Dive Brief:
- The Advisory Board Company announced Wednesday its acquisition of Royall & Company for $850 million.
- Royall is a leading solutions provider for data-driven higher education student engagement and enrollment management, serving 350 colleges and universities.
- The acquisition will help Advisory Board expand into higher education as it seeks to offer a portfolio of solutions serving the entire student lifecycle.
Dive Insight:
Perhaps the most interesting detail about this acquisition is that the Advisory Board has traditionally operated in the healthcare space. Its higher ed expansion is a relatively new frontier for the company. That detail makes this acquisition a smart move, given Royall's status as a leader in the industry. On top of student engagement and enrollment services, Royall also offers solutions for financial aid optimization and alumni fundraising.