M&A Wrapped: 2025 Year in Review
December 22, 2025
You may have seen or heard about Spotify Wrapped — the year-end recap that highlights your top songs, biggest moments, and fun stats from the...
McClintock Minute
Featured Insights
Latest Higher Ed Insights 
On December 8, 2025, the Department of Education published an Electronic Announcement stating that, effective December 7, a low earnings indicator will be implemented on...
Recent Articles
M&A Wrapped: 2025 Year in Review
December 22, 2025
You may have seen or heard about Spotify Wrapped — the year-end recap that highlights your top songs, biggest moments, and fun stats from the past year. We decided to make our own version. M&A Wrapped is a look back at the year we just shared: the milestones reached, the work...
On December 8, 2025, the Department of Education published an Electronic Announcement stating that, effective December 7, a low earnings indicator will be implemented on the 2026/2027 FAFSA. This indicator will appear on a first-year undergraduate student’s FAFSA Submission Summary for any institution they select to receive their FAFSA data...
The Department of Education’s RISE Committee concluded its second and final week of negotiations on November 7, reaching full consensus on all proposed regulatory concepts. With consensus achieved, the Department will now draft regulatory text reflecting these agreed-upon positions. While the formal language has not yet been released, the Week...
Staying Compliant with the Ban on Incentive Compensation: A Timely Year-End Reminder
November 26, 2025
As the calendar year comes to a close, many institutions are conducting annual performance evaluations, reviewing compensation structures, and planning staffing adjustments for the year ahead. This makes it an ideal time to revisit one of the most closely scrutinized areas of Title IV compliance: the ban on incentive compensation. Institutions...
Student A/R Write-offs: The Hidden Deal Breaker in School Acquisitions
November 21, 2025
Whether the Mergers & Acquisitions market is hot or cautious, one truth remains constant: student accounts receivable (A/R) can quietly make—or break—a school acquisition. Unwritten write-offs inflate EBITDA and net working capital, anchoring sellers to higher valuations. Once diligence reveals the real collectability picture, the resulting price reset can be...
The Strategic Investor’s Playbook: Navigating M&A in the Education and Training Sector in 2025
October 28, 2025
Insight from McClintock & Associates, Professional Accounting and Advisory Services The global education and training (E&T) sector has evolved into one of the most dynamic and resilient investment frontiers. No longer viewed solely through a philanthropic lens, education is now a high-performing asset class—combining social impact with long-term stability and scalability....
Navigating FVT/GE Reporting After the Deadline: How Institutions Can Resolve NSLDS Errors and Maintain Compliance
October 27, 2025
The Department of Education’s new Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment (FVT/GE) regulations represent the next major accountability milestone for Title IV institutions. Following the October 1, 2025 reporting deadline, many schools are still working through data validation and error resolution in the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)—a process...
The Department of Education’s Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee has concluded the first round of negotiated rulemaking under the One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3) statute. Despite a partial federal government shutdown during the session, the Department had planned in advance to keep key Federal Student Aid staff working...