Opposites Attract

And other rules of HigherEd Mergers & Acquisitions

In the world of campus mergers we need to see beyond the headlines in order to determine what may be the path forward for the newly minted merged institution. This past week, we learned about the acquisition of Cambridge College by Bay Path University. Both institutions had similar ‘career readiness’ missions. They are not-for-profit institutions that value higher touch and access for minoritized students including racial minorities, adult learners and the like. As a person who watches college mergers with intense interest, this one makes a load of sense, largely because these campuses are not mirror images of each other.

These institutions have the opportunity to build off the reputation of their partner in the acquisition. Prospective students can benefit from strong online learning as well as a career focused mission. Academic majors and programs are largely complementary and both Cambridge College and Bay Path University have some signature programs that bring in specific populations of learners to their respective communities. While some cross-over in applicants may exist, this isn’t an acquisition that will limit growth, rather, I predict it will allow for entrepreneurial thinking and a new enrollment strategy.