Todd S. Nelson is an American businessman who has been the CEO of three of America's largest for-profit college chains:

Apollo Group Apollo Education Group, Inc. is an American corporation based in the South Phoenix area of Phoenix, Arizona, with an additional corporate office in Chicago, Illinois. It is privately-owned by a consortium of investors including The Vistria Grou ...

Education Management Corporation Education Management Corporation (EDMC) was a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based operator of for-profit post-secondary educational institutions in the United States and Canada. The company was founded in 1962. At its peak in 2011, Education Manageme ...

, and

Career Education Corporation Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) is a public company that owns five for-profit universities in the United States: American Intercontinental University, Colorado Technical University, California Southern University, Trident University Int ...

. He is currently the Executive Chairman of

Perdoceo Education Corporation Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO) is a public company that owns five for-profit universities in the United States: American Intercontinental University, Colorado Technical University, California Southern University, Trident University In ...

, the parent company of

Colorado Technical University Colorado Technical University (Colorado Tech or CTU) is a private for-profit university with its main campus in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded in 1965, CTU offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees, primarily in business, managem ...

American Intercontinental University American InterContinental University (AIU) is a private for-profit university with its headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois. It employs open admissions. American InterContinental University is a member of the American InterContinental Universit ...

, and

Trident University International Trident University International is a Private university, private For-profit higher education in the United States, for-profit Online education, online university based in Chandler, Arizona. It is a member of the American InterContinental Univer ...

Early life

Todd S. Nelson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1982 from

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU) is a Private education, private research university in Provo, Utah, United States. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is the flagship university of the Church Educational System sponsore ...

and an MBA from the

University of Nevada, Reno The University of Nevada, Reno (Nevada, the University of Nevada, or UNR) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Reno, Nevada, United States. It is the state's flagship public university and prim ...

in 1983. He was a faculty member at the

University of Nevada Las Vegas The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is a public land-grant research university in Paradise, Nevada, United States. The campus is about east of the Las Vegas Strip. It was formerly part of the University of Nevada from 1957 to 1969. I ...

from 1983 to 1984.

Apollo Group (1987–2006)

Nelson started with Apollo Group in 1987 as the director of the

University of Phoenix University of Phoenix (UoPX) is a Private university, private For-profit higher education in the United States, for-profit university headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 1976, the university confers certificates and degrees at the Ac ...

's Utah campus, and was named executive vice president of University of Phoenix in 1989, vice president of Apollo Group in 1994, president of Apollo Group in 1998, CEO of Apollo in 2001, and chairman of the board in 2004. During Nelson's tenure, the company changed its business practices from relying on corporate investments in employee education and enrolling mid-level employees at major companies to relying on government funds and open enrollment. Nelson resigned in 2006 after University of Phoenix faced allegations of illegal business practices. At the time of Nelson's resignation, Apollo Group's annual revenues were $2.2 billion with an enrollment of more than 300,000 students. Nelson's compensation package was $22.1 million in 2005, with a 5-year compensation of $61 million. His compensation package in 2006 was $41.3 million.

Education Management Corporation (2007–2015)

Nelson was CEO of Education Management (EDMC) from 2007 to 2015, bringing several Apollo Group executives to the company. EDMC's schools included the

Art Institutes The Art Institutes (AI) were a private for-profit system of art schools in the United States. The Art Institutes offered programs at the certificate, associate's, bachelors, and master's levels. By 2012, there were 50 campuses with roughly ...

Argosy University Argosy University was a private for-profit university with campuses throughout the United States owned by Dream Center Education Holdings (DCEH), LLC and Education Management Corporation. On February 27, 2019, the U.S. Department of Educat ...

Brown Mackie College Brown Mackie College was a private for-profit college system in the United States. The colleges offered bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, and certificates in programs including early childhood education, information technology, health sci ...

, and

South University South University is a private for-profit university with its main campus and online operations in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1899, South University consists of its School of Pharmacy, College of Nursing and Public Health, C ...

. During his time at EDMC, the company grew into the second largest US for-profit college chain and faced allegations of illegal enrolment tactics. Nelson's highest annual compensation was $13.1 million. In 2017, EDMC filed for bankruptcy.

Career Education Corporation-Perdoceo (2015–present)

Nelson was the CEO of

(formerly known as Career Education Corporation) from 2015 to 2022. Nelson guided the company through several school closings, including the shuttering of

Le Cordon Bleu Le Cordon Bleu (; French: " The Blue Ribbon"; LCB) is a French hospitality and culinary education institution, teaching haute cuisine. Its educational focuses are hospitality management, culinary arts, and gastronomy. The institution consists ...

Briarcliffe College Briarcliffe College was a private for-profit college with two campuses on Long Island, New York. It was owned by Career Education Corporation. The Bethpage campus served Nassau County, New York, and the Patchogue campus was in Suffolk Count ...

and Sanford-Brown campuses. Perdoceo is the parent company of Colorado Technical University, American Intercontinental University, and Trident University International. In 2019, Nelson made $7.4 million in total compensation. He currently holds about $12 million in equities from the company. In January 2022, Nelson stepped down as CEO of Perdoceo but continued as Executive Chairman.

References

External links

Perdoceo Education Corporation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Todd S. Brigham Young University alumni University of Nevada, Las Vegas alumni American business executives Living people Year of birth missing (living people)

Early life

Apollo Group (1987–2006)

Education Management Corporation (2007–2015)

Career Education Corporation-Perdoceo (2015–present)

See also

References

External links