Strayer and Capella Merger Approved

Capella University received approval Monday from its accreditor, the Higher Learning Commission, to merge its parent company, Capella Education Company, with Strayer Education Inc. The merger is expected to close on or before Aug. 1. Capella University and Strayer University, both successful for-profit universities, will continue to operate independently under the combined parent company, renamed Strategic Education Inc. The merger was originally announced last October. Together, the universities enroll about 80,000 students, and the new combined company is worth an estimated $1.9 billion.