Tracked deals
19
19 tracked deals across 2019-2026.
Education Buyers & Acquisitions in Indiana
Buyer mix
Strategic-led
16 strategic · 7 pe
Top trend
Volume peaked in 2022
8 tracked deals announced in 2022.
Primary Insight
What Stands Out
- K–12 remains a major theme: literacy solutions (Solution Tree / Dirigo Literacy) and student wellness/behavior management (The Riverside Company / Navigate360 with Motivating Systems (PBIS Rewards)).
- Higher education and services continue to attract buyers, including Bain Capital Double Impact acquiring American College of Education and Strata Information Group (SIG) strengthening Slate CRM consulting via RHB, Inc.
- EdTech and education platforms are frequently bolstered with adjacent capabilities—such as integrating LMS technology (Follett Higher Education / Willo Labs) or combining certification + continuing education (Summit Professional Education / NFPT).
- The YMCA-to-classroom pipeline is reflected in youth programs, with 3STEP Sports acquiring Indiana-based volleyball clubs to grow its national volleyball division.
| Subsector focus (examples) | What buyers add |
|---|---|
| K–12 literacy & instruction | Research-backed frameworks, professional development, coaching |
| K–12 wellness & behavior | PBIS Rewards SaaS integrated into a district suite |
| Higher ed services | Accredited online delivery; Slate/marketing/enrollment support |
| Youth sports | Facilities, coaching talent, camps, and tournament footprint |
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Top Buyers
Illustrative buyers pulled from tracked transactions on this page. This table is capped and intentionally non-exhaustive.
| Buyer | # Deals | Focus | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3STEP Sports | 2 | National youth-sports club and event operator running clu... | Strategic |
| Emler Swim School | 2 | Operator of multi-location children's swim and gymnastics... | Strategic |
| BERKS Group | 1 | Family-controlled holding company investing in education ... | Family Office |
| Bain Capital Double Impact | 1 | Impact-focused private equity fund within Bain Capital th... | PE |
| Course Hero | 1 | Online learning platform offering course-specific study r... | Strategic |
| Early Bird Education Group | 1 | Owner and operator of a network of early childhood educat... | Strategic |
| Education Advanced, Inc. | 1 | Provider of operations management and workflow software s... | Strategic (PE-backed) |
| Five Star Technology Solutions | 1 | Provider of K-12 education technology services including ... | Strategic |
| Follett Higher Education | 1 | Omnichannel campus retailer and educational services prov... | Strategic |
| Fort Point Capital | 1 | Lower-middle-market private equity firm focused on busine... | PE |
Acquisition Volume in Education in Indiana by Year
Last 6 years
Actual
Full-year estimate
Supporting Data
Recent Transactions
-
March 10, 2026
- Buyer
- Solution Tree
- Target
- Dirigo Literacy
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Solution Tree acquired Dirigo Literacy to expand its K–12 evidence-based literacy solutions for schools, districts, and state education systems. The deal adds Dirigo Literacy’s research-intensive Dirigo Literacy Framework (Upward Spiral of Literacy), focused on professional development, coaching, instructional materials, and data-driven decision making to improve student reading and writing outcomes.
-
February 9, 2026
- Buyer
- Bain Capital Double Impact
- Target
- American College of Education
- Seller
- CIC Partners
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Buyout
CIC Partners has realized its investment in American College of Education (ACE) and sold the company to Bain Capital Double Impact, with the transaction completing in Q4 2025. ACE is an accredited online private college headquartered in Indianapolis that serves adult and professional learners across education, healthcare and business programs; financial terms were not disclosed.
-
November 25, 2024
- Buyer
- Summit Professional Education
- Target
- National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT)
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Summit Professional Education has acquired the National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT), combining Summit’s tech-enabled continuing-education platform with NFPT’s NCCA‑accredited personal trainer certification programs. The deal will integrate NFPT’s certification offerings into Summit’s portfolio to deliver expanded specializations, mentorships, and career pathways across fitness and adjacent clinical care markets.
-
November 4, 2024
- Buyer
- Five Star Technology Solutions
- Target
- Empower Learning
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Five Star Technology Solutions has completed a merger with Empower Learning to combine their K-12 education technology, AV, managed services, and professional development offerings. The combined company will expand its geographic reach across the Midwest and deliver integrated EdTech solutions to schools and districts, strengthening capabilities in AV, managed services, data analytics, and cybersecurity.
-
May 16, 2024
- Buyer
- Strata Information Group (SIG), Fort Point Capital
- Target
- RHB, Inc.
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Addon
Strata Information Group (SIG), a portfolio company of Fort Point Capital, has acquired RHB, Inc., a higher education consulting firm specializing in Slate CRM technical services, enrollment management, institutional marketing, and executive counsel. The acquisition strengthens SIG's Slate practice, adds a Slate 24/7 helpdesk capability, and expands its service offerings to higher education institutions.
-
- Buyer
- Emler Swim School
- Target
- Nitro Swim School (Fort Wayne location)
- Seller
- Nitro Swim School, Mike Koleber
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Addon
Emler Swim School has acquired the Fort Wayne, Indiana location of Nitro Swim School, marking Emler’s 42nd swim school. Nitro Swim School owner Mike Koleber sold the Fort Wayne facility while retaining Nitro’s Texas locations in Cedar Park and Bee Cave; Emler said the acquisition supports its expansion into the Fort Wayne market.
-
- Buyer
- Early Bird Education Group
- Target
- Brookshire Learning Center
- Seller
- Brookshire Learning Center, Scott (owner of Brookshire Learning Center)
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Addon
Early Bird Education Group has acquired Brookshire Learning Center, a West Lafayette, Indiana early childhood education provider with multiple facilities across the state. The acquisition expands Early Bird’s footprint (now operating 14 locations across Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana) and provides the platform with an entry into the Lafayette market.
-
- Buyer
- The Riverside Company, Navigate360
- Target
- Motivating Systems LLC (PBIS Rewards)
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Addon
The Riverside Company has invested in Motivating Systems LLC (creator of PBIS Rewards) as an add-on to its portfolio company Navigate360, expanding Navigate360’s K–12 student wellness and behavioral management capabilities. Motivating Systems’ PBIS Rewards SaaS will be integrated into Navigate360’s suite to give districts data-driven tools for whole-child safety and early intervention; PBIS Rewards CEO Pat Heck will continue with Navigate360 as CTO.
-
November 17, 2022
- Buyer
- Emler Swim School
- Target
- Stony Creek Swim Center
- Seller
- Dan Gipson, Shari Gipson, Gary Byers, Evelyn Byers
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Emler Swim School acquired Stony Creek Swim Center, a single-location swim school in Noblesville, Indiana, with the deal closing on November 17, 2022. The acquisition expands Emler’s footprint into its eighth state and grows its network of locations to 42, while Stony Creek will continue operating under its current name with existing staff and enrollment plans.
-
October 17, 2022
- Buyer
- Follett Higher Education
- Target
- Willo Labs
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Follett Higher Education has acquired Indianapolis-based edtech platform Willo Labs to integrate its single-connection LMS technology into Follett's ACCESS and campus retail offerings. The deal aims to expand digital course-material access, improve privacy and security for institutions, and broaden Follett's digital services for millions of students.
-
August 12, 2022
- Buyer
- 3STEP Sports
- Target
- Munciana Volleyball Club
- Seller
- Mike Lingenfelter, Wes Lyon
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Buyout
3STEP Sports has acquired Munciana Volleyball Club, the long-running Indiana-based junior volleyball program, to serve as a cornerstone of its expanding volleyball division. The deal brings Munciana's facility, elite coaching pedigree, large camp program and tournament footprint into 3STEP's national youth-sports platform.
-
July 29, 2022
- Buyer
- 3STEP Sports
- Target
- The Academy Volleyball Club
- Seller
- Founders (including Emily and Steve Hawthorne)
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Addon
3STEP Sports has acquired The Academy Volleyball Club, a large youth volleyball organization based in Indianapolis. The acquisition is an add-on to 3STEP’s growing volleyball division and expands its footprint and event/program capabilities in youth volleyball.
-
May 18, 2022
- Buyer
- Education Advanced, Inc., Serent Capital, LoneTree Capital
- Target
- Standard for Success
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Addon
Education Advanced, Inc. (a Serent Capital portfolio company) has acquired Indiana-based Standard for Success, an education evaluation and feedback software provider. The deal expands EAI’s K-12 product suite—adding teacher evaluation, educator growth, graduation tracking and related subscription software—and increases combined reach to over 5 million students in more than 10,000 schools.
-
March 1, 2022
- Buyer
- Securly, Inc., Golden Gate Capital
- Target
- Dyknow, LLC
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Addon
Securly, a Golden Gate Capital‑backed K‑12 student safety and wellness platform, has acquired Dyknow, an Indianapolis‑based provider of classroom management and device impact measurement software. The deal combines Dyknow’s classroom management and device-usage analytics with Securly’s student safety, wellness and engagement offerings to expand capabilities and analytics for K‑12 customers.
-
January 12, 2022
- Buyer
- BERKS Group
- Target
- 180 Skills
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Addon
BERKS Group, a family-owned diversified holding company, has acquired 180 Skills, an Indianapolis-based provider of online manufacturing skills training. The acquisition expands BERKS' education technology platform—joining 180 Skills with existing assets such as Valor Manufacturing Training—to broaden its online training offerings for manufacturers, educators and workforce organizations.
-
August 19, 2021
- Buyer
- Course Hero
- Target
- CliffsNotes, QuillBot
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Course Hero has acquired CliffsNotes, the long-running study guide publisher, and QuillBot, an AI-powered writing platform. The deals expand Course Hero's portfolio of educational content and AI writing tools to better support students and educators across K-12 and higher education.
-
March 11, 2021
- Buyer
- SchoolMint
- Target
- Bright Minds Marketing
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Addon
SchoolMint, a PE-backed provider of Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) software, has acquired Indianapolis-based Bright Minds Marketing to expand its marketing and enrollment consulting capabilities for PreK-12 schools in the U.S. The acquisition integrates Bright Minds' personalized marketing and enrollment services into SchoolMint's SaaS platform to help schools attract, enroll, and retain students and staff.
-
December 17, 2019
- Buyer
- HackerRank
- Target
- Mimir
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Buyout
HackerRank, the developer-skills assessment platform, has acquired Mimir, a cloud-based platform used to run and grade computer science courses at universities. The deal brings classroom-focused automated grading and course tooling into HackerRank’s assessment ecosystem to help reach and assess student developers earlier in their education.
-
- Buyer
- Morgan Stanley Capital Partners
- Target
- Project Management Academy (Educate 360 Holdings, LLC)
- Seller
- Leeds Equity Partners
- Industry
- Education
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley Capital Partners completed an investment in Project Management Academy (also referred to as Educate 360 Holdings, LLC), with CEO Jason Cassidy and the existing management team remaining in place and retaining an equity stake. The transaction — a sale by Leeds Equity Partners — will support PMA's expansion into new markets, product portfolio growth and strategic M&A; terms were not disclosed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which parts of education are most active in Indiana acquisitions?
Recent activity spans K–12 learning and student support, higher education and education services, and education-adjacent youth sports programs.
What kinds of capabilities show up repeatedly in these deals?
Many transactions focus on adding software-enabled services and education infrastructure—such as literacy frameworks, LMS integration, Slate CRM support, and PBIS Rewards behavioral tools.
Are there recurring buyers in Indiana education acquisitions?
Yes. Names that recur across the page include 3STEP Sports, Emler Swim School, Navigate360, The Riverside Company, Follett Higher Education, HackerRank, and Five Star Technology Solutions.
Where are the deals located?
The page’s recent transactions are listed in Indiana, United States.
Related Acquisition Pages
Education Buyers & Acquisitions
Education Buyers & Acquisitions in Canada
Private Equity-Backed Education Buyers
Education Acquisitions in 2026
Education Acquisitions in 2024
Education Acquisitions in 2023
Education Acquisitions in 2022
Education Acquisitions in 2021
Education Acquisitions in 2019
Acquisitions in Indiana
Private Equity-Backed Acquisitions in Indiana
Acquisitions in Indiana in 2026