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Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Loss Contingency [Abstract]  
Contingencies

11. CONTINGENCIES

An accrual for estimated legal fees and settlements of $1.8 million and $1.2 million at December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively, is presented within other current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets.

We record a liability when we believe that it is both probable that a loss will be incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. We evaluate, at least quarterly, developments in our legal matters that could affect the amount of liability that was previously accrued and make adjustments as further information develops, circumstances change or contingencies are resolved.

Significant judgment is required to determine both probability and the estimated amount. We may be unable to estimate a possible loss or range of possible loss due to various reasons, including, among others: (1) if the damages sought are indeterminate; (2) if the proceedings are in early stages; (3) if there is uncertainty as to the outcome of pending appeals, motions or settlements; (4) if there are significant factual issues to be determined or resolved; and (5) if there are novel or unsettled legal theories presented. In such instances, there is considerable uncertainty regarding the ultimate resolution of such matters, including estimating a possible eventual loss, if any.

United States of America, ex rel. Fiorisce LLC v. Perdoceo Education Corporation and Colorado Technical University, Inc. On July 19, 2023, we became aware of a complaint originally filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado on February 25, 2021 and thereafter amended on May 19, 2023 and on May 19, 2025. The original complaint was filed under seal by a former employee of Colorado Technical University through a limited liability company, on behalf of the LLC and the federal government. On July 18, 2023, the district court ordered the complaint unsealed and we were notified that the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") had declined to intervene in the action on February 3, 2023. The Company had previously received a Civil Investigative Demand ("CID") related to this complaint on April 8, 2022 from the DOJ and had been cooperating with the DOJ in its review. After the federal government declined to intervene in this case, the Relator elected to pursue the litigation on behalf of the federal government. If the Relator is successful, it would receive a portion of the federal government’s recovery. The second amended complaint alleges violations of the False Claims Act related to the Company’s compliance with federal financial aid credit hour requirements in connection with its use of its learning management system. Relator claims that defendants’ conduct caused the government to make payments of federal funds to defendants which the government would not have made but for defendants’ alleged violation of the law. Relator seeks treble damages plus civil penalties and attorneys’ fees.

United States of America, ex rel. Aidan K. Peters v. Perdoceo Education Corporation, Colorado Technical University, Inc. and CEC Employee Group, LLC. After cooperating with the DOJ in our response to a CID originally received on September 7, 2024, we learned on November 11, 2025, that the DOJ had declined to intervene in a False Claims Act ("FCA") lawsuit originally filed under seal on November 13, 2023 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado by a former employee of Colorado Technical University on behalf of himself and the federal government. The Relator subsequently elected to pursue the litigation on behalf of the federal government and filed an amended complaint on January 8, 2026. If he is successful, he would receive a portion of the federal government’s recovery. The amended complaint makes a number of allegations that it claims are violations of the FCA arising from the Company’s compliance with the incentive compensation and misrepresentation requirements for Title IV Programs. Relator claims that defendants’ conduct caused the government to make payments of federal funds to defendants which the government would not have made but for defendants’ alleged violation of the law. The amended complaint also asserts a personal claim by the Relator-Plaintiff under the FCA’s anti-retaliation provision. Under the FCA, if a defendant is found to have violated the Act, it can be liable to the United States for treble damages and statutory penalties, and it is liable to the Relator for his reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses. The anti-retaliation provision of the FCA also allow for potential recovery of double-back pay and attorneys’ fees, and other relief.

Because of the many questions of fact and law that may arise, the outcome of these legal proceedings are uncertain at this point. Based on information available to us at present, we cannot reasonably estimate a range of potential loss, if any, for these actions. Accordingly, we have not recognized any liability associated with these actions.

We receive from time-to-time requests from state attorneys general, federal and state government agencies and accreditors relating to our institutions, to specific complaints they have received from students or former students or to student loan forgiveness claims which seek information about students, our programs, and other matters relating to our activities. These requests can be broad and time consuming to respond to, and there is a risk that they could expand and/or lead to a formal action or claims of non-compliance. We are subject to a variety of other claims, lawsuits, arbitrations and investigations that arise from time to time out of the conduct of our business, including, but not limited to, matters involving prospective students, students or former students, alleged violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, both individually and on behalf of a putative class, and employment matters. Periodically matters arise that we consider outside the scope of ordinary routine litigation incidental to our business. While we currently believe that these matters, individually or in aggregate, will not have a material adverse impact on our business, reputation, financial position, cash flows or results of operations, these matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and management’s view of these matters may change in the future. Were an unfavorable outcome to occur in any one or more of these matters, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on our business, reputation, financial position, cash flows or results of operations.