Founded in 1938 by Stanley Kaplan,[2] the company offers a variety of test preparation, certifications, and student support services.

[5] He originally aspired to be a doctor, but was rejected from all medical schools he applied to, despite his exceptional academic record, because of anti-Semitic admissions policies at the time.

His business grew as many students sought help in preparing for college admission tests, particularly after World War II when U.S. government passed the G.I.

[8] Over the years, it has purchased several other educational companies and schools worldwide,[9][10] expanding its operations and delivery of courses and programs in markets beyond North America including the UK,[11] Ireland,[12] Singapore,[13] Australia, and New Zealand.

[18][19] Later that year, the company's acquisition of Dublin Business School in Ireland launched its entry into Europe's private college market.

Kaplan International is based in London and operates educational businesses in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East.

It operates 19 English language schools in the U.S., Canada, UK and Ireland and delivers on and off-campus pathways programs with 24 universities in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and New Zealand.

[47] Both West Publishing Company (parent of BarBri) and Kaplan denied the allegations and the matter was resolved without any findings of wrongdoing.

[48] In a 2010 investigation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found deceptive practices at 15 for-profit college campuses, including two owned by Kaplan.

Kaplan took steps to address these failures, including firing those responsible, halting recruiting, offering full tuition rebates, retraining individuals, bringing in outside accountants to conduct its own "mystery shopping",[49] and implementing a debt-free trial period.

In November 2006, two former instructors sued Kaplan for allegedly submitting false claims to the government and not adhering to the Higher Education Act's requirements for payment.

[51][52][53][54][55] In 2012, the North Carolina Attorney General determined that Kaplan had lied to students about the credentials they would earn in the Dental Assistant program.

Kaplan agreed to "clearly and conspicuously disclose true and accurate information relating to the school's accreditation, program costs, financial aid, and the scope and nature of employment services they provide."

The United States Department of Justice began investigating Kaplan following a Qui tam suit filed by a whistleblower under the False Claims Act.

[61][62] Also in 2015, the United States Department of Justice began investigating Kaplan following a Qui tam suit filed by a whistleblower under the False Claims Act.

[62] The Kaplan Educational Foundation (KEF) is an independent 501(c)(3) charity that offers undergraduate and graduate educational scholarship opportunities and other assistance to community college students in the New York City area who are traditionally overlooked, underserved and underrepresented, including African American, Latino, and Native American students.

Kaplan scholars receive a comprehensive array of financial and academic support, transfer admissions advising, and leadership skills development.

[64] Since its inception in 2006, the Kaplan Leadership Program has helped more than 100 Scholars gain admission to the country's most competitive schools, including Yale, Stanford, Brown, Amherst, Cornell, Mount Holyoke, Smith and many others.