Cengage Group
Cengage Group is a global edtech company providing digital learning platforms, eTextbooks, and workforce training to higher education, K-12, and professional learners across 100+ countries. Its MindTap, WebAssign, and Cengage Unlimited stack reaches nearly 70% of U.S. institutions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1922
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Cengage Group does
Cengage Group is a global education technology company with a documented history dating to 1922, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with operational headquarters in Independence, Kentucky. The company provides digital learning platforms and content to higher education students and faculty, K-12 schools, and professional/adult learners across more than 100 countries, reaching close to 70% of all U.S. higher education institutions and K-12 school districts and supporting nearly 16 million digital users annually. Its core product stack consists of proprietary learning and assessment platforms including MindTap, WebAssign, OWLv2, CNOW, and SAM, unified under the Cengage Unlimited subscription model that bundles eBooks, courseware, study guides, and a limited number of free print rentals. The company also operates a portfolio of specialized brands: National Geographic Learning (K-12 and higher ed content), Gale (research and library resources), Milady (cosmetology and beauty education), Nelson (Canadian publishing), ed2go (adult and career training), Infosec (cybersecurity training), and Visible Body (3D medical anatomy), each addressing a distinct vertical or learner segment.
Cengage's business model combines recurring subscription revenue (Cengage Unlimited, platform and courseware site licensing, ed2go professional development), transactional revenue (digital content sales, print textbook sales and rentals), and one-time licensing fees for access codes and digital textbooks. Go-to-market is primarily institutional, with enterprise field sales targeting universities, colleges, and K-12 school districts, supplemented by direct e-commerce through Cengage.com for individual students and self-serve access for consumers. Products integrate with major learning management systems (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle) via single sign-on, embedding Cengage within institutional technology ecosystems.
The company is private and majority-owned by Apollo Global Management following a $500 million convertible preferred stock investment in April 2023 that replaced existing debt with equity and capitalized the company's print-to-digital transition and acquisition strategy. Reported strategic acquisitions include WebAssign (2016), Learning Objects (2015), Pathbrite (2015), and Visible Body (2025). Leadership is anchored by CEO Michael E. Hansen. The company reports 1001-5000 employees and does not disclose revenue figures in the provided data.
Cengage Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cengage Group
- Legal name
- Cengage Learning, Inc.
- Website
- https://cengagegroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1922
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Cengage Group is a global edtech company providing digital learning platforms, eTextbooks, and workforce training to higher education, K-12, and professional learners across 100+ countries. Its MindTap, WebAssign, and Cengage Unlimited stack reaches nearly 70% of U.S. institutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cengage Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Technology and Digital Learning Platforms
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Computer Training (61142), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Online Learning Content & Course Publishing Platforms (BPAMAJAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Interdisciplinary/General Education & Study Skills (EDAGABAN), Digital Learning & Course Subscriptions (CRAFAIAD), Corporate/L&D Course Licensing from Creators (B2B Upskilling) (MPACALAH), Course Bundle Subscriptions & Learning Membership Marketplaces (EDAFAIAI)
Keywords
Where Cengage Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Cengage Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription Access (Cengage Unlimited): Students and institutions pay subscription fees for access to digital libraries of eBooks, courseware, and study guides. Subscriptions available in single-semester (4 months), one-year (12 months), or two-year (24 months) terms. Also includes 120-day eTextbook subscription terms.
- Platform/Courseware Licensing: Educational institutions license access to digital platforms like MindTap, WebAssign, CNOW, and OWLv2 for use by their students. Revenue generated through institutional site licenses and individual course adoptions.
- Digital Content Sales: Sale of digital textbooks (eBooks), digital course materials, and digital access codes. Fees are non-refundable and charged in advance.
- Print Textbook Sales and Rentals: Physical textbook sales and rental services. Rentals include up to 4 free print rentals per subscription term for Cengage Unlimited subscribers. Print rentals subject to shipping and handling fees.
- Professional Development (ed2go): Online professional development and career training courses offered through ed2go brand, including Clinical Experience (Externship) programs and Ready2Hire workforce training services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Cengage Unlimited - Single Semester (4 months) |
| Subscription | Annual | Cengage Unlimited - One Year (12 months) |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Cengage Unlimited - Two Year (24 months) |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Cengage Unlimited eTextbooks - 120-day subscription |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Platform Access (MindTap, WebAssign, etc.) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
Cengage Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cengage Group sells digital learning platforms, online courseware, and subscription-based access to eTextbooks and study tools for higher education, K-12, workforce, and English language learning markets. Its core platforms include MindTap, WebAssign, OWLv2, CNOW, and SAM, delivered through institutional licensing and the direct-to-consumer Cengage Unlimited subscription. Sub-brands such as National Geographic Learning, Gale, Milady, Infosec, ed2go, Nelson, and Visible Body extend the offering across K-12 curriculum, library research, cosmetology education, cybersecurity training, professional development, Canadian publishing, and 3D medical anatomy.
Product overview
Cengage Group is a global education technology company operating as a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its core offerings include MindTap, WebAssign, OWLv2, CNOW, and SAM as primary learning management and assessment platforms, unified under the Cengage Unlimited subscription model. The company serves distinct market segments through specialized sub-brands: Cengage serves higher education, Cengage Work targets workforce development, Cengage School and National Geographic Learning serve K-12, while ed2go handles adult/career education, Infosec provides cybersecurity training, Gale serves research/library markets, Milady covers beauty/wellness education, Nelson serves Canadian markets, and Visible Body offers medical anatomy tools. English Language Learning operates as a separate ELL-focused brand under eltngl.com.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- National Geographic Learning: K-12 and higher education learning brand
- ed2go
- Infosec
- Gale
- Milady
- Nelson
- Visible Body
Products and services
- Cengage Unlimited Subscription-based access to all Cengage eBooks, digital courseware, and study guides under a single subscription, with up to 4 free print rentals per term. Available in 4-month, 12-month, and 24-month terms, plus a 120-day eTextbook subscription tier. Targeted at individual students and educators who buy directly through Cengage.com.
- MindTap Web-based learning platform for higher education delivering interactive course materials, assignments, and instructor tools. Includes developer offering capabilities for third-party extensions and integrates with institutional LMS platforms.
- WebAssign Online homework and assessment platform paired with educational courses, offering textbook questions, multimedia files, and eBooks accessible between course start and end dates. Acquired by Cengage on 2016-09-27.
- OWLv2 Online learning platform for chemistry and science courses with algorithmic problem generation and adaptive learning features, included as part of Cengage Unlimited subscription for enrolled students.
- CNOW Online homework and course management system for higher education courses.
- SAM Skills Assessment Manager platform for skills-based courses and training.
- ed2go Online learning platform for adult learners offering career training programs, professional development courses, and clinical experience (externship) programs.
- Infosec Cybersecurity training and awareness platform offering security education for corporate workforces through Infosec IQ, with Google Workspace user provisioning integration.
- Gale Research and publishing platform providing academic databases, business directories, and primary source materials for libraries and educational institutions.
- Milady Beauty and wellness education platform providing textbooks, exam preparation, and certification resources for cosmetology and barbering programs.
- Nelson Canadian educational publishing brand offering K-12 and higher education learning resources.
- Visible Body 3D human anatomy visualization platform for healthcare and medical education providing interactive anatomical models and study tools. Acquired by Cengage Group on 2025-01-13 for an undisclosed amount.
- National Geographic Learning K-12 and higher education learning brand under partnership with National Geographic Society, delivering World Languages, Social Studies, Science, and English Language Teaching materials.
- Cengage School K-12 educational products and platforms for school districts, including National Geographic Learning branded materials, supporting curriculum, English language learning, and classroom instruction.
- Cengage Work Workforce learning platform serving professionals with reskilling, upskilling, and career development resources.
- English Language Learning (ELL) English language learning platform for non-native speakers delivered under the eltngl.com brand.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 16 million digital users served annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cengage Group
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Cengage Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature5 records
Cengage Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cengage Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pearson: Pearson is the largest global education publisher and Cengage's most direct competitor, offering higher education textbooks, digital courseware, and assessment platforms serving similar institutional customers with overlapping product categories.
- McGraw Hill Education: McGraw Hill is a major U.S. higher education and K-12 publisher competing head-to-head with Cengage across textbooks, adaptive learning platforms, and institutional licensing in the same academic disciplines.
- John Wiley & Sons: Wiley is a competing higher education and professional publisher offering textbooks, courseware, and research content with similar institutional sales motion and digital transformation strategy as Cengage.
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: HMH is a U.S. K-12 and supplemental education publisher with overlapping institutional customers, similar print-to-digital transition dynamics, and competing curriculum/adoption models.
- Scholastic: Scholastic is a major K-12 publisher and education content provider competing directly with Cengage School and National Geographic Learning for district adoptions and reading curriculum.
- Chegg: Chegg is a student-direct digital learning platform competing with Cengage on textbook rentals, homework help, and study tools, targeting the same higher education learner base.
Emerging players
- Coursera: Coursera is an online learning platform partnering with universities and companies to deliver courses and credentials, increasingly overlapping with Cengage's higher ed and workforce offerings.
- Udemy: Udemy is a marketplace for professional and creator-led courses competing with Cengage Work and ed2go in workforce upskilling and adult learner segments.
- Khan Academy: Khan Academy is a free OER platform providing K-12 and higher education content that competes indirectly with Cengage by commoditizing access to instructional content and study resources.
- 2U: 2U powers online degree programs and bootcamps with university partners, competing with Cengage in the higher education digital delivery and online program management space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cengage Group social profiles
Digital presenceCengage Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cengage Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Cengage Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Cengage Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cengage Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A5 records
Investments5 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cengage Group
What does Cengage Group do?
Cengage Group sells digital learning platforms, online courseware, and subscription-based access to eTextbooks and study tools for higher education, K-12, workforce, and English language learning markets. Its core platforms include MindTap, WebAssign, OWLv2, CNOW, and SAM, delivered through institutional licensing and the direct-to-consumer Cengage Unlimited subscription. Sub-brands such as National Geographic Learning, Gale, Milady, Infosec, ed2go, Nelson, and Visible Body extend the offering across K-12 curriculum, library research, cosmetology education, cybersecurity training, professional development, Canadian publishing, and 3D medical anatomy.
Is Cengage Group a public or private company?
Cengage Group is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Cengage Group founded?
Cengage Group was founded in 1922. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Cengage Group based?
Cengage Group is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cengage Group make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Subscription Access (Cengage Unlimited) is the primary driver. The others are platform/Courseware Licensing, digital Content Sales, print Textbook Sales and Rentals and professional Development (ed2go).
Who are Cengage Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pearson, McGraw Hill Education, John Wiley & Sons, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Scholastic and Chegg. Emerging players are Coursera, Udemy, Khan Academy and 2U.
Does Cengage Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cengage Group.
What industry is Cengage Group in?
Cengage Group's product category is Education Technology and Digital Learning Platforms. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAJAL, Online Learning Content & Course Publishing Platforms, with a secondary code of EDAGABAN, Interdisciplinary/General Education & Study Skills. Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8200.