American Public Education APEI Form 10-Q filing Q3 FY2025

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Income

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(In thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1. Nature of the Business

American Public Education, Inc., or APEI, which together with its subsidiaries is referred to as the “Company,” is a provider of online and campus-based postsecondary education to students through the following subsidiary institutions:

• American Public University System, Inc., or APUS, provides online postsecondary education directed primarily at the needs of the military, veterans, extended military families, and other public service and service-minded communities, through American Military University, or AMU, and American Public University, or APU. APUS is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, or HLC.
• Rasmussen College, LLC, which is referred to herein as Rasmussen University, or RU, a nursing- and health sciences-focused institution, provides postsecondary education to students at 20 campuses in six states and online. RU is institutionally accredited by HLC.
• National Education Seminars, Inc., which is referred to herein as Hondros College of Nursing, or HCN, provides nursing education to students at eight campuses in three states. HCN is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau for Health Education Schools, or ABHES.
• American Public Training LLC, which is referred to herein as Graduate School USA, or GSUSA, provides career learning and leadership training in-person and online to the federal workforce. On July 25, 2025, or the GSUSA Sale Date, APEI completed the sale of its membership interest in GSUSA; therefore, the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2025, no longer includes the accounts of GSUSA. The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the operations of GSUSA through the GSUSA Sale Date in Corporate and Other. Please refer to “Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for more information on APEI’s sale of its membership interest in GSUSA.

The Company’s subsidiary institutions are licensed or otherwise authorized by state authorities to offer education programs to the extent the institutions believe such licenses or authorizations are required and are certified by the United States Department of Education, or ED, to participate in student financial aid programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, or Title IV programs.

The Company’s operations are organized into the following reportable segments:

• American Public University System Segment, or APUS Segment. This segment reflects the operational activities of APUS.
• Rasmussen University Segment, or RU Segment. This segment reflects the operational activities of RU.
• Hondros College of Nursing Segment, or HCN Segment. This segment reflects the operational activities of HCN.

Adjustments to reconcile segment results to the Consolidated Financial Statements are included in Corporate and Other. These adjustments include unallocated corporate activity and eliminations, and, prior to the GSUSA Sale Date, the operational activities of GSUSA. Prior to the GSUSA Sale Date, GSUSA operated as a stand-alone subsidiary of APEI but did not meet the quantitative thresholds to qualify as a reportable segment and did not have other requisite characteristics as a reportable segment. Therefore, GSUSA’s results prior to the GSUSA Sale Date were combined with and presented within Corporate and Other.

Please refer to “Note 9. Segment Information” for more information on the Company’s reporting segments.

Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies follows:

Basis of Presentation and Accounting

The accompanying unaudited, interim Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP.

Business Combinations

The Company accounts for business combinations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 805, Business Combinations, or FASB ASC 805, which requires the acquisition method to be used for all business combinations. Under ASC 805, the assets and liabilities of an acquired company are reported at business fair value along with the fair value of acquired intangible assets at the date of acquisition.

Business Divestitures

The Company accounts for business divestitures in accordance with FASB ASC 810, Consolidation. On the GSUSA Sale Date, APEI completed the sale of its membership interest in its wholly owned subsidiary, GSUSA, for $0.5 million, subject to customary adjustments, including for net working capital and cash, and recorded a $3.9 million loss on sale of subsidiary. Subsequent to the GSUSA Sale Date, APEI has no continuing involvement in GSUSA. The sale of its membership interest in GSUSA is not considered a significant shift in the strategic focus of APEI, nor is it considered material to APEI’s operations, cash flows, and financial position, and therefore the sale of GSUSA is not accounted for as a discontinued operation.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of APEI and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Information

The unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements do not include all the information and notes required by GAAP for audited annual financial statement presentations. In the opinion of management, these statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to present a fair statement of the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. Operating results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for future periods, including the year ending December 31, 2025. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or this Quarterly Report, should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes in its audited financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, or the Annual Report.

Use of Estimates

In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Company is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The Company evaluates these estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis and bases its estimates on experience, current and expected future conditions and various other assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions, and the impact of such differences may be material to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all short-term highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of demand deposits with financial institutions, money market funds, and U.S. Treasury bills. Cash and cash equivalents are Level 1 assets in the fair value reporting hierarchy.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash includes funds held for students for unbilled educational services that were received from Title IV programs. As a trustee of these Title IV program funds, the Company is required to maintain and restrict these funds pursuant to the terms of the program participation agreement with ED. As of December 31, 2024, restricted cash included a $25.4 million restricted certificate of deposit to secure a letter of credit for the benefit of ED on behalf of RU in connection with RU’s 2020

composite score, which is used by ED for determining compliance with financial responsibility standards, being below the minimum required. In May 2025, the letter of credit was released by ED, and the cash was thereafter no longer restricted. Restricted cash on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, excluding the restricted certificate of deposit at December 31, 2024, was $1.8 million and $1.5 million, respectively. Total restricted cash as of September 30, 2025, and December 31, 2024, was $1.8 million and $27.0 million, respectively.

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash as of September 30, 2025, and December 31, 2024, were as follows (in thousands):

Assets Held for Sale

Assets held for sale at December 31, 2024 represent excess real property located in Charles Town, West Virginia for the APUS Segment. Long-lived assets are classified as held for sale when the assets are expected to be sold within the next 12 months and meet the other relevant held for sale criteria. As such, the properties are recorded at the lower of the carrying value or fair value, less costs to sell, until such time the assets are sold. The Company completed the sale of its remaining assets held for sale in June 2025. For additional details regarding assets held for sale, please refer to “Note 4. Assets Held for Sale” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of an acquired business over the amount assigned to the tangible and identified intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values on the acquisition date. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized. The Company accounts for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in accordance with FASB ASC 350, Intangibles Goodwill and Other, and Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The Company’s goodwill and intangible assets are deductible for tax purposes.

Indefinite-lived and finite-lived intangible assets acquired in business combinations are recorded at fair value on the acquisition date. Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset.

The Company annually assesses goodwill and intangible assets for impairment in the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired or the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Goodwill impairment testing consists of an optional qualitative assessment as well as a quantitative test. The quantitative test compares the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit is greater than zero and its fair value is greater than its carrying amount, there is no impairment. If the carrying value is greater than the fair value, and such assets are not recoverable, the difference between the two values is recorded as an impairment.

For additional details regarding goodwill and intangible assets, please refer to “Note 6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Investments

Prior to December 31, 2024, the Company accounted for its investments in less than majority owned companies in accordance with FASB ASC 323, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures and FASB ASC 321, Investments – Equity Securities. The Company applied ASC 323 to investments when it had the ability to exercise significant influence but did not control the operating and financial policies of the company, which was generally represented by equity ownership of at least 20 percent but not more than 50 percent. Investments accounted for under the equity method were initially recorded at cost and subsequently adjusted by the Company’s share of equity in income or losses after the date of acquisition. The pro rata share of the operating results of the investee was reported in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income as equity investment income or loss. Investments that did not meet the equity method requirements were accounted for using the cost method under

ASC 321 with changes in the fair value of the investment reported in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income as equity investment income or loss.

During the first quarter of 2024, the Company evaluated its equity investments for indicators of impairment and concluded the fair value of a cost method investment was less than its carrying amount. As a result, the Company recorded an investment loss of $3.3 million during the first quarter of 2024 on a 2015 cost method investment. This investment loss was due to the investee entering into a new convertible debt agreement that resulted in the conversion of the Company’s preferred stock holdings in the investee into common shares, and the dilution of the Company’s ownership percentage. The investment loss recorded reduced the book value of the cost method investment to zero.

During the second quarter of 2024, the Company sold its remaining equity method investment back to the investee, as it was no longer considered a strategic investment. As a result, the Company recorded an investment loss of $1.1 million during the second quarter of 2024 on a 2013 equity method investment. The investment loss recorded reduced the book value of the equity method investment to zero. As a result, the Company no longer has any investments accounted for under ASC 323 and ASC 321 as of September 30, 2025, and December 31, 2024.

Stock-based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with FASB ASC 718, Stock Compensation, which requires companies to expense share-based compensation based on fair value, and ASU 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. Stock-based payments may include incentive stock options or non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, dividend equivalent rights, performance shares, performance units, cash-based awards, other stock-based awards, including unrestricted shares, or any combination of the foregoing.

Stock-based compensation cost is recognized as an expense generally over a three-year vesting period using the straight-line method for employees and the graded-vesting method for members of the Company’s Board of Directors, or the Board. It is measured using the Company’s closing stock price on the date of the grant. An accelerated one-year period is used to recognize stock-based compensation cost for employees who have reached certain service and retirement eligibility criteria on the date of grant. The fair value of each option award is estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model that uses certain assumptions. The Company makes assumptions with respect to expected stock price volatility based on the average historical volatility of the Company’s common stock. In addition, the Company determines the risk-free interest rate by selecting the U.S. Treasury constant maturity for the same maturity as the estimated life of the option quoted on an investment basis in effect at the time of grant for that business day.

Judgment is required in estimating the percentage of share-based awards that are expected to vest, and in the case of performance stock units, or PSUs, the level of performance that will be achieved and the number of shares that will be earned. The Company estimates forfeitures of share-based awards at the time of grant and revises such estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from original estimates. The forfeiture assumption is ultimately adjusted to the actual forfeiture rate. If actual results differ significantly from these estimates, stock-based compensation expense could be higher or lower and have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements. Estimates of fair value are subjective and are not intended to predict actual future events, and subsequent events are not indicative of the reasonableness of the original estimates of fair value made under ASC 718.

Stock-based compensation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, was as follows (in thousands):

Incentive-based Compensation

The Company provides incentive-based compensation opportunities to certain employees through cash incentive and equity awards. The expense associated with these awards is reflected within the Company’s operating expenses. For the years ending December 31, 2025, and 2024, the Management Development and Compensation Committee of the Board approved annual incentive arrangements for senior management employees. The aggregate amount of awards payable, if any, is dependent upon the achievement of certain Company financial and operational goals and the satisfaction of individual performance goals. Given that the awards are generally contingent upon achieving annual objectives, final determination of the current year incentive awards cannot be made until after the results for the year are finalized. The Company recognizes the estimated fair value of performance-based restricted stock units by assuming the satisfaction of any performance-based objectives at the “target” level, which is the most probable outcome determined for accounting purposes at the time of grant and multiplying the corresponding number of shares earned based upon such achievement by the closing price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. To the extent performance goals are not met, compensation cost is not ultimately recognized against the goals and, to the extent previously recognized, compensation cost is reversed. Amounts accrued are subject to change in future interim periods if actual future financial results or operational performance are better or worse than expected. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, the Company recognized an aggregate incentive-based compensation expense of $2.3 million and $7.3 million, respectively, compared to an aggregate expense of $1.7 million and $5.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with FASB ASC 740, Accounting for Income Taxes. The Company determines its interim tax provision by applying the estimated income tax rate expected for the full calendar year to income before income taxes for the period adjusted for discrete items.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs issued by the FASB. All ASUs issued subsequent to the filing of the Annual Report on March 6, 2025, were assessed and determined to be either inapplicable or not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and/or results of operations.

Note 3. Revenue

Disaggregation of Revenue

In the following table, revenue, shown net of grants and scholarships, is disaggregated by type of service provided. The table also includes a reconciliation of the disaggregated revenue within the reportable segments (in thousands):

Corporate and Other includes tuition and contract training revenue earned by GSUSA through the GSUSA Sale Date and the elimination of intersegment revenue for courses taken by employees of one segment at other segments.

Contract Balances and Performance Obligations

The Company had no contract assets or deferred contract costs as of September 30, 2025, and December 31, 2024.

The Company recognizes a contract liability, or deferred revenue, when a student begins a course, in the case of APUS, or starts a term, in the case of RU and HCN. Deferred revenue at September 30, 2025, was $24.0 million and included $15.7 million in future revenue that had not yet been earned for courses and terms that were in progress, as well as $8.2 million in consideration received in advance for future courses or terms, or student deposits. Deferred revenue represents the Company’s performance obligation to transfer future instructional services to students. Deferred revenue at December 31, 2024, was $23.5 million and included $14.1 million in future revenue that had not yet been earned for courses and terms that were in progress, as well as $9.4 million in student deposits.

The Company has elected, as a practical expedient, not to disclose additional information about unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with students that have an expected duration of one year or less.

When the Company begins providing the performance obligations, a contract receivable is created, resulting in accounts receivable on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company accounts for receivables in accordance with FASB ASC 310, Receivables. The Company uses the portfolio approach, a practical expedient, to evaluate if a contract exists and to assess collectability at the time of contract inception based on historical experience. Contracts are subsequently reviewed for collectability if significant events or circumstances indicate a change.

The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on management’s evaluation of the status of existing accounts receivable. Among other factors, management considers the age of the receivable, the anticipated source of payment, and historical allowance considerations. Consideration is also given to any specific known risk areas among the existing accounts receivable balances. Recoveries of receivables previously written off are recorded when received. APUS and RU do not charge interest on past due accounts receivable. HCN charges interest on payment plans when a student graduates or otherwise exits the program. Interest charged by HCN on payment plans was immaterial for the periods presented.

Note 4. Assets Held for Sale

Assets held for sale at December 31, 2024, represent excess real property located in Charles Town, West Virginia, for the Company’s APUS Segment.

In the first quarter of 2025, APUS entered into an agreement to sell a building classified in assets held for sale as of December 31, 2024, for $7.0 million, and recorded a loss of $1.5 million, based on the contract amount less estimated costs to sell of $0.4 million. The loss is included in loss on assets held for sale in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2025. APUS completed the sale in June 2025 for net sales proceeds of $6.6 million.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, APUS entered into an agreement to sell a building previously in use for $16.6 million. As a result, the building was reclassified to held for sale as of December 31, 2024, at the contract amount less estimated costs to sell of $0.7 million, or $15.9 million. APUS completed the sale in June 2025 for net sales proceeds of $15.9 million.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, APUS entered into an agreement to sell an undeveloped parcel of land for $0.5 million which approximated its carrying value. As a result, the land was classified in assets held for sale as of December 31, 2024. APUS completed the sale in February 2025 for net sales proceeds of $0.5 million.

Total cash received from the sale of assets held for sale was $23.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025.

Note 5. Leases

The Company has operating leases for office space and campus facilities and finance leases for certain copiers and printers. Leases are classified as operating leases unless they meet any of the criteria below to be classified as a finance lease:

• the lease transfers ownership of the asset at the end of the lease;
• the lease grants an option to purchase the asset that the lessee is expected to exercise;
• the lease term reflects a major part of the asset’s economic life;
• the present value of the lease payments equals or exceeds the fair value of the asset; or
• the asset is specialized with no alternative use to the lessor at the end of the term.

Operating Leases

The Company has operating leases for office space and campus facilities. Some leases include options to terminate or extend for one or more years. These options are included in the lease term when it is reasonably certain that the option will be exercised. The Company leases corporate office space in Florida, under an operating lease that expires in January 2029. The RU Segment leases 20 campuses located in six states under operating leases that expire through March 2034 and, until October 31, 2025, administrative office space in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The HCN Segment leases administrative office space in suburban Columbus, Ohio, and leases eight campuses located in three states under operating leases that expire through December 2034. Prior to the GSUSA Sale Date, GSUSA leased classroom and administrative office space in Washington, D.C. and Honolulu, Hawaii.

Operating lease assets are right-of-use assets, or ROU assets, which represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term. Operating lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating leases are included in the Operating lease assets, net, and Operating lease liabilities, current and long-term, on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. These assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. When the lease does not provide an implicit interest rate, the Company uses an incremental borrowing rate based on information available at lease commencement to determine the present value of the lease payments. The ROU asset includes all lease payments and excludes lease incentives.

Lease expense for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. There are no variable lease payments. Lease expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $3.9 million and $13.3 million, respectively, compared to $4.7 million and $14.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively. These costs are primarily related to long-term operating leases but also include amounts for short-term leases with terms greater than 30 days that are not material. Cash paid for amounts included in the present value of operating lease liabilities during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $4.3 million and $13.8 million, respectively, compared to $4.5 million and $12.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, and is included in operating cash flows.

Loss on Leases

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company elected to terminate its RU Segment lease for a planned Dallas, Texas campus. The Company paid a lease termination fee of $2.2 million and recorded a loss of $2.1 million as a result of this lease termination. Additionally, in the first quarter of 2024, the Company’s RU Segment began consolidating two Minnesota campuses, and, as a result, during the three months ended June 30, 2024, the Company paid a lease termination fee of $1.2 million related to the consolidation and recorded a $1.2 million loss on leases as a result of the lease termination.

In May 2024, RU notified the Wisconsin Educational Approval Program that it intends to voluntarily close two Wisconsin campuses, effective December 31, 2025, and 2026, respectively. As a result, the Company recorded a lease impairment of $0.4 million during the three months ended June 30, 2024, and recorded an additional lease impairment of $0.1 million during the three months ended September 30, 2025.

The total loss on leases was $0.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, and $3.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, and is included in Loss on leases in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Finance Leases

The Company leases copiers and printers pursuant to leases that are classified as finance leases and that expire in 2027. The Company pledged the assets financed to secure the outstanding leases. As of September 30, 2025, the total finance lease liability was $0.3 million, with an average interest rate of 7.00%. The ROU assets are recorded within Property and equipment, net on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Lease amortization expense associated with the Company’s finance leases was $46,000 and $0.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively, compared to $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, and is recorded in Depreciation and amortization expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.

The following tables present information about the amount and timing of cash flows arising from the Company’s operating and finance leases as of September 30, 2025 (in thousands):

Note 6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

During the three months ended September 30, 2025, in connection with the preparation of this Quarterly Report, the Company performed a qualitative assessment for potential impairment of the RU and HCN Segment goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. As part of the assessment, the Company considered the events and circumstances expressly required by ASC 350, in addition to other entity-specific factors. Factors considered included RU and HCN’s financial and enrollment performance against internal targets, economic factors, and the continued favorable growth outlook for nursing education. After completing the qualitative review of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for the RU and HCN Segments, the Company concluded it was more likely than not that the fair value of each of the RU and HCN Segments was more than the respective carrying value, and therefore, no quantitative impairment test and no impairment charge was necessary.

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired or the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company’s annual assessment during the fourth quarter of 2024 concluded that the fair value of RU and HCN exceeded their carrying values by approximately $71.9 million, or 62%, and $8.6 million, or 24%, respectively.

All recorded identified intangible assets with a definite useful life were fully amortized as of December 31, 2024. Finite-lived intangible assets were amortized in a manner that reflected the estimated economic benefit of the intangible assets and were amortized on a straight-line basis. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded amortization expense related to definite-lived intangible assets of approximately $0.8 million and $3.3 million, respectively. For additional information on goodwill and intangible assets, see the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes in the Annual Report.

Note 7. Income (Loss) Per Common Share

Income (loss) per common share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Net income (loss) available to common stockholders is net income (loss) adjusted for preferred stock dividends declared and loss on redemptions of preferred stock. Diluted income (loss) per common share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding, increased by the shares used in the per share calculation by the dilutive effects of restricted stock and option awards. The table below reflects the calculation of income (loss) per common share and the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, on an as if converted basis, used in computing basic and diluted income (loss) per common share (in thousands, expect per share amounts).

The table below reflects a summary of securities that could potentially dilute basic income (loss) per common share in future periods that were not included in the computation of diluted income (loss) per share because the effect would have been antidilutive (in thousands).

Note 8. Long-Term Debt

In connection with the acquisition of RU, APEI, as borrower, entered into a Credit Agreement with Macquarie Capital Funding LLC, or the Credit Agreement, as administrative agent and collateral agent, or the Agent, Macquarie Capital USA Inc.

and Truist Securities, Inc., as lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and certain lenders party thereto, or the Lenders. The Credit Agreement provides for (i) a senior secured term loan facility in an aggregate original principal amount of $175.0 million, or the Term Loan, with a scheduled maturity date of September 1, 2027 and (ii) a senior secured revolving loan facility in an aggregate commitment amount of $20.0 million, or the Revolving Credit Facility, and, together with the Term Loan, is referred to as the Facilities, with a scheduled maturity date of September 1, 2026, the full capacity of which may be utilized for the issuance of letters of credit. The Revolving Credit Facility also includes a $5.0 million sub-facility for swing line loans. The Term Loan, the proceeds of which were used as part of the cash consideration for the RU acquisition, was fully funded on September 1, 2021, or the RU Closing Date, and is presented net of deferred financing fees on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Deferred financing fees are being amortized using the effective interest method over the term of the Term Loan. As of September 30, 2025, and December 31, 2024, the remaining unamortized deferred financing fees were $2.1 million and $3.0 million, respectively. Deferred financing fees of $0.5 million related to the Revolving Credit Facility were recorded as an asset and are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the Revolving Credit Facility. There were no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility as of September 30, 2025, and December 31, 2024.

Outstanding borrowings under the Facilities bear interest at a per annum rate equal to Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate, or Term SOFR, plus 5.50% (plus a credit spread adjustment ranging from 0.11448% to 0.42826% depending on the interest period selected by APEI), and subject to a 0.75% floor after giving effect to such adjustment, which shall increase by an additional 2.00% on all past due obligations if APEI fails to pay any amount when due. As of September 30, 2025, the Facilities’ borrowing rate was 9.93%. An unused commitment fee in the amount of 0.50% is payable quarterly in arrears based on the average daily unused amount of the commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Interest expense, including offsets from the interest rate cap agreement in 2024, was $2.5 million and $7.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively, compared to $1.9 million and $5.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively.

In December 2022, APEI made prepayments totaling $65.0 million on the Term Loan. With this prepayment, APEI is not required to make quarterly principal payments on the Term Loan until payment of the outstanding principal amount at maturity in September 2027, subject to certain exceptions, including with respect to annual excess cash flows, proceeds from the sale of certain assets, casualty and condemnation events, and prohibited debt issuances. APEI had no mandatory prepayment obligation for the year ended December 31, 2024, and no mandatory prepayment obligation related to the sale of assets held for sale in 2025.

The Facilities are and will be guaranteed by APEI’s subsidiaries and certain of APEI’s future subsidiaries that are required to become a party thereto as guarantors, or Guarantors. The obligations of APEI and the Guarantors are secured by a pledge of substantially all of their respective assets, pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Agreement dated as of the RU Closing Date, by and among APEI, the Agent and the Guarantors from time to time party thereto.

The Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including limitations on APEI’s and its subsidiaries’ abilities, among other things, to incur additional debt, grant or permit additional liens, make investments and acquisitions, merge or consolidate with others, dispose of assets, pay dividends and distributions, and enter into affiliate transactions, in each case, subject to certain exceptions, as well as customary representations, warranties, events of default, and remedies upon default, including acceleration and rights to foreclose on the collateral securing the Facilities. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains a financial covenant that requires APEI to maintain a Total Net Leverage Ratio of no greater than 2.00 to 1.00. As of September 30, 2025, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

For additional information on certain restrictions placed on the Company’s indebtedness pursuant to the terms of the Company’s Series A Senior Preferred Stock prior to the redemption on June 23, 2025, please refer to “Note 12. Preferred Stock” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Long-term debt consists of the following as of September 30, 2025, and December 31, 2024 (in thousands):

Scheduled maturities of long-term debt as of September 30, 2025, are as follows (in thousands):

Derivatives and Hedging

The Company is subject to interest rate risk, as all outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement are subject to a variable rate of interest. On September 30, 2021, the Company entered into an interest rate cap agreement to manage its exposure to the variable rate of interest with a total notional value of $87.5 million. On June 30, 2023, in connection with the transition of the benchmark rate to Term SOFR, the Company entered into a new interest rate cap agreement, designated as a cash flow hedge, with the same notional value, to provide the Company with interest rate protection in the event that the Term SOFR rate exceeded 1.78%. The interest rate cap agreement expired on January 1, 2025.

In January 2025, the Company entered into a new interest rate cap agreement, with a notional value of $50.0 million. This new interest rate cap agreement, designated as a cash flow hedge, provides the Company with interest rate protection in the event that the Term SOFR rate exceeds 5.00%, and is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2026.

Changes in the fair value of the interest rate cap designated as a hedging instrument that effectively offset the variability of cash flows associated with the Company’s variable-rate long-term debt obligations are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. These amounts subsequently are reclassified into interest expense as a yield adjustment of the hedged interest payments in the same period in which the related interest affects earnings.

Note 9. Segment Information

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, as the chief operating decision maker, or CODM, organizes the company, manages resource allocations, and measures performance among three operating and reportable segments: APUS, RU, and HCN. Corporate and Other includes unallocated corporate activity and eliminations to reconcile segment results to the Consolidated Financial Statements, and, prior to the GSUSA Sale Date, GSUSA revenue and expenses. GSUSA did not meet the quantitative thresholds to qualify as a reportable segment.

The CODM reviews information about each reportable segment’s revenue and categorized expenses, and allocates resources to, and measures the performance of, each reportable segment using reportable segment operating income (loss). The CODM does not evaluate reportable segment asset or liability information.

A summary of financial information by reportable segment is as follows (in thousands):

(1) Includes loss on assets held for sale, loss on disposal of long-lived assets, and depreciation and amortization expense.

(2) Includes loss on disposal of long-lived assets, loss on leases, and depreciation and amortization expense.

(3) Includes depreciation and amortization expense.

(4) Includes loss on sale of subsidiary and depreciation and amortization expense.

Note 10. Contingencies

The Company accrues for costs associated with contingencies, including, but not limited to, regulatory compliance and legal matters, when such costs are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Liabilities established to provide for contingencies are adjusted as further information develops, circumstances change, or contingencies are resolved. The Company bases these accruals on management’s estimate of such costs, which may vary from the ultimate costs and expenses associated with any such contingency.

From time to time, the Company is involved in legal matters in the normal course of its business.

Note 11. Concentration

The Company’s students utilize various payment sources and programs to finance their education expenses, including funds from: the U.S. Department of Defense, or DoD, tuition assistance programs, or TA; education benefit programs administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA; federal student aid from Title IV programs; and cash and other sources.

 A summary of APUS Segment revenue derived from students by primary funding source is as follows:

A summary of RU Segment revenue derived from students by primary funding source is as follows:

A summary of HCN Segment revenue derived from students by primary funding source is as follows:

Note 12. Preferred Stock

On December 28, 2022, APEI issued 400 shares of the Series A Senior Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, or Series A Senior Preferred Stock, to affiliates of existing common stockholders of APEI for an aggregate purchase price of $40.0 million. On June 23, 2025, or the Redemption Date, APEI redeemed all 400 outstanding shares of Series A Senior Preferred Stock for $43.1 million, including an early redemption premium of $3.1 million, and excluding $1.4 million in accrued and unpaid dividends. The loss on redemption of $3.5 million was calculated as the difference between the consideration paid, excluding dividends, and the book value of $39.6 million, and was recorded as a reduction to net income available to common stockholders in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2025. No shares of preferred stock were issued or outstanding at September 30, 2025. On the Redemption Date, APEI also filed a Certificate of Elimination to its Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or the Charter, with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware eliminating from the Charter all matters set forth in the Certificate of Designation with respect to the Series A Senior Preferred Stock.

Prior to the Redemption Date, the Series A Senior Preferred Stock had cumulative dividends that accrued daily at the annual rate which was equal to Term SOFR (selected by the Company for each divided period), plus 10.00%, and dividends were paid, after declaration by the Board, for each dividend period. There were no preferred stock dividends declared or paid during the three months ended September 30, 2025, as the Series A Senior Preferred Stock had been redeemed prior to the period. During the nine months ended September 30, 2025, dividends declared and paid on the Series A Senior Preferred Stock were the $1.4 million declared and paid during three months ended March 31, 2025. The redemption of the Series A Senior Preferred Stock also included payment of $1.4 million in accrued and unpaid preferred stock dividends, which was paid during the three months ended June 30, 2025. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, dividends declared and paid on the Series A Senior Preferred Stock were $1.5 million and $4.6 million, respectively.

The Series A Senior Preferred Stock had no voting rights for directors or otherwise, except as required by law or with respect to certain protective provisions. Without the consent of at least 60% of the then outstanding shares of Series A Senior Preferred Stock, with certain exceptions, the Company could not, among other things, (i) incur any indebtedness if such incurrence would cause the Company’s Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) to exceed 0.75:1, (ii) issue any capital stock senior to or pari passu with the Series A Senior Preferred Stock, (iii) declare or pay any cash dividends on the Company’s common stock, or (iv) repurchase more than an aggregate of $30 million of the Company’s common stock.

Note 13. Subsequent Event

Management Transition

Effective October 20, 2025, the Company appointed Edward H. Codispoti as Chief Financial Officer. The Company’s former Chief Financial Officer, Richard W. Sunderland, Jr., is anticipated to remain a non-executive employee of the Company until his expected departure in the first quarter of 2026. The Company expects to record approximately $0.8 million in termination benefits in the fourth quarter of 2025 in connection with Mr. Sunderland’s departure.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or Quarterly Report, “we,” “our,” “us,” “the Company” and similar terms refer to American Public Education, Inc., or APEI, and its subsidiary institutions collectively unless the context indicates otherwise. All quarterly information in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is unaudited. The following discussion of our historical results of operations and our liquidity and capital resources should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes that appear elsewhere in this Quarterly Report and the audited financial information and related notes, as well as Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and other disclosures, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, or our Annual Report.

Results of Operations

Below we have included a discussion of our operating results and material changes in our operating results during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. Our revenue and operating results normally fluctuate as a result of seasonal or other variations in our enrollments and the level of expenses in our reportable segments. Our student population varies as a result of new enrollments, graduations, student attrition, the success of our marketing programs, and other reasons that we cannot always anticipate. We expect quarterly fluctuations in operating results to continue as a result of various enrollment patterns and changes in revenue and expenses.

APUS net course registrations for the three months ended September 30, 2025, increased to approximately 100,000 from approximately 92,500, an increase of 7,500, or 8.1%, as compared to the prior year period primarily due to an increases in military registrations from students utilizing TA and military-affiliated students utilizing education benefit programs administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA. APUS net course registrations for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, increased to approximately 298,800 from approximately 281,300, an increase of 17,500, or 6.2%, as compared to the prior year period primarily due to an increase in registrations by military-affiliated students utilizing VA and students utilizing federal student aid. APUS Segment operating margin increased to 30.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2025, from 27.0% in the prior year period and increased to 28.5% from 26.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to the prior year period. The increase in operating margin for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was primarily due to the increase in revenue as well as a decrease in information technology costs, partially offset by increases in advertising costs, employee compensation costs, and bad debt expense, as compared to the prior year period. The increase in operating margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was primarily due to an increase in revenue and decreases in information technology costs and professional fees, partially offset by increases in employee compensation costs, advertising costs, loss on assets held for sale, and bad debt expense, as compared to the prior year period.

RU total enrollment for the three months ended September 30, 2025, increased to approximately 14,900 from approximately 13,500, an increase of 1,400, or 10.4%, as compared to the prior year period, driven by an 11.7% increase in on-ground enrollment, and a 10.8% increase in online enrollment. RU total enrollment for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, increased approximately 8.4%, as compared to the prior year period, driven by a 5.9% increase in on-ground enrollment, and an 11.4% increase in online enrollment. RU Segment operating margin improved to negative 2.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2025, from negative 14.5%, in the prior year period. The improvement in the operating margin for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was primarily due to the increase in revenue as well as decreases in information technology costs and depreciation and amortization expenses, partially offset by an increase in employee compensation costs and classroom and course materials costs, bad debt expense, and professional fees as compared to the prior year period. RU Segment operating margin improved to negative 1.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, from negative 16.0% in the prior year period. The improvement in the operating margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was primarily due to the increase in revenue as well as decreases in information technology costs, loss on leases, and depreciation and amortization expenses, partially offset by an increase in employee compensation costs, classroom and course materials costs, and bad debt expense, as compared to the prior year period.

HCN total enrollment for the three months ended September 30, 2025, increased to approximately 3,700 from approximately 3,100, an increase of 600, or 17.6%, as compared to the prior year period. HCN total enrollment for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, increased approximately 13.5%, as compared to the prior year period. HCN Segment operating margin improved to negative 4.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2025, from negative 5.0% in the prior year period, and improved to 3.7% for the nine month period ended September 30, 2025, from negative 3.8% in the prior year period. The improvement in the operating margin for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, was primarily due to the increase in revenue partially offset by increases in employee compensation costs, classroom and course materials costs, information technology costs, and bad debt expense, as compared to the prior year period.

For a more detailed discussion of our results by reportable segment, refer to “Analysis of Operating Results by Reportable Segment” below.

Analysis of Consolidated Statements of Income

The following table sets forth statements of income data as a percentage of revenue for each of the periods indicated:

Three Months Ended September 30, 2025, Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2024

Revenue. Our consolidated revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $163.2 million, an increase of $10.1 million, or 6.6%, compared to $153.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The increase in revenue was primarily due to an $8.2 million, or 15.6%, increase in revenue in our RU Segment, a $6.2 million, or 8.0%, increase in revenue in our APUS Segment, and a $2.9 million, or 19.0%, increase in revenue in our HCN Segment, partially offset by a $7.3 million, or 89.6%, decrease in GSUSA revenue included in Corporate and Other for the period prior to the GSUSA Sale Date. The RU Segment revenue increase was primarily due to a 10.4% increase in total student enrollment and the impact of tuition increases in the second half of 2024. The APUS Segment revenue increase was primarily due to an 8.1% increase in net course registrations, as compared to the prior year period. The HCN Segment revenue increase was primarily due to a 17.6% increase in total student enrollment, as compared to the prior year period.

Costs and expenses. Costs and expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2025, were $153.5 million, an increase of $4.5 million, or 3.0%, compared to $149.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024. Costs and expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2025, include a $3.9 million loss on sale of subsidiary in Corporate and Other related to the sale of GSUSA, and $0.8 million in professional fees related to the Combination and the sale of GSUSA in Corporate and Other, $0.6 million in severance costs in our HCN Segment and Corporate and Other, and a $0.1 million loss on leases in our RU Segment, all on a pre-tax basis. The results in the prior year period include $1.1 million of information technology transition services costs in all segments as well as Corporate and Other, $0.8 million in professional fees in Corporate and Other relating to the Combination, both on a pre-tax basis. Costs and expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to the prior year period, excluding the items noted above, increased $1.1 million, or 0.8%, due primarily to increases in employee compensation costs, advertising costs, bad debt expense, and classroom and course materials costs, partially offset by decreases in information technology costs, occupancy costs, depreciation and amortization expenses, and professional fees. Costs and expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased to 94.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2025, from 97.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2024.

Instructional costs and services expenses. Our instructional costs and services expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2025, were $74.7 million, a decrease of $0.7 million, or 0.9%, compared to $75.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The decrease in instructional costs and services expenses was primarily due to the sale of GSUSA and decreases in information technology and occupancy costs in our RU Segment, partially offset by increases in faculty compensation costs and course materials costs in our APUS, RU, and HCN Segments due to an increase in registrations at APUS and enrollments at RU and HCN. Instructional costs and services expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased to 45.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2025, from 49.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2024.

Selling and promotional expenses. Our selling and promotional expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2025, were $36.1 million, an increase of $2.7 million, or 8.0%, compared to $33.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The increase in selling and promotional expenses was primarily due to increases in advertising costs in all segments, and an increase in employee compensation costs in our RU and HCN segments, partially offset by a decrease in professional fees in our APUS Segment, and the sale of GSUSA. Selling and promotional expenses as a percentage of revenue increased to 22.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2025, from 21.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2024.

General and administrative expenses. Our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2025, were $34.7 million, a decrease of $0.3 million, or 1.0%, compared to $35.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The decrease in general and administrative expenses is primarily due to decreases in information technology costs in our APUS and RU Segments and Corporate and Other, and the sale of GSUSA, partially offset by increases in employee compensation costs in all segments and Corporate and Other, and an increase in bad debt expense in all segments. Consolidated bad debt expense for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $5.6 million, or 3.4% of revenue, compared to $4.2 million, or 2.7% of revenue in the prior year period. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased to 21.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2025, from 22.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2024. As we continue to evaluate enhancements to our business capabilities, we may incur additional costs, and our general and administrative expenses will vary from time to time.

Depreciation and amortization expenses. Depreciation and amortization expenses were $3.9 million for three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $5.1 million in the prior year period, a decrease of $1.1 million, primarily related to the full amortization of all definite lived intangible assets in our RU Segment in 2024. Depreciation and amortization expenses as a percentage of revenue was 2.4% and 3.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively.

Loss on sale of subsidiary. For the three months ended September 30, 2025, we recorded a $3.9 million pre-tax loss on sale of subsidiary relating to the sale of GSUSA. There was no loss on sale of subsidiary in the prior year.

Loss on leases. RU Segment loss on leases was $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025. There was no loss on leases in the prior year period.

Loss on disposals of long-lived assets. The loss on disposal of long-lived assets was $92,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to $23,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2024.

Stock-based compensation expenses. Stock-based compensation expenses included in instructional costs and services, selling and promotional, and general and administrative expenses were $1.6 million and $1.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively. Stock-based compensation costs included accelerated expense for retirement-eligible employees and performance stock unit incentive costs.

Interest expense, net. Interest expense, net of interest and other income, was $1.1 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively. The increase in net interest expense in the three months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to the prior year period, was primarily due to an increase in interest expense due to the expiration of the interest rate cap in December 2024, and a decrease in interest income earned.

Income tax expense. We recognized income tax expense of $3.1 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively, or an effective tax rate of 35.6% in 2025, and 35.3% in 2024. The effective tax rate in both periods was negatively impacted by higher non-deductible compensation expenses in relation to taxable income in the periods.

Net income. Our net income was $5.6 million and $2.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively, an increase of $3.3 million. This increase was related to the factors discussed above.

Preferred stock dividends. There were no preferred stock dividends for the three months ended September 30, 2025 due to the redemption of all outstanding shares of our Series A Senior Preferred Stock in June 2025. Preferred stock dividends for the three months ended September 30, 2024 were $1.5 million.

Net income available to common stockholders. The net income available to common stockholders was $5.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to a net income available to common stockholders of $0.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, an improvement of $4.8 million. This improvement was related to the factors discussed above.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025, Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024

Revenue. Our consolidated revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $490.5 million, an increase of $30.1 million, or 6.5%, compared to $460.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The increase in revenue was primarily due to a $20.8 million, or 13.1%, increase in revenue in our RU Segment, a $14.1 million, or 6.0% increase in revenue in our APUS Segment, and a $5.9 million, or 12.2%, increase in revenue in our HCN Segment, partially offset by a $10.9 million, or 57.7%, decrease in GSUSA revenue included in Corporate and Other for the period prior to the GSUSA Sale Date. The RU Segment revenue increase, as compared to the prior year period, was primarily due to an 8.4% increase in total student enrollment and the impact of tuition increases in the second half of 2024. The APUS Segment revenue increase was primarily due to a 6.2% increase in net course registrations, as compared to the prior year period. The HCN Segment revenue increase was primarily due to a 13.5% increase in total student enrollment.

Costs and expenses. Costs and expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, were $461.6 million, an increase of $12.6 million, or 2.8%, compared to $448.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. Costs and expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, include a $3.9 million loss on sale of subsidiary in Corporate and Other relating to the sale of GSUSA, $3.5 million in professional fees relating to the Combination and the sale of GSUSA in Corporate and Other, a $1.5 million loss on assets held for sale in our APUS Segment, $0.6 million in severance costs in our HCN Segment and Corporate and Other, and a $0.1 million loss on leases in our RU Segment, all on a pre-tax basis. Costs and expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, include a $3.7 million loss on leases in our RU Segment, $3.1 million in information technology transition service costs in all segments as well as Corporate and Other, $0.8 million in professional fees in Corporate and Other relating to the Combination, $0.5 million in severance costs in Corporate and Other and the planned campus closures of our campuses located in Wisconsin in our RU Segment, all on a pre-tax basis. Costs and expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to the prior year period, excluding the items noted above, increased $11.3 million, or 2.6%, due primarily to increases in employee compensation costs, advertising costs, bad debt expense, classroom and course materials costs, and professional fees, partially offset by decreases in information technology costs and depreciation and amortization expenses. Costs and expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased to 94.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, from 97.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

Instructional costs and services expenses. Our instructional costs and services expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, were $228.1 million, an increase of $4.1 million, or 1.8%, compared to $224.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The increase in instructional costs and services expenses were primarily due to increases in faculty compensation costs in our APUS, RU, and HCN Segments due to an increase in registrations at APUS and enrollments at RU and HCN, and an increase in classroom and course materials costs in all segments, partially offset by a decrease in information technology costs in our RU Segment and Corporate and Other, a decrease in occupancy costs in our RU and HCN Segments and Corporate and Other, and a decrease in instructional costs and services expenses in Corporate and Other due to the sale of GSUSA. Instructional costs and services expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased to 46.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, from 48.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2024.

Selling and promotional expenses. Our selling and promotional expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, were $106.4 million, an increase of $6.6 million, or 6.7%, compared to $99.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The increase in selling and promotional expenses was primarily due to an increase in advertising costs in our APUS and HCN Segments and an increase in employee compensation costs in all segments and Corporate and Other, partially offset by the sale of GSUSA. Selling and promotional expenses as a percentage of revenue was 21.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024.

General and administrative expenses. Our general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, were $109.2 million, an increase of $3.5 million, or 3.3%, compared to $105.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, included $3.5 million in professional fees relating to the Combination and the sale of GSUSA in Corporate and Other, and $0.6 million in severance

costs in our HCN Segment and Corporate and Other, compared to $0.8 million in professional fees in Corporate and Other relating to the Combination and $0.5 million in severance costs in Corporate and Other and the planned campus closures of our campuses located in Wisconsin in our RU Segment, in the prior year period, all on a pre-tax basis. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to increases in employee compensation costs in all segments and Corporate and Other, bad debt expense in all segments, and professional fees in Corporate and Other, partially offset by a decreases in information technology costs in our APUS and RU Segments and Corporate and Other, professional fees in all segments, and the sale of GSUSA. Consolidated bad debt expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $15.4 million, or 3.1% of revenue, compared to $12.7 million, or 2.8% of revenue in the prior year period. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased to 22.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, from 23.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. As we continue to evaluate enhancements to our business capabilities, we may incur additional costs and that our general and administrative expenses will vary from time to time.

Depreciation and amortization expenses. Depreciation and amortization expenses were $12.0 million for nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $15.4 million in the prior year period, a decrease of $3.4 million primarily related to the full amortization of all definite lived intangible assets in our RU Segment in 2024. Depreciation and amortization expenses as a percentage of revenue was 2.5% and 3.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively.

Loss on sale of subsidiary. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, we recorded a $3.9 million pre-tax loss on sale of subsidiary relating to the sale of GSUSA. There was no loss on sale of subsidiary in the prior year.

Loss on assets held for sale. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the $1.5 million pre-tax non-cash loss on assets held for sale is for real property located in Charles Town, West Virginia in our APUS Segment. There was no loss on assets held for sale in the prior year.

Loss on leases. RU Segment loss on leases was $0.1 million and $3.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

Loss on disposals of long-lived assets. The loss on disposal of long-lived assets was $0.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to a loss of $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

Stock-based compensation expenses. Stock-based compensation expenses included in instructional costs and services, selling and promotional, and general and administrative expenses were $6.1 million and $5.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively. Stock-based compensation costs included accelerated expense for retirement-eligible employees and performance stock unit incentive costs.

Interest expense, net. Interest expense, net of interest and other income, was $3.1 million and $1.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively. The increase in net interest expense was primarily due to an increase in interest expense due to the expiration of the interest rate cap in December 2024, and a decrease in interest income earned, as compared to the prior year period.

Income tax expense. We recognized income tax expense of $7.0 million and $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively, or an effective tax rate of 26.8% and 43.6%, respectively. The effective tax rate in 2025 was positively impacted by excess tax benefits related to stock compensation. The effective tax rate in 2024 was primarily due to the $4.4 million equity investment loss not deductible for tax purposes, and an increase in non-deductible stock compensation expense in relation to taxable income in the period.

Equity investment loss. There was no equity investment loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2025. The equity investment loss of $4.4 million for nine months ended September 30, 2024 was related to a $3.3 million non-cash investment loss on an equity investment due to the investee entering into a new convertible debt agreements, which resulted in the conversion of our preferred stock holdings in the investee into common shares, and the dilution of our ownership percentage, and a $1.1 million loss on sale of our remaining equity method investment.

Net income. Our net income was $18.9 million and $3.1 million, for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively, an increase of $15.8 million. This increase was related to the factors discussed above.

Preferred stock dividends. Preferred stock dividends were $2.8 million and $4.6 million, for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively. The decrease in preferred stock dividends was primarily due to the redemption of all outstanding shares of our Series A Senior Preferred Stock in June 2025.

Loss on redemption of preferred stock. In June 2025, we redeemed all outstanding Series A Senior Preferred Stock for $43.1 million, excluding unpaid and accrued dividends of $1.4 million, resulting in a loss of $3.5 million related to the redemption premium and fees.

Net income (loss) available to common stockholders. The net income available to common stockholders was $12.7 million, for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to a net loss available to common stockholders of $1.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, an improvement of $14.1 million. This improvement was related to the factors discussed above.

Analysis of Operating Results by Reportable Segment

The following table provides details on our operating results by reportable segment for the respective periods (in thousands):

APUS Segment

For the three months ended September 30, 2025, the $6.2 million, or 8.0%, increase to approximately $83.1 million in revenue in our APUS Segment was primarily attributable to higher net course registrations, as compared to the prior year period. Net course registrations increased 8.1% to approximately 100,000 from approximately 92,500 in the prior year period, primarily due to increases in military registrations from students utilizing TA, and military-affiliated students utilizing VA education benefits. Income from operations before interest and income taxes increased to $25.3 million during the three months ended September 30, 2025, from $20.8 million in the prior year period, an increase of $4.5 million, or 21.7%, and was primarily due to an increase in revenue as well as a decrease in information technology costs, partially offset by increases in advertising costs, employee compensation costs, and bad debt expense, as compared to the prior year period.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the $14.1 million, or 6.0%, increase to approximately $248.8 million in revenue in our APUS Segment was primarily attributable to higher net course registrations, as compared to the prior year period. Net course registrations increased 6.2% to approximately 298,800 from approximately 281,300 in the prior year period, primarily due to an increase in registrations by military-affiliated students utilizing VA and students utilizing federal student aid. Income from operations before interest and income taxes increased to $70.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2025 from $62.1 million in the prior year period, an increase of $8.7 million, or 14.0%, as a result of the increase in revenue and decreases in information technology costs and professional fees, partially offset by increases in employee compensation costs, advertising costs, the loss on assets held for sale, and bad debt expense as compared to the prior year period.

RU Segment

For the three months ended September 30, 2025, the $8.2 million, or 15.6%, increase to approximately $60.8 million

in revenue in the RU Segment was primarily due to a 10.4% increase in total student enrollment which was driven by an 11.7% increase in on-ground enrollment, and a 10.8% increase in online enrollment, as compared to the prior year period, and the impact of tuition increases in the second half of 2024. The loss from operations before interest and income taxes was $1.2 million and $7.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively, an improvement of $6.4 million, primarily due to the increase in revenue as well as decreases in information technology costs and depreciation and amortization expenses, partially offset by an increase in employee compensation costs and classroom and course materials costs, bad debt expense, and professional fees as compared to the prior year period.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the $20.8 million, or 13.1%, increase to approximately $179.6 million in revenue in the RU Segment was primarily due to a 8.4% increase in total student enrollment which was driven by a 5.9% increase in on-ground enrollment, and an 11.4% increase in online enrollment, as compared to the prior year period, and the impact of tuition increases in the second half of 2024. The loss from operations before interest and income taxes was $3.3 million and $25.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively, an improvement of $22.1 million, primarily due to the increase in revenue as well as decreases in information technology costs, loss on leases, and depreciation and amortization expenses, partially offset by increases in employee compensation costs, classroom and course materials costs, and bad debt expense, as compared to the prior year period.

HCN Segment

For the three months ended September 30, 2025, the $2.9 million, or 19.0%, increase to approximately $18.4 million in revenue in our HCN Segment was primarily due to a 17.6% increase in total student enrollment, as compared to the prior year period. The loss from operations before interest and income taxes was $0.9 million and $0.8 million during the three months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively, a decline of $0.1 million, primarily due to the increase in revenue offset by increases in employee compensation costs, classroom and course materials costs, information technology costs, and bad debt expense, as compared to the prior year period.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the $5.9 million, or 12.2%, increase to approximately $54.3 million in revenue in our HCN Segment was primarily due to a 13.5% increase in total student enrollment, as compared to the prior year period. The loss from operations before interest and income taxes was $2.0 million and $1.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively, a decline of $0.2 million, primarily due to the increase in revenue offset by increases in employee compensation costs, classroom and course materials costs, information technology costs, and bad debt expense, as compared to the prior year period.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash were $193.1 million and $158.9 million at September 30, 2025, and December 31, 2024, respectively, representing an increase of $34.2 million, or 21.5%. The increase was primarily due to the collection of TA accounts receivable at APUS, the proceeds from the sale of assets held for sale, and the improved financial performance at RU, partially offset by cash used to redeem our Series A Senior Preferred Stock. We have historically financed operating activities and capital expenditures with cash provided by operating activities. We expect to continue to fund our costs and expenses through cash generated from operations for the next twelve months and beyond. For more on our material cash requirements from known contractual and other obligations, please refer to the section entitled “Contractual Obligations” in Item 7 of Part II of our Annual Report.

On October 1, 2025, DoD TA programs were temporarily suspended as a result of the U.S. federal government shutdown. APUS estimates that, as a result, approximately 12,700 APUS course registrations were dropped on October 11, 2025, for students who intended to use TA funds. Approximately 1,700 course registrations were not dropped for students using TA funds that had been authorized in the prior government fiscal year. Accordingly, APUS estimates that, as a result of the government shutdown, October 2025 net course registrations declined by approximately 35%, as compared to October 2024. We have implemented various cost savings measures, including a reduction in force, hiring freeze, and reduction in travel and discretionary costs, and we are continuing to evaluate additional opportunities to mitigate the adverse impacts of the ongoing government shutdown.

On October 24, 2025, the Navy announced that TA funding was restored for classes starting on or before December 31, 2025 using OBBBA TA Funds. Additionally, we learned that certain individuals responsible for oversight of the voluntary education programs at the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines returned to their roles and, in the cases of the Army, Air Force, and Navy have begun approving TA funds using OBBBA TA Funds. As of November 10, 2025, APUS estimates that it was able to recover approximately 5,000 course registrations for November 2025 course starts by students using TA funds. While

the impact of October 2025 and November 2025 course registrations from students using TA funds are known generally, December 2025 registrations are uncertain. Accordingly, at this time, the full impact of the shutdown and any mitigating actions on APUS’s operating results for the fourth quarter of 2025 is uncertain. The first quarter of 2026 revenue will be impacted by the amount of registrations in December 2025 because we recognize revenue at APUS over the length of a course, which is eight weeks for most APUS courses. However, as the shutdown’s duration, the scope and effectiveness of mitigation measures we have implemented or may still implement, and the aggregate amount and timing of disbursement of OBBBA TA Funds (and other TA funds, if any) is uncertain, we are unable to fully predict the impact the shutdown may have on our operating results.

We derive a significant portion of our revenue from our participation in ED’s Title IV programs, for which disbursements are governed by federal regulations. We have typically received disbursements under Title IV programs within 30 days of the start of the applicable course or term. Other significant sources of revenue are derived from TA and VA education benefits. Generally, these funds are received within 60 days of the start of the courses to which they relate. However, in September 2023, APUS changed its approach to invoicing for TA, taking longer to bill TA, which had the effect of delaying payments from 2023 to 2024. Due to this change in the approach to invoicing TA in the fourth quarter of 2023, in 2024 APUS collected approximately $22.1 million from TA related to periods prior to 2024. In January 2024, APUS separately revised its billing policy for students utilizing TA from two weeks to five weeks after course start date to nine weeks after the course start date. In December 2024, APUS again changed its approach to invoicing for TA, taking longer to bill TA, and as a result of this change, during the nine months ended September 30, 2025, APUS collected approximately $32.5 million from TA related to periods prior to 2025. The change in billing approach increased operating cash flow and bad debt expense in 2025 and may cause the “90%” side of the ratio to increase in 2025 or future years, which could have an adverse impact on our cash flow and results of operations, as well as APUS’s ability to comply with the 90/10 Rule in 2025 or future years. In July 2025, APUS again delayed billing to certain branches, further delaying payments until 2026. We estimate that this delay in APUS’s billing approach implemented beginning in July 2025 will result in approximately $33.0 million of receivables that we would have expected to receive in 2025 to be received in 2026.

ED evaluates institutions on an annual basis for compliance with specified financial responsibility standards, including a composite score calculation based on a complex formula using line items from the institution’s audited financial statements. Generally, an institution’s composite score must be at least 1.5 for the institution to be deemed financially responsible. A composite score between 1.0 and 1.5 is considered by ED to be in the “zone.” An institution in the “zone” may still participate in Title IV programs as a financially responsible institution through the “zone alternative” as set forth in ED regulations. On April 9, 2025, ED notified us that according to its calculations, we had a fiscal year end 2023 consolidated composite score of 1.3 and our institutions were therefore in the “zone.” On April 13, 2025, we timely informed ED that we selected the “zone alternative” as the alternative basis on which we establish financial responsibility. As a result, APUS, RU and HCN currently operate under the zone alternative to establish financial responsibility. Under the zone alternative, we are required to: (i) make Title IV disbursements to eligible students and parents under the heightened cash monitoring payment method, or HCM1, pursuant to which we would be required to first make disbursements to eligible students and parents and pay any credit balances before we request or receive funds from ED for the amount of those disbursements; (ii) notify ED of certain oversight and financial events; and (iii) require our auditors to express an opinion on our compliance with the requirements under the zone alternative. Our placement on HCM1 status did not have a significant impact on our financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024.

As of December 31, 2024, restricted cash included a $25.4 million restricted certificate of deposit to secure a letter of credit for the benefit of ED on behalf of RU in connection with RU’s 2020 composite score, which is used by ED for determining compliance with financial responsibility standards, being below the minimum required. In May 2025, the letter of credit was released by ED, and the related cash was thereby no longer restricted.

Our Credit Agreement contains financial covenants that require us to maintain a Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in each respective agreement) of no greater than 2.00 to 1.00 and 0.75 to 1.00, respectively, subject to certain exceptions. Our Total Net Leverage Ratio, under the Credit Agreement, at September 30, 2025, was negative 0.46 due to the growth in both cash and earnings, and the reduction in restricted cash. The net leverage ratio at December 31, 2024 was 0.20. While we do not anticipate that a higher leverage ratio will have material limitations on our expected operations for 2025, it could result in reduced operational flexibility in 2026 and future years.

Capital expenditures could be higher in the future as a result of, among other things, additional expenditures for technology or other business capabilities, the maintenance of existing campuses at RU and HCN, the opening of new campuses or the consolidation of existing campuses at RU and HCN, the acquisition or lease of existing structures or potential new construction projects, and necessary tenant improvements that arise as a result of our ongoing evaluation of our space needs and opportunities for physical growth. We also expect to continue to explore opportunities to invest in the education industry, which could include purchasing or investing in other education-related companies or companies developing new technologies.

On June 23, 2025, APEI redeemed all 400 outstanding shares of Series A Senior Preferred Stock for $43.1 million, excluding unpaid and accrued dividends of $1.4 million. Accordingly, no shares of preferred stock were issued or outstanding at June 30, 2025. For additional details regarding the redemption of the Series A Senior Preferred Stock, please refer to “Note 12. Preferred Stock” included in our Consolidated Financial Statements.

On the GSUSA Sale Date, APEI completed the sale of its membership interest in GSUSA for $0.5 million, subject to customary adjustments, including for net working capital and cash, and recorded a $3.9 million loss within loss on sale of subsidiary in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $73.5 million and $47.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively. The increase in cash from operating activities was primarily due to the collection of TA accounts receivable at APUS related to the 2024 change in TA billing approach, the improved financial performance at RU, and other changes in working capital due to the timing of receipts and payments. Accounts receivable at September 30, 2025, decreased approximately $18.6 million compared to December 31, 2024, primarily related to TA collections in our APUS Segment. Accounts payable, accrued liabilities, and accrued compensation and benefits at September 30, 2025, were approximately $13.6 million higher than December 31, 2024.

Investing Activities

Net cash provided by investing activities was $10.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $17.7 million of net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, cash provided by investing activities includes $23.0 million in proceeds from the sale of assets held for sale. Capital expenditures were $11.8 million and $17.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively. Prior year period capital expenditures were higher than the current year period primarily due to campus consolidations at RU and relocations at HCN that occurred in the prior year period.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities was $49.8 million and $11.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively. The increase in cash used in financial activities is due to our redemption of our Series A Senior Preferred Stock in June 2025 for $43.2 million.

Financing activities include preferred stock dividends paid of $2.8 million and $4.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively. Financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, include $2.8 million paid for the repurchase of 251,146 shares of common stock and $2.6 million in principal payments on our long term debt.

Contractual Commitments

We have various contractual obligations consisting of operating leases and purchase obligations. Purchase obligations include agreements with consultants, contracts with third-party service providers, and other future contracts or agreements. For a summary of our contractual obligations, please refer to Item 7 of Part II of our Annual Report.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market Risk

We had no material derivative financial instruments or derivative commodity instruments as of September 30, 2025. We maintain our cash and cash equivalents in bank deposit accounts, money market funds, and short-term U.S. Treasury bills. The bank deposits exceed federally insured limits. We have historically not experienced any losses in such accounts. We believe we are not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents. Due to the short-term duration of our investment portfolio, the low yield on the portfolio, and the low risk profile of our investments, a 10% increase or decrease in interest rates would not have a material impact on the fair value of our portfolio.

Interest Rate Risk

We are subject to risk from changes in interest rates primarily relating to our investment of funds in short-term U.S. Treasury bills issued at a discount to their par value. Our future investment income will vary due to changes in interest rates.

In the normal course of business, we employ established policies and procedures to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates. For every 100 basis points increase in Term SOFR, we would incur an incremental $1.0 million in interest expense per year, excluding any impact offset from the interest rate cap agreement. To reduce our exposure to market risks from increases in interest rates on our variable rate indebtedness we have entered into hedging arrangements in the form of interest rate cap agreements. As further discussed in “Note 8. Long-Term Debt” included in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report, prior to December 31, 2024, an interest rate cap agreement provided us with interest rate protection in the event the one-month Term SOFR rate increases above 1.78%. In January 2025, upon the expiration of the prior agreement, we entered into a new interest rate cap agreement with a notional value of $50.0 million, which provides us with interest rate protection in the event that the Term SOFR rate exceeds 5.00%. This interest rate cap agreement will expire in June 2026.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act) as of September 30, 2025. Based upon the evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2025.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rules 13a-15(d) and 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we have been and may be involved in various legal proceedings. We currently have no material legal proceedings pending.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

An investment in our stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report and the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our Annual Report, and the additional information in the other reports we file with the SEC. If any of the risks contained in those reports actually occur, our business, results of operation, financial condition, and liquidity could be harmed, the value of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. With the exception of the following, there have been no material changes in the risk factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report.

Enrollments and course registrations may be adversely affected by a variety of factors not directly related to education programs, including the current government shut down as well as changes in military activity and budgets.

Events not directly related to education programs, including the current government shutdown, personnel reductions, or a drawdown of U.S. active-duty military forces could lead to a reduction in enrollments and course registrations. For example, Congressional inaction on budgetary matters has led to lapses in funding or has resulted government shutdowns, and policy changes have affected federal student aid programs at the U.S. Department of Defense, or DoD. As discussed in greater detail above under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Legislative and Regulatory Activity – U.S. Federal Government Shutdown”, on October 1, 2025, the U.S. federal government shut down due to failure by Congress to pass appropriations legislation, resulting in, among other things, the temporary suspension of DoD

tuition assistance, or TA, programs. However, as the government shutdown’s duration, the scope and effectiveness of mitigation measures we have implemented or may still implement, and the aggregate amount and timing of disbursement of OBBBA TA Funds (and other TA funds, if any) is unknown, we are unable to fully predict the impact the shutdown may have on our operating results. However, the shutdown has had, and may continue to have, an adverse impact on APUS’s and our course registrations, cash flows, results of operations, and financial condition.

There are risks associated with the Combination, including with respect to the anticipated timeline.

We previously disclosed that we had anticipated completing the Combination in the third quarter of 2025 subject to obtaining required approvals and ED taking related actions. At its June 2025 meeting, HLC approved the Combination and continuation of accreditation upon implementation of the related transactions. However, as discussed in greater detail above under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Overview – The Planned Combination of APUS, RU, and HCN”, ED is requiring us to follow a different process to implement the Combination. As a result of this process change, APUS and RU submitted a new joint application for Change of Control, Structure or Organization to HLC containing substantially the same information that had been submitted previously and reflecting the two-step process. HLC is expected to review this submission at its February 2026 board meeting. We currently expect implementation to be complete by the beginning of the third quarter of 2026, but there can be no assurances of this timing.

For additional information regarding risks related to the Combination, see our Form 10-K and the Risk Factor in that Form 10-K with the caption beginning “The planned combination of APUS, RU, and HCN….”

The postsecondary education regulatory environment has changed and may change in the future as a result of U.S. federal elections.

Changes in Presidential administrations and control of Congress as a result of the outcome of elections or other events has in the past resulted and could in the future result in changes in or new legislation, appropriations, regulations, standards, policies and enforcement actions that could materially affect our business, including material consequences for our institutions’ accreditation, authorization to operate in various states, permissible activities, receipt of funds under student financial assistance programs, and cost of doing business. The Trump administration and current Congress may act to change or eliminate education-related legislation and ED regulations, to enact new legislation to alter existing regulations, and to change existing ED policies and practices with respect to matters related to postsecondary education institutions.

President Trump and members of his administration have also stated that the administration intends to dismantle ED, limiting its functions to only those that are statutorily required or transferring oversight of certain functions to other agencies. On March 11, 2025, ED announced a reduction in force, or RIF, effective March 21, 2025, resulting in office, staff, and program cuts. ED has claimed the RIF will not directly impact students and families and will empower states and localities. On May 22, 2025, a federal judge ordered ED to reverse the RIF, which order ED has appealed. On July 14, 2025, the order was stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court pending disposition of the appeal, thus allowing the RIF to proceed. Relatedly, on March 20, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order titled “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities”, or the Executive Order, which, among other things, instructed the Secretary of Education to facilitate the closure of ED and maintain certain services, programs, and benefits, including student loans and Pell grants. We cannot predict the extent to which the RIF or the Executive Order will impact our results of operations and business, including as it relates to the Combination.

There have been additional layoffs at ED during the government shutdown that began October 1, 2025, but we cannot predict what additional actions the Trump administration will take with respect to the operations of ED or the response of the staff of ED to any such actions. We also cannot predict the extent to which the Trump administration and Congress, or any future administration or Congress, will act to change or eliminate or to implement new laws, regulations, standards, policies, and practices, nor can we predict the form that new laws, regulations, standards, policies, or practices may take or the extent to which those regulations, practices or policies may impact us or our institutions or federal funds disbursed to schools through Title IV programs or TA, nor can we predict whether any challenges to actions taken by the Trump administration will be successful. For example, even without changes being made to Title IV programs, more general changes or uncertainty at ED could cause disruptions or delays in the processing of Title IV or other necessary interactions with ED. Significant changes to ED or to federal regulation of higher education could have a material adverse impact on our enrollment, revenue, results of operations, and financial condition.

The OBBBA may adversely impact us or our students’ ability to participate in federal student financial aid programs, which could have a significant adverse impact on enrollments and our business, operations, and financial results.

As discussed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Overview – Legislative and Regulatory Activity– The One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, President Trump recently signed into law the OBBBA, which, among other things, makes significant changes to federal student financial aid programs and eligibility requirements for such programs. New caps on federal loans for graduate and professional students and parents of undergraduates may limit borrowing options for our students and the accountability framework and related earnings test may limit the availability of certain programs due to a potential loss of Federal Direct Loan eligibility. These changes may impact our students’ ability to participate in federal student loan programs, which may have a significant adverse impact on enrollments and our business, operations, and financial results. ED is scheduled to conduct negotiated rulemaking related to OBBBA provisions, and we cannot predict the timing or outcome of those negotiations or the rulemaking process.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Repurchases

The table and footnotes below provide details regarding our repurchase programs (unaudited):

(1) On December 9, 2011, our Board of Directors, or Board, approved a stock repurchase program for our common stock, under which we could annually purchase up to the cumulative number of shares issued or deemed issued in each year under our equity incentive and stock purchase plans. Repurchases may be made from time to time in the open market at prevailing market prices or in privately negotiated transactions based on business and market conditions. The stock repurchase program does not obligate us to repurchase any shares, may be suspended or discontinued at any time, and is funded using our available cash.

(2) On May 2, 2019, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $35.0 million of shares of our common stock, and on December 5, 2019, our Board approved an additional authorization of up to $25.0 million of shares. On November 27, 2023, our Board approved an additional authorization of up to $10.0 million of shares. We may purchase shares at management’s discretion in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, in transactions structured through investment banking institutions, or a combination of the foregoing. We may from time to time enter into Rule 10b5-1 plans to facilitate repurchases of shares under this authorization. The amount and timing of repurchases are subject to a variety of factors, including liquidity, cash flow, stock price, and general business and market conditions. We have no obligation to repurchase shares and may modify, suspend, or discontinue the repurchase program at any time. The authorization under this program is in addition to our repurchase program under which we may annually purchase up to the cumulative number of shares issued or deemed issued in that year under our equity incentive and stock purchase plan.

(3) During the three months ended September 30, 2025, we were deemed to have repurchased 6,882 shares of common stock forfeited by employees to satisfy minimum tax-withholding requirements in connection with the vesting of restricted stock grants. These repurchases were not part of the stock repurchase program authorized by our Board as described in footnotes 1 and 2 of this table.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

None.

Item 5. Other Information

During the three months ended September 30, 2025, none of our directors or officers adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit No. Exhibit Description

31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (1) 31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (1) 32.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (2) EX-101.INS Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document EX-101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document EX-101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document EX-101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document EX-101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document EX-101.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (104) Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

(1) Filed herewith.

(2) Furnished herewith.