Bridgepoint Education (2004–2019)
Bridgepoint Education purchased The Franciscan University of the Prairies in Clinton, Iowa in 2005 and changed its name to Ashford University. In September 2007 Bridgepoint purchased the Colorado School of Professional Psychology, and changed that institution's name to University of the Rockies.[6] In 2008, Bridgepoint Education was named the fastest-growing private education company in the United States, as well as the fastest-growing private company in San Diego by Inc. magazine.[7] In April 2009, Bridgepoint Education went public, and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BPI.[8] Bridgepoint's Ashford University had an estimated economic impact on state of Iowa of $40.9 million in business output, 782 jobs, $12.6 million in employee earnings, and $18.6 million in total value added to the state's GDP.[9]
From 2010 through 2013, Bridgepoint Education was the title sponsor of the Holiday Bowl postseason college football game in San Diego.[10] In 2013, Bridgepoint Education helped generate over $1 billion in income and 4,505 outside jobs in San Diego.[11][12] In 2013, Bridgepoint Education's Ashford University announced an alliance with business publisher Forbes Media. Under the terms of the alliance, Ashford's College of Business and Professional Studies was renamed the Forbes School of Business at Ashford University.[13]
On December 22, 2015, an agreement was made that Clinton Catalyst, LLC would buy the Ashford University campus properties for $1.6 million, according to the Clinton Herald. For the subsequent 12 months, Ashford University planned to lease the campus from Clinton Catalyst to make sure that the spring semester classes could continue, according to the Clinton Herald report.[14] In March 2017, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos appointed Robert Eitel, a vice president at Bridgepoint, as an advisor.[15] At the end of 2018, its last full year of operation under the Bridgepoint name, Bridgepoint enrollment stood at 38,153.[1][16] On March 12, 2019, Bridgepoint Education reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it had made unreliable statements about its earnings and losses. The company estimated an operating loss of $13.6–14.0 million loss for the quarter ending in December 2018.[17] The same day, Bridgepoint announced the acquisition of the coding boot camp Fullstack Academy for approximately US$20 million.[18]
Charitable organizations and programs Bridgepoint partnered with included After-School All-Stars,[19] Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego,[20] Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego,[21] Computers 2 SD Kids,[22] the Homefront Heroes Scholarship Program,[23] the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank,[24] Junior Achievement,[25] Make-A-Wish Foundation,[26] A Salute to Teachers,
