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For-Profit Universities in the US Industry Data and Analysis
US for-profit universities remain under pressure despite a modest revenue increase in 2026. Revenue is estimated at $13.8 billion, following 0.8% growth during the year, but it has contracted at a 0.2% CAGR since 2021 as enrollment gains increasingly accrue to public institutions and community colleges. Industry profit has nevertheless held broadly stable over the current period, reflecting cost control, consolidation of physical campuses and a continued focus on scalable online delivery. Adult, part-time and online students remain the industry’s central market, but flexible delivery is no longer a meaningful differentiator as public and nonprofit universities expand online programs and student-support capabilities. Learners are increasingly weighing tuition, institutional credibility, completion and earnings outcomes, strengthening competition from lower-cost public institutions, online nonprofits, vocational schools and short-term workforce credentials. In response, universities are sharpening career-oriented program portfolios and pursuing employer relationships to lower customer-acquisition costs and tie enrollment more directly to workplace advancement.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released September 2026.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The For-Profit Universities industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code 61131b. The For-Profit Universities industry includes colleges and universities that offer academic courses at baccalaureate or graduate levels on a for-profit basis. A high school diploma or equivalent academic training is generally an admission requirement. Instruction may be provided in a variety of settings such as educational institutions, the workplace, the home, training facilities and through correspondence, TV, the internet or other electronic or distance-learning means. Related terms covered in the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States include gainful employment rule, nontraditional student, title iv program, traditional universities and cohort default rate.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in For-Profit Universities industry in the United States include Bachelor's courses, Master's courses and Doctorate courses.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States include Apollo Education Group Inc. and Perdoceo Education Corp.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States in 2026?
The market size of the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States is $13.8bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States in 2026?
There are 170 businesses in the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 3.2 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States?
The For-Profit Universities industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States?
The For-Profit Universities industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States has been declining at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States?
The biggest companies operating in the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States are Apollo Education Group Inc. and Perdoceo Education Corp
What does the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States include?
Providing college and university education on a for-profit basis (except junior colleges) and Providing professional school education on a for-profit basis (e.g. business administration, dental, law, medicine) are part of the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States.
Which companies have the highest market share in the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States?
The company holding the most market share in the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States is Apollo Education Group Inc..
How competitive is the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the For-Profit Universities industry in the United States.
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