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Type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Education |
Founded | 1938 |
Founder | Stanley Kaplan |
Headquarters | |
Key people | Andrew Rosen (chairman and |
Products | Test Preparation, Educational Training |
Revenue | US$1.3 billion (2020)[1] |
Owner | Graham Holdings Company |
Number of employees | 12,000 |
Parent | Graham Holdings Company |
Divisions | Kaplan North America, Kaplan International |
Website | Kaplan.com |
Kaplan, Inc. is an American for-profit corporation that provides educational and training services to colleges, universities, businesses and individuals around the world. Founded in 1938 by Stanley Kaplan,[2] the company offers a variety of test preparation, certifications and student support services.[1] The company is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida,[3] and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company.
History
Kaplan, Inc. was founded in 1938 by Stanley H. Kaplan, who started the business by tutoring students for the New York State Regents Exam in the basement of his parents' Brooklyn home.[4] He eventually opened locations around the country. In 1984, Kaplan sold the company to The Washington Post Company.
The company grew significantly in the 1990s by expanding its business and purchasing other test preparation and educational companies.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] [15][16] The company's leader during this expansion period was Jonathan Grayer.[17]
In 2017, Purdue University announced the acquisition of Kaplan University, and the sale was completed in 2018. The new institution became known as Purdue University Global, and provides accredited distance learning to students throughout the world. Kaplan continues to provide non-academic contractor support for services such as recruitment, marketing, admissions, human resources, and IT support.
Products and services
Kaplan offers a variety of educational and training products and services, including tutoring, on-site classes, live programs, print books, online products and others.
For students and individuals
- Educational Test Preparation. Kaplan helps students prepare for 233 standardized tests, such as the ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT and many others.
- Professional Training and Licensing Exams. Kaplan offers support to professionals for licensing exams such as nursing, medicine, insurance, real estate, architecture, engineering, finance, accounting, wealth management, law and others.
- Tutoring and Admissions Counseling. Kaplan provides tutoring support, and publishes a guide for transfer of credits.
- Language Training. Kaplan offers language training for English, French, German and Spanish, online and in-person at sites around the world.
- Accredited College Study and Degrees. Kaplan supports Purdue University Global, which offers accredited coursework at the associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels.
For businesses and educational institutions
Kaplan offers support for technology, admissions, help-desk, marketing, human resources, financial aid processing, recruiting, corporate training, and other business functions.
Kaplan's educational and training include several enterprises:
- Kaplan operates Metis, a licensed data science and analytics school and training organization that operates immersive, live online boot camp programs and courses, and conducts training for corporations worldwide.[18]
- Kaplan provides healthcare simulation through i-Human Patients, providing simulated patient interactions for use in training and assessing medical health professionals.[19]
- Kaplan runs Red Marker, which provides compliance software to identify potential legal and brand risk in any document, enabling review of marketing content to ensure compliance.[20]
- Kaplan Financial Education provides training in accounting, financial services, securities trading, insurance and other financial professionals.[21]
- PPI2PASS is a Kaplan-owned company that provides more than 35 training programs for engineering, architecture, surveying, interior design, and other professional disciplines.[22]
Corporate overview
According to the company’s website, Kaplan has more than 12,000 employees in more than 30 countries, and reaches more than 100 countries through its online courses. Its partners include more than 14,000 businesses and more than 4000 educational institutions. The company’s chairman and CEO is Andrew Rosen, and its 2020 revenue was $1.3 billion.[1] Kaplan operates through two major divisions: Kaplan North America and Kaplan International. A third division, Kaplan Corporate, manages investment activities in education technology companies.
Kaplan North America (KNA)
Kaplan North America encompasses two segments: Higher Education and Supplemental Education.
KNA higher education provides operations support services for online pre-college, certificate, undergraduate and graduate programs to various educational and training institutions, including Purdue University, Wake Forest University and others. In its support agreement with Purdue University Global, which operates largely online as a public university affiliated with the Purdue University system, KNA provides support for technology, admissions, help-desk, marketing, human resources, financial aid processing, recruiting, and other functions.
KNA supplemental education products include test preparation, data science education and training, healthcare simulation businesses, publishing, professional licensure training and preparation, corporate training and continuing education. KNA’s test preparation services are branded through Kaplan Test Prep, Manhattan Prep and Barron’s Educational Series. In total, KNA test prep prepares students for more than 233 standardized tests, the large majority of which are U.S. focused. Kaplan also sells admissions consulting, tutoring and other student advising services. Kaplan Publishing focuses on print and digital test preparation and reference resources.
Kaplan International (KI)
Kaplan International is based in London and operates educational businesses in North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific region and the Middle East.
KI Pathways was founded in 2005, and serves 20,000 students per year, according to its website.[23]
KI Languages offers instruction in English, Spanish, French and German, and deliver content to countries around the world.
KI has offices and operations in more than 30 countries. For example, KI United Kingdom provides training, test preparation and degrees for accounting, financial services and legal professionals. In the Asia Pacific region, Kaplan operates businesses primarily in Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and South Korea:
- In Singapore, Kaplan operates three business units: Kaplan Higher Education, Kaplan Financial and Kaplan Professional. Kaplan Professional provided short courses to managers, executives, and other business leaders.
- In Australia, Kaplan delivers financial services education and professional development courses through Kaplan Professional, as well as higher education programs in business, accounting, hospitality, and tourism and management.
- In Hong Kong, Kaplan offers programs ranging from language education and standardized test preparation to corporate and financial training and higher education degree courses.
- In South Korea, in addition to university preparation programs, Kaplan delivers A-Level programs and cooperates with several Chinese universities to provide ACCA training programs to students.
Lawsuits and investigations
In 2007, a class-action lawsuit was settled for $30 million by Kaplan and BarBri, a company offering bar exam preparation. Among the allegations was a federal antitrust violation claiming that Kaplan had agreed not to compete in the bar review business while BarBri agreed it would not compete in the LSAT business. Both West Publishing Company (parent of BarBri) and Kaplan denied the allegations and the matter was resolved without any findings of wrongdoing.[24] In a 2010 investigation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found deceptive practices at 15 for-profit college campuses, including two owned by Kaplan. In addition, the Florida Attorney General investigated eight for-profit colleges that also included Kaplan for alleged misrepresentation of financial aid and deceptive practices regarding enrollment, recruitment, accreditation, placement and graduation rates. Footage from undercover videos revealed that recruiters from Kaplan in California and Florida had made false or dubious claims to prospective students, such as suggesting massage therapists earn $100 per hour and that student loans do not have to be repaid.
In 2011, a federal judge in Miami has refused to dismiss the lawsuits filed by former employees of Kaplan University and Kaplan Higher Education Corp, who allege that the companies have violated the Higher Education Act in order to gain federal funding and profits. Judge Patricia Seitz has denied the accusations related to Kaplan's manipulation of students' academic records and job-placement statistics, or their incentive payments based on student enrollment numbers. However, she has allowed the whistleblowers to continue to pursue claims of retaliation and other violations. Since 2006, several ex-employees alleged that Kaplan had broken the law and breached its agreement with the U.S. Department of Education by recruiting unqualified students, misleading students about their academic progress, manipulating job placement statistics, and offering bonuses to recruiters based on how many students they enrolled, in order to get the most out of federal funding. In November 2006, two former instructors sued Kaplan for allegedly submitting false claims to the government and not adhering to the Higher Education Act's requirements for payment. The plaintiffs, who were previously employed at Kaplan's Pittsburgh-based campus, claimed that Kaplan had breached the 70 Percent Rule, which requires eligible schools to have a minimum graduation rate and job placement rate of 70%. Furthermore, they argued that Kaplan Career Institute had advertised job-placement rates without providing prospective students with job-placement statistics or state licensing requirements.[25][26][27][28][29]
In 2012, the North Carolina Attorney General determined that Kaplan had lied to students about the credentials they would earn in the Dental Assistant program.[30] Following the investigation Kaplan College Charlotte campus surrendered its license to operate a school. Kaplan refunded students the cost of tuition, books, and fees, and agreed to pay the program's graduates $9,000 stipends. Students claimed they were told the school would soon obtain ADA accreditation. The program had never been accredited by the American Dental Association, and had never been scheduled for the initial site visit required for accreditation.[31][32]
In 2014, Kaplan settled with the Florida Attorney General regarding claims of using misleading marketing to enroll students. Kaplan was investigated for violating Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act by making misleading statements, misrepresentations, and omitting or failed to disclose material information related to market their programs and schools.[33] Under the terms of the settlement, Kaplan agreed to “clearly and conspicuously disclose true and accurate information relating to the school’s accreditation, program costs, financial aid, and the scope and nature of employment services they provide.” Specifically, Kaplan cannot claim a program is “fully accredited,” can’t say that an interview or recommendation is required, can’t use artificial or arbitrary enrollment deadlines, can’t say a course is in “high demand” or has limited availability if it does not, can’t say that federal grants are “free money,” and can’t enroll a student with regular internet access. Further, Kaplan agreed to retrain to students who asserted claims against the school. During the course of the investigation Kaplan waived $6 million in tuition and fees for more than 2,400 Florida students, and reimburses the Florida Attorney General’s office for attorney costs. Kaplan also reimbursed Bondi’s office for attorney costs.
A year later, Kaplan paid $1.375 million to the Massachusetts Attorney General's office to resolve complaints that Kaplan engaged in “unfair or deceptive practices designed to induce enrollment of students” including “harassing sales tactics and false and misleading representations” in the operation of the Kaplan Career Institute campus in Boston, Massachusetts.[34] Also in 2015, Kaplan paid $1.3 million, with $1 million going toward tuition refunds to 289 students, to resolve allegations that it hired instructors who were not qualified. The United States Department of Justice began investigating Kaplan following a Qui tam suit filed by a whistleblower under the False Claims Act. The whistleblower alleged Kaplan employed unqualified instructors to teach Medical Assistant courses at its San Antonio campuses and knowingly requested, received, and retained federal funds for courses taught by individuals who did not meet the minimum requirements established by Texas law.[35][36]
Kaplan Educational Foundation (KEF)
The KEF is a 501(c)(3) charity that offers undergraduate and graduate educational scholarship opportunities and other assistance to students in the New York City area who are traditionally overlooked or under-served, including African American, Latino, and Native American students.[37] Kaplan scholars receive a comprehensive array of financial and academic support, transfer admissions advising, and leadership skills development. The foundation partners with dozens of higher educational institutions around the United States.[38]
In addition to support from its partners and benefactors, the foundation is supported through sales of its guide to college transfer. The guide profiles top U.S. schools and their transfer policies, and is a resource for students and school administrators to navigate the complex transfer process, including credits and graduation requirements. The guide provides specialized advice to non-traditional students, including veterans, students raising families, and students with unique immigration needs. Private citizens may donate these guides to deserving students, and all proceeds from sales are used to support the foundation.[39]
Awards, rankings and honors
Kaplan has been received numerous awards and recognition for its businesses, products and services, including:
- Newsweek's 100 Most Loved Workplaces 2021
- Sun-Sentinel's South Florida Top Workplaces 2021
- Chicago Tribune's Best SAT Test Prep Book for 2021 and 2020
- Chicago Tribune's Best MCAT Test Prep Book 2019
- Fast Company's Most Innovative Education Company 2014
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Annual Reports | Graham Holdings Company".
- ^ "NY1 | 24 Hour Local News | Top Stories | Test Prep Pioneer Stanley Kaplan Dead at 90". Archived from the original on 2009-09-29. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
- ^ "Contact Us". Kaplan.
- ^ Blumentstyk, Goldie (September 4, 2009). "Stanley H. Kaplan, the Entrepreneur Who Put Academe to the Test". The Chronicle of Higher Education. LVI (2): A35.
- ^ Kaplan, Stanley H. Test Pilot. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001.
- ^ "Schools in Pennsylvania: Degrees, Certificate Programs, Training Program – Kaplan Career Institute in Harrisburg, PA". kaplancareerinstitute.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-10-01.
- ^ Kaplan, Inc. (17 May 2005). "Kaplan Acquires Singapore's Asia Pacific Management Institute (APMI)". prnewswire.com.
- ^ "Kaplan to Acquire SmartPros for $16.9 Million". www.accountingtoday.com. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
- ^ "Kaplan moves into secondary schools with sixth form acquisition". thepienews.com. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
- ^ "Kaplan acquires UAE financial training institute". www.tradearabia.edu. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
- ^ "Kaplan Buys For-Profit College From Apollo". www.insidehighered.com. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
- ^ "Kaplan press release - Kaplan acquires Red Marker". Red Marker. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
- ^ "Kaplan Acquires Leading Publisher of Professional Licensing Exam Guides in Engineering Fields". www.businesswire.com. 2018-05-04. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
- ^ Ki Mae Heussner (18 June 2013). "Exclusive: Meet the first startups in Kaplan's TechStars-powered ed tech accelerator". gigaom.com.
- ^ "Overview – Kaplan EdTech Accelerator, Powered by Techstars". Kaplan EdTech Accelerator, Powered by Techstars. Archived from the original on 2015-08-01. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
- ^ "NYC data science bootcamp prepares students for in-demand career". www.amny.com. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
- ^ "About Kaplan Press Releases". Archived from the original on March 26, 2007.
- ^ "This is Metis". Metis. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "I-Human.com website". I-Human. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "Red Marker AI website". Red Market. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "Kaplan Financial Education". Kaplan Financial Education. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "PPI2PASS PPI2PASS website". PPI2PASS. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "Kaplan Pathways Mission". Kaplan Pathways. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "BAR/BRI Class Action Litigation". barbri-classaction.com. Archived from the original on 2006-10-10. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
- ^ Lewin, Tamar (November 10, 2010). "Scrutiny Takes Toll on For-Profit College Company". NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Kaplan Colleges Can't Kill False Claims Suits". www.courthousenews.com.
- ^ Douglas-Gabriel, Danielle (2022-04-26). "Defrauded borrowers sue over six-year-old student-debt-relief claim". Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
- ^ "The trials of Kaplan Higher Ed and the education of The Washington Post Co". Washington Post. 2011-04-10. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
- ^ Halperin, David (April 26, 2022). "Debt Relief for Defrauded Students Is Long Overdue - And So Is Accountability for Kaplan". Republic Report.
- ^ "Kaplan College reimburses students after probe of dental program | CharlotteObserver.com & The Charlotte Observer Newspaper". web.archive.org. 2012-04-02. Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
- ^ For Profit Higher Education: The Failure to Safeguard the Federal Investment and Ensure Student Success. U.S. Government Printing Office. 2012.
- ^ "College Complaints Unmasked". The Century Foundation. 2017-11-08. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
- ^ "Fla. AG Bondi reaches agreement with Kaplan University". Washington Examiner. 2014-06-18. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
- ^ "ASSURANCE OF DISCONTINUANCE PURSUANT TO M.G.L. CHAPTER 93A, § 5". Mass.gov. July 23, 2015.
- ^ "Purdue Buys Kaplan University, Will Create New Nonprofit Chain | Inside Higher Ed". www.insidehighered.com. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
- ^ "For-Profit College Kaplan To Refund Federal Financial Aid Under Settlement With United States". justice.gov. 5 January 2015.
- ^ "Kaplan Foundation". Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "Kaplan Foundation website". Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "Guide to College Transfer". Guide to College Transfer. Retrieved 2021-12-04.