Covista Inc. (CVSA) Business
This page reproduces the company's own Item 1 Business text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.
Informational only - not investment advice. See Disclaimer.
Item 1. Business
Overview
In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, Adtalem Global Education Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is collectively referred to as “Adtalem,” “we,” “our,” “us,” or similar references. Adtalem was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in August 1987. Our executive offices are located at 233 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois, 60606, and the telephone number is (312) 651-1400.
Adtalem is the leading healthcare educator in the U.S. and a systemically important solution for preparing a diverse talent workforce that meets the needs of the healthcare industry. The purpose of Adtalem is to empower students to achieve their goals, find success, and make inspiring contributions to our global community.
Adtalem is comprised of five like-kind institutions, with programs focusing on healthcare, including nursing, social and behavioral sciences, medicine, veterinary medicine, and more. Adtalem operates Chamberlain University (“Chamberlain”), Walden University (“Walden”), American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (“AUC”), Ross University School of Medicine (“RUSM”), and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (“RUSVM”), which comprises more than 90,000 students learning at multiple campuses and online. Adtalem’s institutions have an alumni community of approximately 350,000.
Adtalem is a mission driven organization, committed to delivering highly qualified healthcare clinicians to urban and rural communities as a scaled provider of workers to the U.S. healthcare system.
Adtalem remains focused on expanding access to aspiring students through a seamless student experience, leveraging innovative learning technologies, bringing new programs to market, and utilizing our Growth with Purpose operating model to provide the infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of where, when, and how students learn best.
Adtalem aims to create value for society and its stakeholders by offering responsive educational programs that are supported by exceptional services to its students and delivered with integrity and accountability. Towards this vision, Adtalem is proud to play a vital role in expanding access to higher education.
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Segments Overview
We present three reportable segments as follows:
Chamberlain – This segment includes the operations of Chamberlain, which offers degree and certificate programs in the nursing and health professions postsecondary education industry.
Walden – This segment includes the operations of Walden, which offers degree and certificate programs, including those in nursing, education, counseling, business, information technology, psychology, public health, social work and human services, public administration and public policy, and criminal justice.
Medical and Veterinary – This segment includes the operations of AUC, RUSM, and RUSVM, collectively referred to as the “medical and veterinary schools,” which offers degree and certificate programs in the medical and veterinary postsecondary education industry.
Chamberlain
Chamberlain was founded in 1889 as Deaconess College of Nursing and acquired by Adtalem in 2005. In May 2017, Chamberlain College of Nursing broadened its reach in healthcare education through the establishment of Chamberlain University and now offers its programs through its College of Nursing and College of Health Professions.
Chamberlain’s nursing degree offerings include a three-year onsite and online pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (“BSN”) degree, an online post-licensure BSN degree completion option for Registered Nurses (“RN-BSN”), an online Master of Science in Nursing (“MSN”) degree, including Nurse Practitioner tracks and other specialties, and the online Doctor of Nursing Practice (“DNP”) degree.
Through its College of Health Professions, Chamberlain offers an online Master of Public Health (“MPH”) degree program, an online Master of Social Work (“MSW”) degree program, and an onsite Master of Physician Assistant Studies (“MPAS”) degree program.
Chamberlain provides an educational experience distinguished by a high level of care for students, academic excellence, and integrity delivered through its 23 campuses and online. Chamberlain is committed to graduating health professionals who are empowered to transform healthcare delivery.
Chamberlain’s pre-licensure BSN program enables students to complete their degree in three years of full-time study as opposed to the typical four-year BSN program with summer breaks. Beginning in September 2019, Chamberlain began offering an evening/weekend BSN option at select campuses. In September 2020, Chamberlain launched its online BSN option that offers a blend of flexibility, interactivity, and experiential learning.
Students who already have passed their National Council Licensure Examination (“NCLEX”) exam and achieved RN designation through a diploma or associate degree can complete their BSN degree online through Chamberlain’s RN-BSN completion option in three semesters of full-time study, although most students enroll part-time while they continue working as nurses.
The online MSN degree program offers five non-direct-care specialty tracks: Nurse Educator, Nurse Executive, Nursing Informatics, Population Health, and Healthcare Policy. The accelerated MSN program offers a Clinical Nurse Leadership concentration. The accelerated RN-MSN program offers associate or diploma-prepared RNs an opportunity to earn an MSN versus a BSN with the option of completing the Advanced Generalist concentration in one year of full-time study and the Clinical Nurse Leadership concentration in one and a half years of full-time study.
Chamberlain also offers four direct-care nurse practitioner tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner (“FNP”), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (“AGACNP”), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (“AGPCNP”), and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (“PMHNP”). The FNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP, and PMHNP, programs are designed to be completed in two and a half years of part-time study.
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The online DNP degree program is based on the eight essentials of doctoral education outlined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (“AACN”). The program can be completed in five to six semesters of study.
Chamberlain’s College of Health Professions MPH degree program focuses on preparing students through interdisciplinary coursework to become public health practitioners serving communities and populations to promote healthy communities and to work to address health problems and health-related issues such as disease, poverty, and violence. The MSW degree program prepares students for generalist or specialized practice and offers three tracks, including Crisis and Response Interventions, Trauma, and Medical Social Work. The program offers both a traditional and advanced standing option. The advanced standing option is for students who have completed a baccalaureate degree in social work. The MPAS degree program prepares students for the practice of general medicine as Physician Assistants in collaboration with a licensed physician and healthcare team and is designed to be completed in two years.
Student Admissions and Admissions Standards
Pre-Licensure BSN Program
The Chamberlain undergraduate pre-licensure admission process comprises two phases: Academic Eligibility and Clinical Clearance. Applicants must complete both to be eligible for admission. Determining Academic Eligibility is the role of the Chamberlain BSN Unified Admission Committee. The committee reviews applicants using a weighted evaluation system that considers several factors which may include previous coursework, grade point average, ACT/SAT scores and Health Education Systems, Inc. (“HESI”) Admission Assessment (A2) scores. All applicants deemed academically eligible by the committee must then initiate the Clinical Clearance phase which includes drug, background, and fingerprint screenings, and clear all screenings within 120 days of the session start date. Applicants who enroll in the original session applied for may be granted full acceptance by signing a self-attestation and disclosure indicating their ability to clear all screenings within 120 days of the session start date. Chamberlain enrolls students in its pre-licensure program at least three times per year, during the January, May, and September sessions and select campuses may offer additional opportunities to start.
RN-BSN Option
Admission to the RN-BSN option requires a nursing diploma or Associate Degree in Nursing from an accredited institution, a minimum grade point average of 2.0, and a current, active, unrestricted RN license in the U.S. or other jurisdiction that is an associate member of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (“NCSBN”). Chamberlain enrolls students in its RN-BSN program six times per year, during the January, March, May, July, September, and November sessions.
Graduate Programs
To enroll in graduate programs, students must have the requisite undergraduate academic degree from an accredited institution and a specified minimum grade point average. Applicants to some programs are also required to provide additional materials and information such as recommendation letters or background checks and/or interview with and be approved by faculty.
Chamberlain enrolls students in its graduate nursing, MPH, and MSW programs six times per year, during the January, March, May, July, September, and November sessions. Chamberlain enrolls students in its graduate MPAS program once a year in the September session.
Walden
For more than 50 years, Walden has provided an engaging learning experience for working professionals. Walden seeks to empower students to use their new knowledge to think creatively about problem-solving to improve society.
Founded in 1970 and first accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (“HLC”) in 1990, Walden has a strong legacy of providing innovative and alternative degree programs for adult students. Walden has grown to support more than 100 degree and certificate programs—including programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels—with over 350 specializations and concentrations.
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In addition, Walden has rich experience in delivering innovative accelerated programs through distance delivery. Walden also has experience in delivering accelerated course-based programs where students can customize modalities to speed their time to completion and degree completion programs (for example, the RN-BSN). Walden currently offers more than 25 programs/specializations and one certificate in a direct assessment competency-based education format through its Tempo Learning® modality. Through a culture of assessment and continuous improvement, Walden has developed the organization and resources required to deliver a quality academic learning experience to working adults via distance delivery. All Walden academic programs are delivered in an online format.
Walden’s colleges and programs are structured within two main divisions – the Division of Health Care Access and Quality and the Division of Social Support for Healthy Communities.
Walden believes this organizational structure supports its mission via a focused effort promoting healthy communities and healthy people, as identified through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion’s national effort in this area known as Healthy People 2030.
Student Admissions and Admissions Standards
Walden has a long-standing commitment to providing educational opportunities to learners across all degree levels. Walden’s programs are enriched by the cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds of its students and instructors. In the admissions process, Walden selects individuals who can benefit from a distributed educational or online learning approach and who will use their Walden education to contribute to their academic or professional communities.
For admissions review to take place, applicants must submit an online application for their intended program of study and an official transcript with a qualifying admitting degree from a U.S. school accredited by a regional, professional/specialized, or national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education (“ED”), or from an appropriately accredited non-U.S. institution. Additional materials or requirements to submit may vary depending on the academic program.
All applicants to the bachelor’s program are required to have earned, at a minimum, a recognized high school diploma, high school equivalency certificate, or other state-recognized credential of high school completion. Applicants with degrees and coursework from a non-U.S. institution have their academic record evaluated for comparability to a U.S. degree or coursework by our Global Transcript Evaluation (“GTE”) service offered by Walden or any credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (“NACES”) or member of Association of International Credential Evaluators (“AICE”).
Applicants may be offered conditional admission to Walden with a stipulation for academic performance at the level of a grade point average of 3.0 or higher for master’s and doctoral students or a grade point average of 2.0 or higher for undergraduate students, the successful completion of academic progress requirements during the initial term(s) of enrollment, the completion of prerequisites, and/or other stipulations (including receipt of official records).
Medical and Veterinary
AUC and RUSM
AUC, founded in 1978 and acquired by Adtalem in 2011, provides medical education and confers the Doctor of Medicine degree. AUC is located in St. Maarten and has graduated over 7,500 physicians since inception. The mission of AUC is to train tomorrow’s physicians, whose service to their communities and their patients is enhanced by international learning experiences and an emphasis on social accountability and engagement.
RUSM, founded in 1978 and acquired by Adtalem in 2003, provides medical education and confers the Doctor of Medicine degree. RUSM is located in Barbados and has graduated over 15,000 physicians since inception. The mission of RUSM is to deliver an innovative and experiential medical education program in an inclusive environment of scholars that fosters professional growth and leadership and trains students to become ethical, compassionate, and patient-centric physicians who advance healthcare in local and global communities.
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AUC’s and RUSM’s programs consist of three academic semesters per year, which begin in January, May, and September, allowing students to begin their basic science instruction at the most convenient time for them.
Initially, AUC and RUSM students complete a program of concentrated study of medical sciences after which eligible students sit for U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (“USMLE”), Step 1, which assesses whether students understand and can apply scientific concepts that are basic to the practice of medicine. Under AUC and RUSM direction, students then complete the remainder of their program by participating in clinical rotations conducted at over 40 affiliated teaching hospitals or medical centers connected with accredited graduate medical education programs in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. Towards the end of the clinical training and prior to graduation, AUC and RUSM students take USMLE, Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge), which assesses ability to apply medical knowledge, skills, and understanding of clinical science essential for the provision of patient care under supervision and includes emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention. AUC and RUSM students use the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (“ECFMG”) pathways to enter the U.S. residency match.
Upon successful completion of their medical degree requirements, students apply for a residency position in their area of specialty through the National Residency Matching Program (“NRMP”). This process is also known as “The Match”® and utilizes an algorithm to “match” applicants to programs using the certified rank order lists of the applicants and program directors.
Of first-time eligible AUC graduates, 98% and 95% attained residency positions in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Of first-time eligible RUSM graduates, 98% and 96% attained residency positions in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
In September 2019, AUC opened its medical education program in the U.K. in partnership with University of Central Lancashire (“UCLAN”). The program offers students a Post Graduate Diploma in International Medical Sciences from UCLAN, followed by their Doctor of Medicine degree from AUC. Students are eligible to do clinical rotations at AUC’s clinical sites, which include hospitals in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. This program is aimed at preparing students for USMLEs.
Medical Education Readiness Program (“MERP”) is a 15-week medical school preparatory program focused on enhancing the academic foundation of prospective AUC and RUSM students and providing them with the skills they need to be successful in medical school and to achieve their goals of becoming physicians. Upon successful completion of the MERP program, students are guaranteed admission to AUC or RUSM.
RUSVM
RUSVM, founded in 1982 and acquired by Adtalem in 2003, provides veterinary education and confers the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, as well as Masters of Science and Ph.D. degrees. RUSVM is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (“AVMA”). RUSVM is located in St. Kitts and has graduated nearly 6,000 veterinarians since inception. The mission of RUSVM is to provide the best learning environment to prepare students to become members and leaders of the worldwide public and professional healthcare team, advancing human and animal health–One Health–through research and knowledge exchange.
The RUSVM program is structured to provide a veterinary education that is comparable to educational programs at U.S. veterinary schools. RUSVM students complete a seven-semester, pre-clinical curriculum at the campus in St. Kitts. After completing their pre-clinical curriculum, RUSVM students enter a clinical clerkship under RUSVM direction lasting approximately 45 weeks at clinical affiliates located in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the U.K.
RUSVM offers a one-semester Vet Prep Program designed to enhance the pre-clinical science knowledge and study skills that are critical to success in veterinary school.
Student Admissions and Admissions Standards
AUC, RUSM, and RUSVM employ regional admissions representatives in locations throughout the U.S. and Canada who provide information to students interested in their respective programs. A successful applicant must have completed the required prerequisite courses and, for AUC and RUSM U.S. students, taken the Medical College Admission Test
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(“MCAT”), while RUSVM applicants are strongly encouraged but not required to have completed the Graduate Record Exam (“GRE”). Candidates for admission must interview with an admissions representative and all admission decisions are made by the admissions committees of the medical and veterinary schools. AUC allows several entrance examinations for its international students.
Market Trends and Competition
Chamberlain
Chamberlain competes in the U.S. nursing education market, which has more than 2,000 programs leading to RN licensure. These include four-year educational institutions, two-year community colleges, and less-than-2-year schools. The market consists of two distinct segments: pre-licensure nursing programs that prepare students to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam and post-licensure nursing programs that allow existing RNs to advance their education.
In the pre-licensure nursing market, capacity limitations and restricted new student enrollment are common among traditional four-year educational institutions and community colleges. Chamberlain has 23 campuses located in 15 states and an online BSN program offered in 36 states. In Fall 2024, according to data obtained from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (“AACN”), Chamberlain had the largest pre-licensure program in the U.S. based on total enrollments.
In post-licensure nursing education, there are more than 700 institutions offering RN-BSN programs and more than 600 institutions offering MSN programs. Chamberlain’s RN-BSN degree completion option has received three certifications from Quality Matters, an independent global organization leading quality assurance in online teaching and learning environments. Chamberlain has earned the Online Learning Support, Online Teaching Support, and Online Learner Success certifications.
In Fall 2024, according to AACN data, Chamberlain had the largest BSN, MSN, FNP, and DNP programs in the U.S based on total enrollments.
Walden
The market for fully online higher education, in which Walden competes, remains a competitive and growing space. As a comprehensive university offering degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level, in addition to certificates and a school of lifelong learning, the competition varies depending on the degree level and the discipline. While Walden’s target market of working professionals 25 years and older was once underserved, it now has a variety of options to meet the growing need for higher education.
Walden has degree programs in nursing, education, counseling, business, information technology, psychology, public health, social work and human services, public administration and public policy, and criminal justice. Walden competes both with other comprehensive universities and also more narrowly focused schools, which may only offer a few degree programs. Given the growing and ever-changing market, Walden competes with a wide variety of higher education institutions as well as other education providers.
Walden competes with traditional public and private non-profit institutions and for-profit schools. As more campus-based institutions offer online programs, the competition for online higher education has been growing. Typically, public universities charge lower tuition compared with Walden due to state subsidies, government grants, and access to other financial resources. On the other hand, tuition at private non-profit institutions is higher than the average tuition rates at Walden. Walden competes with other educational institutions principally based on price, quality of education, reputation, learning modality, educational programs, and student services.
Walden has over 50 years of experience offering high quality distance education. Walden remains a leader in many areas and is one of the leading doctoral degree conferrers in nursing, public health, public policy, business/management, education, and psychology and one of the leading conferrers of master’s degrees in nursing, psychology, social work, human services, education, and counseling.
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Medical and Veterinary
AUC and RUSM compete with U.S. schools of medicine, U.S. colleges of osteopathic medicine, and Caribbean medical schools as well as with international medical schools recruiting U.S. students who may be eligible to receive funding from ED Title IV programs. RUSVM competes with U.S.-based and international AVMA accredited schools.
There has been some recent expansion in the U.S. medical education and veterinary education enrollment capacities because of the growing supply/demand imbalance for medical doctors and veterinarians. Despite this expansion, management believes the imbalance will continue to spur demand for medical and veterinary education.
Accreditation and Other Regulatory Approvals
Educational institutions and their individual programs are awarded accreditation by achieving a level of quality that entitles them to the confidence of the educational community and the public they serve. Accredited institutions are subject to periodic review by accrediting bodies to ensure continued high performance and institutional and program improvement and integrity, and to confirm that accreditation requirements continue to be satisfied.
Chamberlain
Chamberlain is institutionally accredited by the HLC, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by ED. In addition to institutional accreditation, Chamberlain has also obtained programmatic accreditation for specific programs. BSN, MSN, DNP, and post-graduate Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (“APRN”) certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (“CCNE”). Chamberlain’s MPH program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (“CEPH”). Chamberlain’s MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (“CSWE”)’s Commission on Accreditation. The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (“ARC-PA”) has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the MPAS program. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class. Additionally, Chamberlain is an accredited provider of nursing continuing professional development credits by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Walden
Walden is also institutionally accredited by the HLC. In addition to its institutional accreditation, a number of Walden’s programs have obtained programmatic accreditation. The BS in Information Technology program is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. A number of business programs (BS in Business Administration, Master of Business Administration, MS in Finance, Doctor of Business Administration, and Ph.D. in Management) are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (“ACBSP”). The BS and MS in Accounting programs are accredited by ACBSP’s Separate Accounting Accreditation. The BSN, MSN, Post-Master’s APRN certificates, and DNP programs are accredited by CCNE. The MS in Addiction Counseling, MS in School Counseling, MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MS in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling, and Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs. Walden’s initial teacher preparation programs, BS in Elementary Education and Master of Arts in Teaching with a specialization in Special Education, and advanced educator preparation programs, education specialist in Educational Leadership and Administration and MS in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership and Administration, in the Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. The MPH and Doctor of Public Health programs are accredited by the CEPH. The Bachelor of Social Work and MSW programs are accredited by the CSWE. Additionally, Walden is an accredited provider of continuing education credits by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
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Medical and Veterinary
The Government of St. Maarten authorizes AUC to confer the Doctor of Medicine degree. AUC is accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (“ACCM”). The ACCM is an international medical school accrediting organization for countries that do not have a national medical school accreditation body. The U.S. Department of Education National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (“NCFMEA”) has affirmed that the ACCM has established and enforces standards of educational accreditation that are comparable to those promulgated by the U.S. Liaison Committee on Medical Education (“LCME”). In addition, AUC is authorized to place students in clinical rotations in the majority of U.S. states, including California, Florida, and New York, where robust processes are in place to evaluate and approve an international medical school’s programs. AUC students can join residency training programs in all 50 states. AUC has also been deemed acceptable by the Graduate Medical Council (“GMC”), the accrediting body in the U.K., which allows AUC graduates to apply for residency programs in the U.K.
The Government of Barbados authorizes RUSM to confer the Doctor of Medicine degree through a registration process with the Barbados Accreditation Council. RUSM’s primary accreditor is Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (“CAAM-HP”). CAAM-HP is authorized to accredit medical programs by the government of Barbados. On July 26, 2018, Barbados authorized RUSM to confer the Doctor of Medicine degree. The NCFMEA has affirmed that CAAM-HP has established and enforces standards of educational accreditation that are comparable to those promulgated by the LCME. In addition, RUSM is authorized to place students in clinical rotations in the majority of U.S. states, including California, Florida, New Jersey, and New York, where robust processes are in place to evaluate and accredit an international medical school’s programs. RUSM students can join residency training programs in all 50 states.
RUSVM has been recognized by the government of the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis (“St. Kitts”) and is chartered to confer the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (“AVMA COE”). RUSVM has affiliations with many AVMA-accredited U.S. and international colleges of veterinary medicine so that RUSVM students can complete their final three clinical semesters of study in the U.S. or abroad. RUSVM has received accreditation for its Postgraduate Studies program from the St. Christopher & Nevis Accreditation Board. The Postgraduate Studies program offers MS and Ph.D. degrees in all research areas supported by RUSVM. Areas of emphasis are guided by RUSVM's themed research centers.
Financial Aid
Like other higher education institutions, Adtalem’s institutions are dependent upon the timely receipt of federal financial aid funds. All public financial aid programs are subject to political and governmental budgetary considerations. Adtalem’s institutions and their students participate in a wide range of financial aid programs, including U.S. federal financial aid, state financial aid, Canadian financial aid, private loan programs, tax-favored programs, Adtalem-provided financial assistance, and employer-provided financial assistance. In the U.S., the Higher Education Act (as reauthorized, the “HEA”) guides the federal government’s support of postsecondary education. Changes to financial aid programs that restrict student eligibility or reduce funding levels could have a material adverse effect on Adtalem’s business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. See Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for a discussion of student financial aid related risks.
Legislative and Regulatory Requirements
Government-funded financial assistance programs are governed by extensive and complex regulations in the U.S. Like any other educational institution, Adtalem’s institutions’ administration of these programs is periodically reviewed by regulatory agencies and is subject to audit or investigation by other authorities. Any violation could be the basis for penalties or other disciplinary action, including initiation of a suspension, limitation, or termination proceeding.
Our domestic postsecondary institutions are subject to extensive federal and state regulations. The HEA and the related ED regulations govern all higher education institutions participating in Title IV programs and provide for a regulatory triad by mandating specific regulatory responsibilities for each of the following: (1) the federal government through ED, (2) the accrediting agencies recognized by ED, and (3) state higher education regulatory bodies. Therefore, to be eligible to participate in Title IV programs, a postsecondary institution must be accredited by an agency recognized by ED, must
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comply with the HEA and all applicable regulations thereunder, and must be authorized to operate by the appropriate higher education authority in each state in which the institution operates, as applicable.
In addition to governance by the regulatory triad, members of the U.S. Congress and federal agencies, including ED, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), and the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), review the role that proprietary educational institutions play in higher education. We expect that this regulatory environment will continue for the foreseeable future.
Changes in or new interpretations of applicable laws, rules, or regulations could have a material adverse effect on our eligibility or cost to participate in Title IV programs, to meet accreditation standards or comply with state authorization requirements. The failure to maintain or renew any required regulatory approvals, accreditation, or state authorizations could have a material adverse effect on us. ED regulations regarding financial responsibility provide that, if any one of our Title IV participating institutions (“Title IV institutions”) is unable to pay its obligations under its program participation agreement (“PPA”) as a result of operational issues and/or an enforcement action, our other Title IV institutions, regardless of their compliance with applicable laws and regulations, would not be able to maintain their Title IV eligibility without assisting in the repayment of the non-compliant institution’s Title IV obligations. As a result, even though Adtalem’s Title IV institutions are operated through independent entities, an enforcement action against one of our institutions could also have a material adverse effect on the businesses, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows of Adtalem’s other Title IV institutions and Adtalem as a whole and could result in the imposition of significant restrictions on the ability of Adtalem’s other Title IV institutions and Adtalem as a whole to operate. For further information, see “A bankruptcy filing by us or by any of our Title IV institutions, or a closure of one of our Title IV institutions, would lead to an immediate loss of eligibility to participate in Title IV programs” under subsection “Risks Related to Adtalem’s Regulated Industry” in Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”
Financial Responsibility
Institutions must pass an ED financial responsibility test, also known as a “composite score,” to maintain eligibility to participate in Title IV aid programs. For Adtalem’s institutions, this test is calculated at the consolidated Adtalem level. Applying various financial elements from annual audited financial statements, the score is a composite of three ratios: an equity ratio that measures the institution’s capital resources; a primary reserve ratio that measures an institution’s ability to fund its operations from current resources; and a net income ratio that measures an institution’s ability to operate profitably. A score greater than or equal to 1.5 indicates the institution is considered financially responsible. A score less than 1.5 but greater than or equal to 1.0 is considered financially responsible but requires additional oversight. For example, an institution with a score in this range is subject to heightened cash monitoring and other participation requirements. An institution with a score of less than 1.0 is not considered financially responsible but may continue to participate in the Title IV programs under provisional certification. In addition, this lower score typically requires that the institution be subject to heightened cash monitoring requirements and post a letter of credit (equal to a minimum of 10% of the Title IV aid it received in the institution's most recent fiscal year).
Prior to fiscal year 2022, Adtalem’s composite score was greater than 1.5. However, on September 25, 2023, ED notified Adtalem that its fiscal year 2022 composite score had declined to 0.2. As previously disclosed, this was expected due to the acquisition of Walden and other transactions. ED advised that Adtalem’s five institutions will be permitted to continue to participate in Title IV under provisional certifications with heightened cash monitoring and continued reporting. Management does not believe these conditions will have a material adverse effect on Adtalem’s operations. At ED’s request, Adtalem maintains two surety-backed letters of credit totaling $179.0 million representing 10% of the consolidated Title IV funds Adtalem’s institutions received during fiscal year 2024.
The financial responsibility rules include other mandatory or discretionary triggers that could require an institution to post a letter of credit. ED recently amended the financial responsibility regulation and the changes took effect July 1, 2024. The changes include additional triggers which could require additional letters of credit.
Program Participation Agreement
The HEA specifies the manner in which ED reviews institutions for eligibility and certification to participate in Title IV programs. Every educational institution participating in Title IV programs must be certified to participate through a
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PPA and certification must be periodically renewed. Such recertification generally is required every six years, but may be required earlier, including when an institution undergoes a change in control. Institutions that violate certain ED Title IV regulations may lose eligibility to participate in Title IV programs or may only continue participation under provisional certification. ED may place an institution on provisional certification status if it finds that the institution does not fully satisfy all of the eligibility and certification standards and in certain other circumstances, such as when an institution is certified for the first time or undergoes a change in control. During the period of provisional certification, the institution must comply with any additional conditions included in the institution’s PPA. In addition, ED may more closely review an institution that is provisionally certified if it applies for recertification or approval to open a new location, add an educational program, acquire another institution, or make any other significant change. Students attending provisionally certified institutions remain eligible to receive Title IV program funds. Provisional certification status also carries fewer due process protections than full certification. If ED determines that a provisionally certified institution is unable to meet its responsibilities under its PPA, it may seek to revoke the institution’s certification to participate in Title IV programs without advance notice or opportunity for the institution to challenge the action.
Chamberlain was most recently recertified and issued an unrestricted PPA in September 2020, with a reapplication date of June 30, 2024. The lengthy PPA recertification process is such that ED allows unhampered continued access to Title IV funding after PPA expiration, so long as materially complete applications are submitted at least 90 days in advance of expiration. A complete application for Chamberlain’s PPA recertification has been timely submitted to ED.
ED approved Walden’s change in ownership application and issued Walden a provisional PPA through June 30, 2025, with its application for PPA recertification due March 31, 2025. A complete application for Walden’s PPA recertification has been timely submitted to ED.
ED provisionally recertified AUC and RUSM’s Title IV PPAs through March 31, 2025. Complete applications for AUC and RUSM’s PPA recertification have been timely submitted to ED. ED has provisionally recertified RUSVM’s Title IV PPA through March 31, 2027.
The provisional nature of the PPAs stemmed from Adtalem’s composite score declining and failing to meet ED’s standards of financial responsibility as described above.
Walden, AUC, RUSM, and RUSVM’s provisional PPAs included financial requirements, such as letter of credit, heightened cash monitoring, and additional reporting. We do not believe these requirements will have a material effect on Adtalem’s financial position or results of operations. With the approval of its change in ownership, Walden has the ability to request ED approval for new programs.
As of June 30, 2025, Adtalem had $179.0 million of letters of credit outstanding in favor of ED. See “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements” in Note 13 “Debt” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for additional information.
Gainful Employment
The HEA requires certificate programs at all Title IV institutions and degree programs at proprietary Title IV institutions to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation. In October 2023, ED released new Financial Value Transparency (“FVT”) and Gainful Employment (“GE”) rules effective July 1, 2024. GE programs must meet a debt-to-earnings test in which graduates’ annual debt payments must not exceed 8% of their annual earnings or 20% of their discretionary earnings. GE programs must also meet an earnings premium test in which graduates’ earnings must exceed those of a typical high school graduate. Under the regulation, programs that fail either metric must provide warnings to students and prospective students that the program is at risk of losing Title IV eligibility and programs that fail the same measure in two out of three consecutive years lose Title IV eligibility. The GE regulation also includes a transparency framework in which debt-to-earnings, earnings premium, and a wide range of other program outcomes for all Title IV programs are disclosed on a website hosted by ED. Because there are many factors and unknowns, including the earnings of program graduates, Adtalem is reviewing the regulation to determine what impact, if any, the regulation will have on its programs. In addition, multiple parties are seeking to block enforcement of the FVT/GE rule under the Administrative Procedure Act and other legal theories. On February 14, 2025, ED extended the institutional reporting deadline until
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September 30, 2025. On July 25, 2025, ED announced its intent to establish negotiated rulemaking committees in advance of issuing draft regulations on various topics, including Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Do No Harm
The recently enacted Do No Harm provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) provide that an undergraduate program may lose Title IV eligibility if the earnings of a programmatic cohort of its completers as defined in OBBBA are no greater than earnings of a population with a high school diploma, and a graduate program may lose Title IV eligibility if the earnings of a programmatic cohort of its completers as defined in OBBBA are no greater than the earnings of a population with a bachelor’s degree, in each case for two years in a three-year period. These provisions are applicable to all Title IV participating institutions. Regulations to define how Do No Harm will be implemented, including the definition of completer, the populations to be used to measure the difference between earnings of completers and earnings of others, have yet to be promulgated. See Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for a discussion of Do No Harm related risks.
The 90/10 Rule
An ED regulation known as the 90/10 Rule affects only proprietary institutions participating in Title IV programs, including each of Adtalem’s institutions. An institution that does not meet the 90% threshold for two consecutive fiscal years loses its eligibility to participate in Title IV programs. Previously, an institution could not derive more than 90% of its revenue on a cash basis from Title IV financial aid funds. In March 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act amended the 90/10 calculation to require no more than 90% of revenue at proprietary institutions be derived from any federal education assistance funds, including but not limited to previously excluded U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and Department of Defense tuition assistance funds. This change was subject to negotiated rulemaking with the final rule published by ED in October 2022. The amended rule applies to an institution’s fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2023. For Adtalem’s institutions, the updated 90/10 rule is therefore effective with the calculation for fiscal year 2024. The following table shows the 90/10 rates for each Adtalem institution for fiscal year 2024 based on the new 90/10 rules and fiscal year 2023 based on the old 90/10 rules that were still in effect for that period. We are also providing a consolidated rate for Adtalem even though it is not subject to 90/10 requirements.
| | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Fiscal Year | |||
| | | 2024 | | 2023 | |
| Chamberlain University | 68 | % | 65 | % | |
| Walden University | | 82 | % | 78 | % |
| American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine | 87 | % | 81 | % | |
| Ross University School of Medicine | 87 | % | 87 | % | |
| Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine | 78 | % | 79 | % | |
| Consolidated | 77 | % | 75 | % |
Borrower Defense to Repayment
Under the HEA, ED is authorized to specify acts or omissions of an institution that a borrower may assert as a Defense to Repayment of their Title IV loans made under the Federal Direct Loan Program. New Borrower Defense to Repayment regulations were scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2023 that include a lower threshold for establishing misrepresentation, no statute of limitation for claims submission, expanded reasons to file a claim including aggressive or deceptive recruitment tactics and omission of fact, weakened due processes afforded to institutions, and reinstated provisions for group discharges. ED also included a six-year statute of limitations for recovery of funds from institutions. These changes would increase financial liability risk and reputational risk for Adtalem. However, the updated rules have not yet been implemented due to pending litigation from another party based on the Administrative Procedure Act and other legal theories.
Incentive Compensation
An educational institution participating in Title IV programs may not pay any commission, bonus, or other incentive payments to any person involved in student recruitment or awarding of Title IV program funds, if such payments are based directly or indirectly in any part on success in enrolling students or obtaining student financial aid. The law and regulations
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governing this requirement have not established clear criteria for compliance in all circumstances, which increased the uncertainty about what constitutes incentive compensation and which employees are covered by the regulation.
Administrative Capability
The HEA directs ED to assess the administrative capability of each institution to participate in Title IV programs. The failure of an institution to satisfy any of the criteria may cause ED to determine that the institution lacks administrative capability and, therefore, subject the institution to additional scrutiny, provisional certification, or revocation of eligibility for Title IV programs. ED recently amended the administrative capability regulations and the changes took effect July 1, 2024. The changes include additional tests of administrative capability that Adtalem’s institutions must meet. Management does not expect that Adtalem’s institutions will fail to meet these requirements.
State Authorization
Institutions that participate in Title IV programs must be authorized to operate by the appropriate postsecondary regulatory authority in each state where the institution has a physical presence.
In the U.S., each Chamberlain location is approved to grant degrees by the respective state in which it is located. Chamberlain has obtained licensure in each state which requires such licensure and where students are enrolled. Walden is registered in its home state of Minnesota with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. Walden maintains licenses or exemptions in each state which requires such licensure and where students are enrolled. AUC, RUSM, and RUSVM clinical programs are accredited as part of their programs of education by their respective accrediting bodies, approved by the appropriate boards in those states that have a formal process to do so, and are reported to ED as required.
Many states require private-sector postsecondary education institutions to post surety bonds for licensure. In the U.S., Adtalem has posted $67.3 million of surety bonds as of June 30, 2025 with regulatory authorities on behalf of Chamberlain, Walden, AUC, RUSM, and RUSVM.
Certain states have standards of financial responsibility that differ from those prescribed by federal regulation. When an Adtalem institution is unable to meet those state’s requirements, it may be required to cease operations in that state.
Cohort Default Rate (“CDR”)
All institutions that participate in Title IV programs must meet a CDR test for former students who entered repayment on Title IV loans received while enrolled at the institution. The rate represents the percentage of students defaulting on one or more Title IV loans within three years of entering repayment during a federal fiscal year. Institutions may lose Title IV eligibility if the most recent CDR exceeds 40% or if each of the three most recent CDRs exceed 30%.
The three-year CDRs for Adtalem’s institutions are shown below for the three most recent cohort years. According to ED, the default rate for all Title IV institutions nationally was 0.0% for the fiscal year 2021 cohort, 0.0% for the fiscal year 2020 cohort, and 2.3% for the fiscal year 2019 cohort. The default rate has been declining over the past few years due to COVID-19 relief measures which included a freeze on loan payments and suspension of default statuses.
| | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Cohort Default Rate | |||||
| | | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | |
| Chamberlain University | | 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % | 0.5 | % |
| Walden University | | 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % | 1.1 | % |
| American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine | | 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % | 0.2 | % |
| Ross University School of Medicine | | 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % | 0.2 | % |
| Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine | | 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % | 0.2 | % |
Satisfactory Academic Progress
In addition to the requirements that educational institutions must meet, student recipients of financial aid must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward completion of their program of study and an appropriate grade point average.
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Change of Ownership or Control
Any material change of ownership or change of control of Adtalem, depending on the type of change, may have significant regulatory consequences for each of our Title IV institutions. Such a change of ownership or control could require recertification by ED, the reevaluation of accreditation by each institution’s accreditors, reauthorization by each institution’s state licensing agencies, and/or providing financial protections. If Adtalem experiences a material change of ownership or change of control, then our Title IV institutions may cease to be eligible to participate in Title IV programs until recertified by ED. There is no assurance that such recertification would be obtained. After a material change in ownership or change of control, most institutions will participate in Title IV programs on a provisional basis for a period of one to three years.
In addition, each Title IV institution is required to report any material change in stock ownership to its principal institutional accrediting body and would generally be required to obtain approval prior to undergoing any transaction that affects, or may affect, its corporate control or governance. In the event of any such change, each of our institution’s accreditors may undertake an evaluation of the effect of the change on the continuing operations of our institution for purposes of determining if continued accreditation is appropriate, and that evaluation may include a comprehensive review.
In addition, some states in which our Title IV institutions are licensed require approval (in some cases, prior approval) of changes of ownership or control in order to remain authorized to operate in those states, and participation in grant programs in some states may be interrupted or otherwise affected by a change of ownership or control.
Refer to the risk factor titled “If regulators do not approve, or delay their approval, of transactions involving a material change of ownership or change of control of Adtalem, the eligibility of our institutions to participate in Title IV programs, our institutions’ accreditation and our institutions’ state licenses may be impaired in a manner that materially and adversely affects our business” under subsection “Risks Related to Adtalem’s Regulated Industry” in Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”
Seasonality
The seasonal pattern of Adtalem’s enrollments and its educational programs’ starting dates affect the timing of cash flows with higher cash inflows at the beginning of academic sessions.
Human Capital
At Adtalem, our people are the engine behind our mission: expanding access to healthcare education and career opportunity. Our strategy relies on a high-performing, purpose-driven workforce equipped to meet the evolving needs of our students, partners, and society.
As of June 30, 2025, Adtalem had the following number of employees:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Full-Time | | Part-Time | | Temporary | | Visiting | | |
| | | Staff | | Staff | | Staff | | Professors | | Total |
| Chamberlain | | 1,393 | | 16 | | 182 | | 2,861 | | 4,452 |
| Walden | | 1,298 | | 12 | | 2 | | 2,412 | | 3,724 |
| Medical and Veterinary | | 765 | | 14 | | 51 | | 102 | | 932 |
| Home Office | | 1,247 | | 5 | | 11 | | — | | 1,263 |
| Total | | 4,703 | | 47 | | 246 | | 5,375 | | 10,371 |
Adtalem maintains positive employee relations and is not subject to any collective bargaining agreements.
Talent Strategy: Enabling Growth Through People
In fiscal year 2025, Adtalem implemented a refreshed talent agenda aligned to being the leading healthcare educator in the U.S. and a systemically important solution to the healthcare industry–educating and supplying critical talent.
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Our talent strategy prioritizes building a resilient leadership pipeline, expanding capabilities and upskilling, and embedding a culture that connects individual performance to enterprise-wide goals and financial rewards. Our strategic focus is rooted in four pillars:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Hire better: Expand candidate pipelines and diversify recruitment strategies |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Grow faster: Scale development, mentoring, and mobility pathways |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Inspire deeply: Foster purpose, trust, and inclusion to build a culture colleagues want to belong to–anchored in clear expectations and shared accountability |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Demand more: Cultivate new capabilities and embed continuous learning |
These efforts are underpinned by our Culture Expectations–a shared framework focused on prioritizing student outcomes, connecting daily work to strategy, continuously improving performance, and owning outcomes.
Organizational Health and Performance Enablement
Adtalem views organizational health as a leading indicator of long-term performance. In January 2024, we conducted an enterprise-wide Organizational Health Index (“OHI”) pulse survey, which assessed progress across nine outcome areas and ten management practices. 65% of regular colleagues participated, a 6% increase over the prior year. Key highlights included:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | 4-point increase in overall OHI score, which increased Adtalem’s standing relative to the global OHI benchmark by a full quartile (1) |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | From the 10 priority management practices for Adtalem, we saw: |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| o | 8-point increase in “customer focus,” moving to 2nd quartile against the global benchmark, reflecting our continued push for focus on student outcomes in our day-to-day work |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| o | 6-point increase in shared vision, moving to 2nd quartile against the global benchmark, reflecting our progress in cascading our enterprise strategy across all segments and functions |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| o | 5-point increase in operational management, moving to 2nd quartile against the global benchmark, reflecting our continued progress in driving operational rigor that supports growth and the scale of our portfolio |
The next OHI pulse is planned for Fall 2025 and will inform continued enterprise and segment level action plans to engage and retain our talent.
(1) The Organizational Health Index global benchmark is comprised of 2,600 companies across 100 countries with 8 million respondents.
Compensation, Benefits, and Well-being
Adtalem offers a comprehensive and competitive total rewards package designed to attract, retain, and support top talent. Highlights include:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Generous paid time off, retirement savings plans with 401(k) match, and domestic partner benefits |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Paid parental leave for all parents and adoption assistance |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Enhanced mental health resources, including Headspace Care and an expanded Employee Assistance Program |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Holistic well-being programs under our Live Well strategy–supporting physical, emotional, financial, and social health |
We also invest in our employees’ educational aspirations through tuition assistance and reimbursement across accredited institutions. These benefits reflect our commitment to cultivating an engaged, high-performing workforce aligned to business outcomes.
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Intellectual Property
Adtalem owns and uses numerous trademarks and service marks, such as “Adtalem,” “American University of the Caribbean,” “Chamberlain College of Nursing,” “Ross University,” “Walden University,” and others. All trademarks, service marks, certification marks, patents, and copyrights associated with its businesses are owned in the name of Adtalem Global Education Inc. or a subsidiary of Adtalem Global Education Inc. Adtalem vigorously defends against infringements of its trademarks, service marks, certification marks, patents, and copyrights.
Available Information
We use our website (www.adtalem.com) as a routine channel of distribution of company information, including press releases, presentations, and supplemental information, as one means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor our website in addition to following press releases, SEC filings, and public conference calls and webcasts. Investors and others can receive notifications of new information posted on our investor relations website in real time by signing up for email alerts. You may also access our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports, as well as other reports relating to us that are filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), free of charge in the investor relations section of our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. The SEC also maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov. The content of the websites mentioned above is not incorporated into and should not be considered a part of this report.