Ancora Education

What Ancora Education does

Ancora Education is a US-based private workforce solutions provider founded in 2013 that addresses labor shortages in transportation, healthcare, skilled trades, IT, and business through vocational and workforce training programs. The company operates four divisions: Ancora Academy (online individual-learner courses), Ancora Education (18 campus-based post-secondary schools under the Arizona Automotive Institute, Berks Technical Institute, Miller-Motte College, South Texas Vocational Technical Institute, and Edge Tech Academy brands), Ancora High School (online adult high school diploma powered by McGraw Hill Connect and ALEKS), and Ancora Training (enterprise and government workforce training contracts plus community college channel partnerships). Ancora Training runs more than 200 CDL programs nationally, delivers ELDT-compliant Class A and B commercial driver training, and maintains approved third-party CDL skills testing status through Miller-Motte Driving Institute. Curricula align with NCCER for construction trades, AWS welding, and ASE certification prep, and the high school division holds Cognia accreditation while three schools hold ACCSC accreditation.

The business model combines three revenue streams: tuition and program fees from individual learners across diploma, certificate, and degree programs (with financial aid available for qualifying students); negotiated enterprise and government contracts for customized workforce training delivered at client sites (e.g., PepsiCo, Amazon Career Choice, TxDOT, Tarrant County); and channel partnerships with 30+ community colleges (including a 23-college Virginia Community College System contract) where Ancora deploys turnkey curriculum, instructors, and program management in exchange for per-cohort or per-contract fees. Ancora's go-to-market is hybrid: enterprise field sales for corporate and government buyers, channel partnerships for higher education, and self-serve online enrollment for individual learners. Ancora Academy and Ancora High School use subscription-style pay-as-you-go and monthly billing; vocational campuses operate multi-year contract structures.

In April 2025 Ancora was acquired by Lindenwood Education System, the non-profit parent of Lindenwood University and Dorsey College, and continues to operate independently under its own brands, accreditations, and academic programming. John Barnes became President & CEO on September 1, 2025. Eleven Ancora campuses were ranked in USA TODAY/Statista's 2026 America's Top Vocational Schools list.

Name

Ancora Education

Legal name

Ancora Education

Website

https://ancoraeducation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Ancora Education is a US private vocational training provider operating 18 campuses and 200+ CDL programs through four divisions (Academy, Education, High School, Training), serving individual learners, enterprises (PepsiCo, Amazon), government agencies, and 30+ community college channel partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Workforce Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education & Training Providers (EDABALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC) (EDANAIAM), Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAC)

Keywords

• Vocational training programs
• Workforce development services
• Commercial driver training
• Skilled trades education
• Adult post-secondary education

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Program Fees (Individual Learners): Individual students pay tuition and program fees to enroll in diploma, certificate, and degree programs across Ancora's campus-based and online schools (AAI, BTI, Miller-Motte, STVT, Ancora Academy, Ancora High School). Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
2. Workforce Training Contracts (Enterprise & Government): Ancora Training generates revenue through negotiated contracts with corporations (e.g., PepsiCo), government agencies (e.g., TxDOT, Tarrant County), and community college partners. Programs are customized per client need and billed per cohort or per contract terms.
3. Third-Party CDL Testing Fees: Miller-Motte Driving Institute charges fees for administering CDL skills tests as an approved third-party testing site for students and drivers from other schools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ancora Education operates a portfolio of for-profit vocational schools and workforce training brands (Miller-Motte College, South Texas Vocational Technical Institute, Arizona Automotive Institute, Berks Technical Institute, Miller-Motte Driving Institute, Edge Tech Academy) delivering diploma, certificate, associate, and bachelor programs on 18 campuses and online. It also sells customized corporate and government workforce training contracts (CDL, skilled trades, maintenance, OSHA, allied health) through Ancora Training, and runs Ancora Academy (online individual courses) and Ancora High School (online adult high school diploma) using McGraw Hill Connect and ALEKS.

Product overview

Ancora Education is a workforce development and post-secondary education company operating a portfolio of vocational schools and training programs. The organization operates through four main divisions: Ancora Academy (online professional development courses), Ancora Education (campus-based post-secondary vocational schools), Ancora High School (online high school diploma completion for adults), and Ancora Training (corporate workforce development solutions). The portfolio includes sub-brands such as Miller-Motte College, South Texas Vocational Technical Institute, Arizona Automotive Institute, Berks Technical Institute, Miller-Motte Driving Institute, and Edge Tech Academy, offering programs in fields including skilled trades (HVAC, electrical, welding, plumbing), healthcare (CNA), transportation (CDL), automotive, and business/technology disciplines. Programs are delivered across multiple campus locations and online platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ancora Academy
• Ancora High School
• Ancora Training
• Miller-Motte College
• Miller-Motte Driving Institute
• South Texas Vocational Technical Institute (STVT)
• Arizona Automotive Institute (AAI)
• Berks Technical Institute (BTI)
• Edge Tech Academy

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% CDL license rate at Greenville Technical College — 200+ students completed within less than a year of program launch
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Urban League of Metropolitan St. LouismajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Ancora High School partnered with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis in January 2026. The Urban League will fully sponsor tuition for eligible clients seeking to earn their high school diploma through Ancora High School.
• Florida State College at JacksonvilleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2025Ancora Training partnered with Florida State College at Jacksonville to launch an online CDL hazmat endorsement course for enrolled students, marking Ancora Training's first higher education partnership in Florida.
• Long Beach City CollegemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2025Ancora Training launched a CDL training program in partnership with Long Beach City College in February 2025, serving Southern California students with a pathway into the trucking industry. This is Ancora's first California community college partnership.
• University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Ancora High School and UMGC announced an alliance in February 2025 to create a seamless pathway for Ancora High School graduates to continue into UMGC degree programs. UMGC may also refer academically unready students to Ancora High School.
• Legacy EducationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Legacy Education and Ancora High School announced an alliance in August 2024. Legacy Education sponsors individuals to earn their high school diploma from Ancora High School and provides campus facilities and technology access at its five California campuses.
• Guild EducationmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Ancora partnered with Guild Education to expand access to education and upskilling opportunities for Guild's employee network.
• McGraw HillcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 February 2023Ancora partnered with McGraw Hill to launch Ancora High School, using McGraw Hill Connect and ALEKS platforms to deliver personalized, self-paced online learning experiences for adult high school completion.
• AmazoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Ancora Training was selected as an education partner for Amazon's Career Choice program for the fifth consecutive year (2023), providing CDL and other training to Amazon hourly employees in transportation and logistics, allied health, and IT support.
• PepsiCocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022In 2022, Ancora Training established a partnership with PepsiCo to provide Class A CDL training and Commercial and Industrial Maintenance Technician (CIMT) training to PepsiCo employees across the country. Training is delivered at PepsiCo locations using PepsiCo equipment.
• Tarrant CountymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Ancora Training was awarded a contract as the approved Commercial Drivers License training provider for governmental agencies in Tarrant County, Texas.
• Virginia Community College System (VCCS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021VCCS awarded Ancora Training a contract in early 2021 to provide CDL training across its 23 member colleges. Within 18 months, Ancora established programs at 12 colleges and helped nearly 600 students achieve CDL-A.
• Greenville Technical CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Greenville Technical College partnered with Ancora Training to deploy a turnkey CDL solution starting May 2021. Within less than a year, more than 200 students completed the program with a 97% license rate. Five other South Carolina colleges subsequently contracted with Ancora.
• Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Ancora Training was awarded two TxDOT contracts and subsequently won a renewal contract for heavy equipment operator (HEO) training for TxDOT employees.
• Patrick & Henry Community CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Ancora Education was selected to manage Patrick & Henry Community College's CDL training program, one of the VCCS member schools.
• Virginia Peninsula Community College (formerly Thomas Nelson Community College)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Virginia Peninsula Community College was one of the first VCCS colleges to launch CDL courses with Ancora Training in June 2021.
• Virginia Highlands Community CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Virginia Highlands Community College was one of the first VCCS colleges to launch CDL courses with Ancora Training in June 2021.
• Lord Fairfax Community CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Lord Fairfax Community College partnered with Ancora Corporate Training for CDL training as part of the broader VCCS partnership.
• Rockland Community CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Rockland Community College partnered with Ancora Corporate Training for Career Skills Academy course expansion.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Universal Technical Institute: Public for-profit vocational education provider specializing in automotive, diesel, welding, and skilled trades training across 15+ campuses nationally. Most direct US public comparable for Ancora's multi-brand skilled trades and transportation training portfolio.
• Lincoln Educational Services: Public for-profit vocational school operator with skilled trades, healthcare, automotive, and HVAC programs across multiple US campuses. Closely comparable campus-based vocational training model with overlapping CDL, skilled trades, and allied health offerings.
• Penn Foster: Private online vocational and career-focused education provider offering diploma, certificate, and degree programs in skilled trades, healthcare, and business. Comparable to Ancora's Ancora Academy and online high school divisions in terms of self-paced online delivery model.
• ECPI University: Private for-profit institution offering accelerated technology, healthcare, and skilled trades programs at multiple US campuses. Comparable to Ancora's Miller-Motte and STVT brands in technical diploma and degree delivery, particularly in healthcare and IT.
• Stride Inc. Public online education provider offering K-12, career learning, and adult education programs. Closely comparable to Ancora High School's online adult high school diploma program and to the broader online learning infrastructure Ancora is building.
• National Education Training Group: Private workforce training and skills development provider serving enterprise and government clients. Comparable to Ancora Training's enterprise and government workforce training contracts in CDL, skilled trades, and customized corporate training.

Broad incumbents

• Perdoceo Education Corporation: Public holding company operating American InterContinental University and Colorado Technical University, focused on post-secondary online education. Comparable as a multi-brand for-profit education operator with similar consumer-facing enrollment model.
• Grand Canyon Education: Public post-secondary education services provider serving Grand Canyon University, offering for-profit degree programs with online and ground campuses. Comparable as a scaled for-profit education operator with similar consumer tuition revenue model.

Emerging players

• Dorsey College: Private trade school offering career-focused diploma and degree programs in healthcare, skilled trades, and business in Michigan. Direct sister institution under Lindenwood Education System since Ancora's April 2025 acquisition, making it a cross-sell and integration peer.

Others

• Guild Education: Private workforce education platform partnering with employers to provide tuition benefits and education pathways. Comparable as a workforce education partner—Ancora Training is a Guild Education partner for employer-sponsored training delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Ancora_Training
• Facebookfacebook.com/AncoraTraining
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ancora-training
• Instagraminstagram.com/ancoratraining
• Xx.com/ancoraeducation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ancora Education