Strategic Education Named to Business Insider's 2027 Most Innovative Businesses List

Recognition caps a year of innovation across Strayer, Capella, Torrens, Sophia Learning, and Workforce Edge

HERNDON, Va. - Strategic Education, Inc., a global leader in higher education and workforce development, is proud to be named to Business Insider's list of America's Most Innovative Businesses for 2027, capping a year of measurable innovation across its portfolio of higher education and workforce brands.

"Being named as one of America's most innovative businesses is a significant recognition of the work we've accomplished and our future direction," said Karl McDonnell, President and CEO, Strategic Education, Inc. "The limits of what's possible in higher education and workforce education benefits aren't predetermined. Our teams are responsibly and continuously testing boundaries and pushing limits for our students and our employer partners. That mindset is what this recognition is all about."

A Year of Innovation Across the Portfolio

The recognition from Business Insider follows a year of sustained innovation and third-party validation across Strategic Education's business segments. Sophia Learning was named to the Higher Learning Commission's inaugural cohort of endorsed Short-Term Credential Providers - one of only four organizations to receive this distinction. Workforce Edge launched Tech Skills Academy, offering employers structured education pathways to build technology talent from within their existing workforce, spanning high-demand areas like artificial intelligence, infrastructure, DevOps, cybersecurity and data analytics.

Across our U.S. higher education segment, Capella University was designated as an "Opportunity College or University" by the Carnegie Foundation under its newly established Student Access and Earnings classification, which was created in 2025 with the American Council on Education (ACE) to recognize institutions that support economic mobility for their students.

Strayer University had standout moments of its own: a team of Strayer students took first place in Division II of the 2025 NSA Codebreaker Challenge, one of the most rigorous cybersecurity competitions in the country, outperforming teams from hundreds of institutions in a real-world scenario supporting the U.S. Air Force Cyber Operations Squadron. Strayer also expanded its academic footprint through Media Design School at Strayer, opening its first U.S.-based campus in Atlanta with a new in-person Master of Fine Arts program in Screen Scoring and Music Design.

Internationally, Torrens University partnered with Capability.Co to create a new pathway between workplace learning and higher education. Under the partnership, eligible learners can earn academic credit toward Torrens' Diploma of Applied Management and Graduate Certificate in Applied Management for workplace capabilities verified through Capability.Co's Human Capability Credential.

Innovation in Action: Signal Labs

Much of the momentum behind innovation is powered by continued investment in emerging technologies that support and enhance the student experience. Signal Labs, SEI's edtech commercial pilot program, opened its second cohort in 2026, pairing growth-stage startups with SEI's network of universities and platforms to pilot new tools in experiential learning, skills assessment, AI fluency, and credentialing, testing and refining them before those technologies reach students at scale.

About Strategic Education, Inc.

Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ: STRA) (www.strategiceducation.com) is dedicated to helping advance economic mobility through higher education. We primarily serve working adult students globally through our core focus areas: 1) Education Technology Services, developing and maintaining relationships with employers to build education benefits programs providing employees access to affordable and industry-relevant training, certificate, and degree programs, including through Workforce Edge, a full-service education benefits administration solution for employers, and Sophia Learning, which offers low-cost online general education-level courses that are ACE-recommended for college credit; 2) U.S. Higher Education, including Capella University and Strayer University, each institutionally accredited, and collectively offering flexible and affordable associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs; and 3) Australia/New Zealand, comprised primarily of Torrens University. This portfolio of high quality, innovative, relevant, and affordable programs and institutions helps our students prepare for success in today's workforce and find a path to bettering their lives. Strategic Education is proud to be featured on Business Insider's 2027 list of America's Most Innovative Businesses, a reflection of the organization's ongoing commitment to investing in innovation across our portfolio to better serve our students.

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Elaine Kincel
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