Exhibit 32.1

THE ADVISORY BOARD COMPANY

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

Each of the undersigned hereby certifies, in his capacity as an officer of The Advisory Board Company (the “Company”), for purposes of 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of his knowledge:

(1) The Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended December 31, 2016 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in such Annual Report on Form 10-K fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Robert W. Musslewhite

Robert W. Musslewhite

Chief Executive Officer

March 15, 2017

/s/ Michael T. Kirshbaum

Michael T. Kirshbaum

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

March 15, 2017