Purdue acquisition of Kaplan U. garners national attention

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University announced Thursday (April 27) the creation of a new public university intended to address the need for postsecondary education for working adults and others unsuited to traditional campus study and to meet the explosive growth in online technologies.

To launch the new university, Purdue will acquire Kaplan University and its institutional operations and assets, including its 15 campuses and learning centers, 32,000 students, 3,000 employees, and decades of experience in distance education. All existing Kaplan University students and faculty will transition to the new university, which will use the Purdue name in some fashion not yet identified.

The announcement quickly garnered significant media attention, with approximately 250 placements. These include the Washington Post, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report and major metropolitans around the nation.  Leading higher education news outlets — Chronicle of Higher Education and  Inside Higher Ed — also carried the story, as did Indianapolis, state and local media. A variety of news outlets and higher education leaders tweeted the news as the board approved the action.

Washington Post: Purdue acquires for-profit Kaplan University

U.S. News & World Report: Purdue acquires for-profit giant Kaplan University

Wall Street Journal: Purdue University to acquire Kaplan University

Houston Chronicle: Purdue University taking over for-profit Kaplan chain

Boston Herald: Purdue buys for-profit Kaplan University for $1, plans to make it public

Chronicle of Higher Education: Purdue U. buys mega for-profit Kaplan U., plans to turn it into a ‘public university’

Inside Higher Ed: Purdue buys Kaplan University, will create new nonprofit chain

Inside INdiana Business: Purdue makes big online play, Oks Kaplan acquisition