Degree Two-year associate degree program in General Studies at Shorter College, providing a broad liberal arts foundation with transfer pathways.
• Workforce Training Programs Workforce development and training programs for career advancement and skill development offered through Shorter College.
• Career Training Career-focused training programs offered through careertraining.shortercollege.edu.
• Adult Education Program Educational programs designed for adult learners returning to complete their education.
• Prison Education Program Educational programs offered to incarcerated individuals through Shorter College's prison education initiative.
• Anchor Program Special program offering additional student support services.
• Men's Basketball Program Men's basketball team (Bulldogs) re-established for the 2022-2023 season, competing in Region 2 of the NJCAA.
• Women's Basketball Program Women's basketball team (Lady Bulldogs) competing in Region 2 of the NJCAA.
• Shorter College Choral Choral ensemble performing at chapel services and special campus events, with travel opportunities including performances at Carnegie Hall.
• On-Campus Housing & Meal Plan Residential housing ($2,498-$3,200 per semester) and meal plans ($1,600 per semester) for on-campus students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fastest-growing college campus in Central Arkansas for over a decade
• +1 more outcomes

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

Integration12 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ElluciancoreTechnology or IntegrationStudent information system provider for registration, academic records, and enrollment management through Ellucian Self-Service portal.
• African Methodist Episcopal ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding religious organization of Shorter College since 1886. Provides historical mission alignment and faith-based institutional identity. Represents deep-rooted partnership spanning over 140 years.
• National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAthletic association governing the college's men's and women's basketball programs competing in Region 2.
• 18 Lead/Capital Campaign PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnchor partners in the $40M, 7-year capital campaign. Partners recognized through high-visibility sponsorship and named support opportunities. Includes Vision Partners ($1M+), Mission Partners ($250K-$999K), Community Partners ($25K-$249K), and Foundation Partners (<$25K).

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ShorterCollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/ShorterCollege1886
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shorter-college-division-of-enrollment-management

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Shorter College