Start of main content.

Press Release

February 12, 2015

Education Corporation of America Purchases Kaplan College Campuses Added Scale Strengthens Entire Campus Portfolio

Birmingham, Ala. and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — (February 12, 2015) — Education Corporation of America (ECA), which operates private, accredited colleges across the U.S., has reached an agreement with Kaplan Higher Education to acquire its 38 Kaplan College Campuses in an all-stock transaction that will give Kaplan a preferred equity interest in ECA. Financial terms are not being disclosed.

“This purchase is an exciting opportunity for Education Corporation of America,” said Stu Reed, Chief Executive Officer of Education Corporation of America. “The Kaplan College campus portfolio offers programs that are a great fit with our Virginia College campuses, and are accredited by the same accrediting body, Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). The geographic footprints of our organizations are complementary with very little overlap. Most importantly, both organizations share a deeply held passion for helping students transform their lives through career training programs.”

“We think Education Corporation of America presents an optimum match for the Kaplan College Campus portfolio of institutions and programs and anticipate they will bring the benefits of added scale to these operations,” said Thomas C. Leppert, Chief Executive Officer of Kaplan, Inc. “We are delighted that ECA plans to retain the employees at the Kaplan campuses. For faculty, administrators and students this change of ownership should be relatively seamless. This new combination promises to strengthen the individual campuses across the board.”

Education Corporation of America operates Virginia College, Golf Academy of America, Ecotech Institute, and New England College of Business. Its Virginia College offers associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in career-focused programs, through 27 campuses located primarily in the southeast as well as online programs. Its other seven colleges offer a range of degree programs in specialized and professional fields in a variety of on-campus and online settings.

Kaplan College Campuses, which also include Kaplan Career Institutes, TESST College of Technology and Texas School of Business locations, will be acquired by Education Corporation of America. Over 12,500 students are currently enrolled in these schools. Both Virginia College and the Kaplan Colleges are nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).

As part of the transaction, Kaplan will have the right to appoint one member to the board of directors of Education Corporation of America.

In the U.S, Kaplan Higher Education will continue to operate Kaplan University and the eight professional schools under its banner, including Concord Law School, the Schools of Business and Information Technology, General Education, Health Sciences, Nursing, Social and Behavioral Sciences as well as the School of Professional and Continuing Education and KU Open College.

Kaplan University offers online degrees and campus-based programs as well as blended learning environments. It is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Kaplan will also continue to own and operate Mount Washington College (MWC), which serves students through its Manchester, NH campus and online programs. MWC is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Colleges and Schools (NEASC).

The combined ECA footprint, after the transaction closes, will include more than 70 career-oriented campuses and online programs across 20 states, serving approximately 30,000 students. The transaction, which requires certain regulatory and accrediting agency approvals, is expected to close in about 90 to 180 days.

About Virginia College and Education Corporation of America

Birmingham, Ala.-based Education Corporation of America (ECA) is a leader in the post-secondary career school market with current enrollment of over 18,000 students. Holdings include Virginia College, founded in 1983, a private institution of higher education that offers non-degree and associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in 27 different cities in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. Virginia College also offers classes online via www.vconline.edu and operates Culinard, the Culinary Institute of Virginia College, Golf Academy of America schools in California, Arizona, South Carolina, Texas and Florida, and Ecotech Institute in Colorado. These schools are accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) which is listed as a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). ECA also includes the regionally accredited New England College of Business, which is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

About Kaplan

Kaplan, Inc. is a leading international provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Kaplan serves students of all ages through a wide array of offerings including higher education, test preparation, professional training and programs for kids in grades K through 12. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) and its largest division. For more information, please visit www.kaplan.com.

Press Release Archive

Studying2.jpg
Press Release

Yale University Joins Dartmouth, MIT, and Georgetown in Requiring Applicants to Submit Standardized Test Scores; Kaplan Survey Suggests Other Schools Will Join Them

by Kaplan

9781506287300_2.jpg
Press Release

Available for Media Interviews: The New Digital SAT® Launches March 9. Kaplan Experts Can Provide Answers to Top Questions.

by Kaplan

Poznan1.jpg
Press Release

Poznan University of Medical Sciences Expands Partnership with Kaplan to Offer Students Additional Prep for Medical and Dental Licensing Exams

by Kaplan

Kaplan 41992
Press Release

Kaplan Earns 2024 Great Place To Work Certification™

by Kaplan

Studying1.jpg
Press Release

Kaplan Named to Fast Company’s 2023 “Brands That Matter” List

by Kaplan

Delaware State University.jpg
Press Release

Kaplan’s All Access License Named to Tech & Learning’s Best for 2023 List, Citing Its Ability to Expand Opportunities

by Kaplan

FInancial-Professionals.png
Press Release

The College for Financial Planning®—a Kaplan Company Releases 2024 Survey of Financial Planning Professionals

by Kaplan

MCAT2.jpg
Press Release

Kaplan’s $20K Tuition Sweepstakes Winner is Georgia Tech Student Emily Conn, a Future Doctor of America

by Kaplan

ca_genericsocialmedia_12920istock.jpg
Press Release

Kaplan Survey: College Admissions Officers Think It’s OK to Visit Applicants’ Social Media, But Most Don’t

by Kaplan

law-school.png
Press Release

Kaplan Survey: Law Schools Concerned about Class Diversity, Amid Affirmative Action Ban Fallout

by Kaplan

Studying3.jpg
Press Release

Kaplan Survey: Most Colleges and Universities Take Laissez Faire Approach Towards Use of GenAI in Admissions

by Kaplan

Sweepstakes.jpg
Press Release

Kaplan’s Graduate School Tuition Sweepstakes to Give One Lucky Student $20K

by Kaplan

LawSchoolPRImage.jpg
Press Release

Kaplan Survey: Most Pre-Law Students Don’t Think Law School Applicants Should Be Allowed to Use GenAI in Admissions Essays

by Kaplan

Accel.JPG
Press Release

Kaplan’s AccelPro Platform Expands Peer-to-Peer Coaching and Career Development to New Audiences

by Kaplan

NYPICHPDPICT000011651002.jpg
Press Release

Kaplan Survey: A Majority of Pre-Law Students Say It’s Important to Attend Law School With Students Having the Same Political Views

by Kaplan

Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College PR.jpg
Press Release

Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College Announces Partnership with Kaplan to Enhance Clinical Readiness and Education Outcomes for Aspiring Doctors

by Kaplan

Alabama A&M University.jpg
Press Release

Alabama A&M University Partners with Kaplan to Offer Students Free Comprehensive Test Prep for Graduate-Level Admissions Exams and Professional Certifications

by Kaplan

Workplace.jpg
Press Release

Kaplan Named to Newsweek’s List of the Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplace for 2023

by Kaplan

Stillman.jpeg
Press Release

Stillman College Partners with Kaplan to Offer Students Free Comprehensive Prep for Graduate-Level Admissions Exams and Professional Certifications

by Kaplan

Rutgers.jpg
Press Release

Rutgers Law School Partners with Kaplan to Provide All Students with Free Prep Courses for the Bar Exam

by Kaplan

allaccess.jpg
Press Release

Kaplan’s All Access License for Colleges and Universities Wins “Test Prep Innovation Of The Year” in the 5th Annual EdTech Breakthrough Awards Program

by Kaplan

Spelman University Campus Photo
Press Release

Spelman College Partners with Kaplan to Offer Students Free Comprehensive Prep for Graduate-Level Admissions Exams

by Kaplan

Hampton University Press Release Pic.jpg
Press Release

Hampton University Partners with Kaplan to Offer Students Free Comprehensive Prep for Graduate-Level Admissions and Licensing Exams

by Kaplan

bigstock-Smiling-Diverse-Employees-Stac-359634859.JPG
Press Release

Kaplan Certified as a Most Loved Workplace® for Three Consecutive Years, a Recognition of Consistent Employee Happiness and Job Satisfaction

by Kaplan

Sun Sentinel_Zoom.png
Press Release

Sun Sentinel Names Kaplan a Winner of the South Florida Top Workplaces 2023 Award, Marking its Third Consecutive Annual Recognition

by Kaplan

Male student in a classroom setting
Press Release

Kaplan Wins the Association for Talent Development’s Prestigious BEST Award for Exceptional Employee Learning and Development Success

by Kaplan

Talladega College.jpg
Press Release

Talladega College Partners with Kaplan to Offer Students Free Comprehensive Prep for Graduate-Level Admissions Exams and Professional Certifications

by Kaplan

CPASS.JPG
Press Release

The Creating Pathways and Access for Student Success™ Foundation Partners with Kaplan to Boost the Number of Underrepresented Illinois Students in STEM Fields

by Kaplan

Junior Achievement.jpg
Press Release

Junior Achievement Announces Kaplan Partnership to Help High School Students Secure Their Post-Graduation Goals

by Kaplan

Financial Advising Accelerator Program.jpg
Press Release

Designed to Jump Start Careers, Financial Advising Accelerator Program Launched by College for Financial Planning®—a Kaplan Company

by Kaplan

College Campus Building
Press Release

Manhattan Prep/Kaplan Survey: Many Business Schools Say the MBA Rankings Have Lost Prestige and Would Welcome its Demise

by Kaplan

MCAT2.jpg
Press Release

Kaplan Survey: Medical Schools Keep COVID-Era Admissions Policies to Keep Application Process More Flexible

by Kaplan

Howard University.jpg
Press Release

Howard University to Offer its Undergraduate and Graduate Students Free Comprehensive Prep for Admissions and Licensure Exams Through New Partnership with Kaplan

by Kaplan

HelloFresh.jpg
Press Release

HelloFresh Partners with Kaplan to Provide Free GED® Prep for Hourly Workers to Earn High School Equivalency Diploma

by Kaplan

Freedom Scholarships.jpg
Press Release

College for Financial Planning®–a Kaplan Company Introduces Freedom Scholarships for Military Service Members and Veterans

by Kaplan

college students outdoors working
Press Release

Denison University Offers Students Free Comprehensive Prep for Graduate-Level Admissions Exams Through Partnership with Kaplan

by Kaplan

Fisk University 2.jpeg
Press Release

Fisk University Partners with Kaplan to Offer Students Free Comprehensive Prep for Graduate-Level Admissions Exams and Professional Certifications

by Kaplan

Delaware State University.jpg
Press Release

Delaware State University to Offer its Students Free Prep Courses for Graduate-Level Admissions Exams Through New Partnership with Kaplan

by Kaplan

kaplan parnters with amazon.jpeg
Press Release

Kaplan Partners with Amazon to Provide Amazon Employees with Comprehensive Career and Student Support Services

by Kaplan

A smiling student in a classroom
Press Release

Kaplan's Transcender Practice Exams Win WINDOWS IT Pro Reader's Choice Award

Immersive College Hero
Press Release

New Mobile Application Gives Busy Nursing Students Flexibility to Study Anytime, Anywhere

Students in class with open laptops.
Press Release

Kaplan to Acquire Holborn College, a UK Leader in International Education

Screen Shot 2022-07-24 at 1.39.47 PM.png
Press Release

Kaplan Acquires Grockit Social Learning Platform and Test Prep Assets

A person sitting at a desk typing on a keyboard
Press Release

Kaplan EdTech Accelerator, Powered by Techstars Announces 2014 Class of Education Technology Startups

by Sonya Caprio

Immersive Success Business Hero
Press Release

Kaplan’s Language Business Rebrands to Kaplan International Languages

Practical Assessments Should be More Widely Adopted to Evaluate Professional Talent
Press Release

Kaplan Named One of America’s 100 Best Employers by Forbes

by Ken Brown

Immersive College Hero
Press Release

Education Corporation of America Purchases Kaplan College Campuses Added Scale Strengthens Entire Campus Portfolio

Immersive StudentProf Hero
Press Release

University of Liverpool Partners with Kaplan Open Learning

by Elizabeth Hess, Kaplan

Business man in a conference room setting
Press Release

Kaplan Financial Launches First Virtual Class for Series 7 Securities Exam

Female university student standing in a library
Press Release

SAT Prep Rocks! Kaplan and Defined Mind Release Compilation of Original SAT Vocabulary-Rich Hip-Hop, Rock, Alternative and R&B Music

by Victoria Grantham

Immersive College Hero
Press Release

Kaplan International Colleges to prepare students for the University of Brighton

Female nurse
Press Release

Kaplan Acquires i-Human Patients, A Leader in Virtual Interactive Medical Simulations

by Russell Schaffer, Kaplan

Vela Wood Law Firm Partners with Kaplan to Provide Free LSAT® Courses to Boost Number of Black Attorneys
Press Release

Vela Wood Law Firm Partners with Kaplan to Provide Free LSAT® Courses to Boost Number of Black Attorneys

by Kaplan

World Changing Ideas 2022 Fast Company Logo
Press Release

Fast Company’s 2022 World Changing Ideas Awards Recognizes Kaplan’s Career Core™

by Russell Schaffer, Kaplan

Press Release

Stanley H. Kaplan, Founder of the Test Preparation Industry, Dies at 90

by Carina Wong, Kaplan

Press Release

Andrew C. Temte Promoted to CEO at Kaplan Professional

by Kim Zinda, Kaplan Professional

Press Release

Purdue to Acquire Kaplan University, Increase Access for Millions

by Amy Hawkinson, Purdue University Global

Press Release

Kaplan Completes SmartPros Acquisition Expanding Its Continuing Education Offering in Accountancy and Financial Services

by Stephen White

Press Release

Kaplan International Acquires Europe’s Largest Language Agency and Enters French and German Language Market

by Elizabeth Hess, Kaplan

Press Release

Kaplan Acquires Leading Publisher of Professional Licensing Exam Guides in Engineering Field

by Ken Brown

Press Release

Kaplan Acquires Genesis Institute to Further Facilitate Training and Development in the Middle East

by Mark Harrad, Kaplan, Inc.

Press Release

Brandon Busteed Joins Kaplan in New Role Focusing on University Partnerships

by Ken Brown

Press Release

Kaplan Acquires Barron’s-Branded Test Prep, Study Aids and Foreign Language Assets from Barron’s Educational Series

by Russell Schaffer, Kaplan

Press Release

Concord Law School at Purdue University Global Marks 20th Anniversary

by Peter Tosches

Press Release

Kaplan Acquires the Healthcare Assets of Becker Professional Education

by Carina Wong, Kaplan

Press Release

Kaplan Schweser and The Hong Kong SAR Society of Financial Analysts (HKSFA) Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement to Support Candidates on CFA® Program Exam Preparation

by Florence Wu

Press Release

Concord Law School Merges with Kaplan University

by Holly Barnhill

Press Release

Kaplan Closes Acquisition Of College For Financial Planning

by Mark Harrad, Kaplan, Inc.

Press Release

Kaplan Professional Education to Acquire College for Financial Planning from Apollo Education Group

by Mark Harrad, Kaplan, Inc.

Press Release

Kaplan’s Regional Real Estate Schools Renamed to Kaplan Professional Schools

by Jenna Held, Communications Director

Press Release

Kaplan Professional Acquires the Real Estate School, a Provider of Real Estate Education in Houston, Texas

by Paige Hunting

Press Release

Keller Williams and Kaplan Partner on Groundbreaking Real Estate School

by Kaplan

Press Release

Kaplan Expands Corporate Training Platform to Include Financial Modeling Through Agreement With The Marquee Group

by Gregory Ten Eyck, Kaplan

Press Release

Kaplan Offers Companies Free Educational Programs For Their Employees Disrupted By The Coronavirus Crisis

by Mark Harrad, Kaplan, Inc.

Press Release

Wake Forest Announces New Online MBA Degree Program Through Partnership With Kaplan

by Gregory Ten Eyck, Kaplan

Press Release

Exclusive Partnership Between Kaplan and ConnecME Marks a New Era of Educational Solutions in the Middle East

by Russell Schaffer, Kaplan

Press Release

Kaplan, Lambda Chi Alpha to Launch Transformational Programs that Support Soft Skills, Credentials for Gen Z Students

by Gregory Ten Eyck, Kaplan

Press Release

University of Montana Partners with Kaplan to Strengthen Students’ Work Readiness and Employability With Kaplan Credegree™ Program

by Russell Schaffer, Kaplan

Press Release

Kaplan Educational Foundation Taps KEF Alum Nolvia Delgado as its Next Leader

by Valerie Silverman Kerr, VSK Public Relations, LLC

Press Release

With Rise in Financial Planning Needs for Unmarried Couples, College for Financial Planning® Relaunches ADPA® Designation Program

by Gregory Ten Eyck, Kaplan

Press Release

University of Dubuque Partners with Kaplan to Strengthen Students’ Work Readiness and Employability in the Financial Sector

by Russell Schaffer, Kaplan

Press Release

Phi Alpha Delta Partners with Kaplan to Help Pre-Law and Law School Students Reach Their Educational and Professional Goals

by Russell Schaffer, Kaplan

Press Release

Kaplan Launches Innovative Online Solution to Address Data Literacy Gap for Business Professionals

by Gregory Ten Eyck, Kaplan

Press Release

Lynn University Collaborates with Kaplan to Expand Online Degree Programs and Adult Learner Reach

by Gregory Ten Eyck, Kaplan

Press Release

Kaplan Professional To Offer Free Online Career Development Training Courses To Workers Furloughed And Laid Off Due To The Coronavirus

by Kim Zinda, Kaplan Professional

Press Release

Wake Forest University Announces new Financial Services and Fintech Hub in Charlotte with Kaplan Partnership

by Kim Zinda, Kaplan Professional

Press Release

Data Science Training Provider Metis Launches Live Online Bootcamp, Making Its Immersive Experience Available to More Aspiring Data Professionals Across the U.S

by Russell Schaffer, Kaplan

Press Release

Kaplan Launches First Shared Career Services Offering In Partnership With Wake Forest University, Leading Higher Ed Institutions to Promote Work Readiness

by Russell Schaffer, Kaplan

Press Release

Kaplan Partners with Wall Street Bound to Prepare Diverse, Under-represented Youth for Careers in the Financial Services Industry

by Gregory Ten Eyck, Kaplan

Press Release

Survey: Nearly 80 Percent of College Students Want Legacy Admissions Banned

by Russell Schaffer, Kaplan

Press Release

Kaplan Agreement With Digital Marketing Institute Provides Certification Program for Business Professionals

by Gregory Ten Eyck, Kaplan

Press Release

Collaboration timely for those struggling with attracting, retaining, and developing talent during the pandemic

by Russell Schaffer, Kaplan