How We are Different
Unparalleled Support, Extraordinary Growth. The AP HigherEdge.
We take an integrated, comprehensive approach to supporting universities—primarily public institutions—in all aspects of online program management. Our proven model delivers sustainable growth for universities and facilitates student success through upfront capital investment, expertise in scalable online program design, unrivaled omni-channel marketing, and student enrollment and retention services.
Unmatched track record of enrollment and revenue growth
A commitment to public higher education and program affordability
Largest field sales organization focused on employer-based student recruitment
High-touch commitment to personalized student support
A Note from Our Founder
The Transformative Power of Technology-Enabled Higher Education
Technology is a game changer for post-secondary and a great enabler. Its extraordinary ability to disseminate knowledge unbound by geography and time has captured the imaginations of people around the world. AP is excited to participate in this movement, which is transforming higher education by expanding access and helping millions achieve their aspirations.
Thousands of high-quality degree programs have become universally accessible through online learning. The resulting increase in educational attainment among global citizens is a precursor to better standards of living and a more rapid and sustainable economic development of nations.
It is a true privilege to participate in this transformative process. AP is committed to maximizing the latest online learning technologies for the benefit of its partner universities and the millions of students these institutions can serve.
Randy Best
Founder and Chairman, Academic Partnerships
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Fast Facts
Academic Partnerships raises the bar as a leader in online education services and solutions.
Portfolio Diversity
We represent university programs at the undergraduate, graduate and certificate levels, spanning business, education, healthcare, engineering, criminal justice and the humanities.
Leadership in Healthcare
We partner with four of the top 10 public RN to BSN programs in the U.S.—more than any other service provider.
Growing MBAs
Enrollment for AP-supported MBA programs continues to outperform market trends for this degree category.
Mastering Education
Our recruitment efforts helped establish the 1st, 2nd, and 9th largest graduate schools of education in terms of conferrals among public universities.
Field Sales Outreach
Our field sales organization, the largest of any online program management provider, continues to expand beyond its employer-based network of over 3,000 organizations.
Enrollment Growth Leader
We have grown multiple partner programs from low double-digit enrollments to 1,000+ students and transformed them from local into nationally recognized brands.
Strategic Partnerships
We provide value-added products and services free of charge, including Zoom, a cloud-based video conferencing service; AspirEDU, a cloud-based at-risk student retention technology; and Canvas, a cloud-based LMS.
Proprietary Technology and Innovation
We continue to develop proprietary technologies to better serve our partner institutions and their students.
Our History: Groundbreaking from the Start
For more than a decade, we have helped universities expand their influence through the online delivery of instruction. Today, we serve more than 50 universities in the United States and in countries around the world. We have assisted more than 4,200 faculty members in the transition of nearly 4,800 courses into an online format, spanning 450 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and we have had the privilege of supporting more than 200,000 students along their higher education journey.
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2007: First U.S.-based online degree program launched
We launched our first U.S. based program, an M.Ed., under the name of Higher Education Holdings. This program was the first of several, leading to this partner's #1 ranking among public universities for conferrals of this degree.
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2008: Fastest-growing nursing program launched
Partnering with a public university, we launched what has become one of the fastest-growing nursing programs in the U.S., growing from 137 on-campus students at inception to more than 19,000 students in 2017.
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2011: Public university partnership growth surged
We sponsored The Future of State Universities Conference, bringing together university thought leaders and policy makers from around the world to discuss new models to drive success for public universities.
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2012: Faculty grant program launched
The AP Faculty Research Grant Program was launched. To date, we have awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to faculty at partner universities.
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2016: A proprietary data-driven approach to marketing developed by AP
We developed the AP MarketingEdge, a comprehensive, data-driven approach to marketing that is integrated across digital, traditional and field sales channels and is customizable to prospective online student audiences.
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2017: 190,000 students recruited and growing
Since 2007, we have recruited more than 190,000 students for our partner universities--several of which have become national leaders in online learning.
