2U, Inc. (TWOU) is an American-based education technology company that works in partnership with leading universities and institutions to deliver online degree programs and short courses to students all around the globe. The company, which was founded in 2008 by Chip Paucek with co-founders Jeremy Johnson and John Katzman, is headquartered in Lanham, Maryland, and has been publicly traded under the NASDAQ ticker symbol 'TWOU' since it first went public in 2014.
A pioneer in the EdTech industry, 2U, Inc. is renowned for providing high-quality, digitally-enabled educational experiences. Its services help universities to expand their reach and accessibility, allowing them to offer academic programs on the web without sacrificing the quality and rigor of on-campus programs. Its cloud-based software-as-a-service platform provides schools with a comprehensive, end-to-end solution.
The company's services include content development, student acquisition marketing, and state-of-the-art learning environments. With a passionate team of dedicated professionals, 2U, Inc is quality-obsessed, striving to create courses and programs that are equivalent or even superior to traditional, on-campus offerings. The company's commitment to maintaining the academic integrity of its partner universities is a key distinguishing feature and speaks to its core belief in the power of higher education to transform lives.
2U, Inc. collaborates with many prestigious institutions, including the University of Southern California, Yale University, Georgetown University, and Northwestern University, amongst others. The firm provides them with the technology, guidance and access to its vast network of resources to create and manage their online programs.
Over the years since its inception, 2U, Inc. has significantly expanded its portfolio of services. In 2017, the company acquired GetSmarter, a provider of premium online short courses, to enhance its suite of products and services. Moreover, in 2019, 2U, Inc. bought Trilogy Education Services, a company offering technological skill-based programs. These acquisitions have helped the firm to diversify its product range, cater to the various needs of its partnering universities, and provide robust learning experiences for students in the current digital age.
2U's commitment to accessibility, technical innovation, and academic excellence ensures that it continues to lead in the realm of online higher education. Its forward-thinking approach and progressive partnerships with world-class universities illustrate its dedication to redefining what it means to obtain a quality education in the 21st century, and reflects its mission to make high-quality postsecondary education more accessible and affordable to students around the world.