Pontifex University

What Pontifex University does

Pontifex University is a private, nonprofit Catholic graduate institution founded in 2015 and headquartered at 4465 Northside Drive NW in Atlanta, Georgia. It is recognized as both a public juridic body and a Catholic University by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta, and is authorized to grant degrees by the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC). The university is organized into three academic schools — Theology, Sacred Arts, and Education — and offers master's degrees (M.T.S., M.S.A., M.Ed.), doctorates (Th.D., Ed.D.), certificate programs (Biblical Studies, Philosophical Studies, Liturgy and Culture), and individual courses. Program delivery is primarily asynchronous via the NEO learning management system, supplemented by in-person intensives for hybrid programs such as the Master of Arts in Theology of the Body and the New Evangelization delivered in partnership with the Theology of the Body Institute.

The institution employs a classical, Great Books pedagogy emphasizing the four senses of Scripture and Thomistic philosophy, targeting adult Catholic learners including clergy and religious, Catholic laity seeking intellectual formation, Catholic school leaders, Catholic artists, and theology scholars. Pricing is per-credit at approximately $300 per credit, with additional flat fees in doctoral programs for the dissertation proposal ($3,000), writing phase ($2,000), director stipend ($3,000), and defense ($1,000), and optional $300 monthly installment plans. Distribution occurs through direct online enrollment, rolling admissions via video-conference interview, articulation agreements with five partner institutions (Sacred Arts Guild of Alberta, Sacred Murals Studio, The Sacred Art Institute at Enders Island, St. Joseph's College of Maine, and the Theology of the Body Institute), and owned/affiliated Catholic media channels including En Route Books and Media, WCAT Radio, the Way of Beauty newsletter, and earned media on Relevant Radio, CatholicTV, and Aleteia.

The university holds IACET accreditation for continuing education units (ANSI/IACET standard) and is actively pursuing institutional accreditation through a U.S. Department of Education-recognized agency, which has not yet been granted. As of the most recent data, operational scale is very small: approximately 32 enrolled students and 2 listed faculty/staff members. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The institution generates tuition revenue from individual course enrollment, certificate programs, and degree-seeking students, and is led by President Gareth N. Genner, Provost and COO Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, Dean of Theology Dr. Annabelle Moseley, Dean of Sacred Art David Clayton, and Dean of Education Fr. Peter M.J. Stravinskas.

Name

Pontifex University

Legal name

Pontifex University

Website

https://pontifex.university

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Pontifex University is a private Catholic graduate institution founded in 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia, offering online and hybrid master's and doctoral programs in theology, sacred arts, and Catholic school administration, serving clergy, Catholic laity, school leaders, and Catholic artists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Catholic Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Divinity Schools (University-Affiliated) (EDAHAKAC), Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities (EDAHABAJ), Online Graduate Schools (Master’s & Doctoral Programs) (EDAHALAD)

Keywords

• Catholic higher education
• Online graduate programs
• Theological studies
• Sacred arts education
• Catholic pedagogy

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

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

Revenue model

1. Doctoral Programs: Ed.D. and Th.D. programs with tiered fee structure including coursework ($300/credit), dissertation proposal ($3,000), writing phase ($2,000), director stipend ($3,000), and defense ($1,000).
2. Master's Degree Programs: Master of Sacred Arts, Master of Theological Studies, and Master of Education programs with per-credit pricing. Certificate programs and individual courses also available for purchase.
3. Individual Course Enrollment: Individual courses available for purchase: 1-credit courses at $300, 3-credit courses at $900. Registration fees apply for certificate programs.
4. Continuing Education Units: IACET accredited continuing education units offered for professional development and ongoing learning.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Pontifex University is a private Catholic online graduate institution that offers degree programs in Theology, Sacred Arts, and Education. Programs are delivered online to individual students seeking Catholic graduate credentials, with the institution designing and awarding its own degrees in these specialized areas.

Product overview

Pontifex University is a Christ-centered Catholic online graduate institution offering a multi-school structure with three academic divisions: the School of Theology (M.T.S. and Th.D. degrees), the School of Sacred Arts (Master of Sacred Arts, Theology of the Body program, and certificate programs), and the School of Education (M.Ed. and Ed.D. in Catholic School Administration). The university offers individual courses across theology, philosophy, sacred art, and education disciplines, as well as certificate programs in Biblical Studies, Philosophical Studies, and Liturgy and Culture. Students access programs through the NEO LMS platform, with courses delivered asynchronously online and some programs featuring on-site intensives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Graduate Theology Programs Online graduate degrees in Catholic Theology for individual learners seeking advanced theological formation without residential attendance.
• Graduate Sacred Arts Programs Online graduate degrees in Sacred Arts for individual students studying Catholic liturgical and sacred artistic traditions.
• Graduate Education Programs Online graduate degrees in Education for Catholic school teachers, catechists, and educators seeking pedagogical credentials grounded in Catholic tradition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dr. Annabelle Moseley's doctoral dissertation published as book earned Second Place in Scripture (Academic Studies) and Third Place in Jesus/Christology at Catholic Media Awards
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Theology of the Body InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Pontifex University and Theology of the Body Institute partnered to offer a unique Master of Arts in the Theology of the Body and the New Evangelization. The program combines 22 credits of in-person courses at TOB Institute with 14 credits of online coursework through Pontifex. Degree is granted by Pontifex University after successful completion of 36 credit hours, exams, essays, and final thesis.
• Holy Spirit CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoly Spirit College is the Atlanta-based campus of Pontifex University, seeking to educate and form students who will live by highest intellectual and ethical standards as leaders in professional and civic life. Located on campus shared with Holy Spirit Parish and Holy Spirit Preparatory School.
• Sacred Arts Guild of AlbertaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Canada, the Sacred Arts Guild of Alberta offers different levels of programs. Articulation agreement for student pathways.
• Sacred Murals StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in Saint Petersburg, Russia in 2001 by Philip Davydov and Olga Shalamova, provides structured education in icon painting. Articulation agreement for student pathways.
• The Sacred Art Institute (Enders Island)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn 11-acre island off the coast of Mason's Island in Mystic, Connecticut. Offers evening, afternoon, and week-long residency workshops in Iconography, Illumination, Calligraphy, Stained Glass, and Sacred Music. Articulation agreement for student pathways.
• St. Joseph's College of MaineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraduates of Saint Joseph's College of Maine can earn fast-track admission to Pontifex University's online Theology Doctorate program through articulation agreement.
• IACET (International Association for Continuing Education and Training)coreTechnology or IntegrationPontifex University is an IACET Accredited Provider, offering IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard.
• En Route Books and MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic publishing platform founded by Dr. Sebastian Mahfood. Several Pontifex administrators have published books with this publisher, including Dr. Moseley's award-winning works.
• WCAT RadiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic radio platform founded by Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, dedicated to scholarship and evangelization.
• GNPEC (Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission)coreOthersPontifex University is fully authorized to function as a degree granting institution by GNPEC. GNPEC approved the Master of Sacred Arts degree for the 2016-2017 academic year.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Augustine Institute: Greenwood Village, CO-based Catholic graduate theology school offering Master's and doctoral programs in theology, evangelization, and sacred scripture, with extensive online delivery and a strong content/media brand. Direct competitor for Catholic graduate theology learners seeking formation online.
• Christendom College: Front Royal, VA-based faithful Catholic liberal arts college with graduate programs in theology and philosophy, emphasizing Great Books and classical education. Comparable Great Books approach (mirroring Pontifex's curriculum) and shared Catholic intellectual formation market.
• Wyoming Catholic College: Small, faithful Catholic liberal arts college in Lander, WY with Great Books curriculum. Comparable small scale, classical curriculum emphasis, and formation-focused identity targeting the same small but loyal Catholic formation market.
• Holy Apostles College and Seminary: Cromwell, CT-based Catholic institution offering online graduate theology and education programs. Most directly comparable to Pontifex — both serve the online Catholic graduate niche, and Dr. Mahfood (Pontifex's Provost) is a retired professor from Holy Apostles. Closest functional peer in product and audience.
• John Paul the Great Catholic University: Escondido, CA-based small Catholic university offering programs integrating faith with creative arts, media, and business. Comparable scale, mission orientation, and the unique sacred-arts niche overlap with Pontifex's School of Sacred Arts.

Regional players

• Mount Angel Seminary: St. Benedict, OR-based Catholic seminary offering graduate theology for priestly formation. Comparable classical/Thomistic curriculum and clergy target audience, though primarily regional in-person delivery.
• Newman University: Wichita, KS-based Catholic university with education and theology graduate programs including an M.Ed. for Catholic school leadership — overlapping directly with Pontifex's School of Education offerings but serving primarily a U.S. central region audience.

Others

• Holy Spirit College (Pontifex subsidiary): Atlanta-based traditional on-campus college operating as an adjacent subsidiary of Pontifex University. Same brand ecosystem but a different modality (on-campus) — included as a related party rather than competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic University of America: Washington, DC-based national Catholic university with pontifical status, full graduate theology and education offerings. Overlaps in target audience (clergy, Catholic educators) but operates at vastly larger scale and offers in-person and hybrid modalities.
• Franciscan University of Steubenville: Established mid-sized Catholic university with graduate theology, education, and philosophy programs including online delivery. Broader portfolio than Pontifex but targets overlapping Catholic graduate audiences seeking faithful formation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Pontifex_U
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCI0_7mexrW9Gz_wtL-gvRiQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Pontifex-University-1347422425276817
• Instagraminstagram.com/pontifex_u

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Pontifex University