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GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC. REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2025 RESULTS

1. Service revenue increased 9.6% to $261.1 million compared to Q3 2024. 2. Litigation settlement reserve of $35 million significantly reduced operating income by 62.6%. 3. GCU student enrollments rose by 7.7%, boosting overall enrollments to 138,073. 4. Adjusted operating income improved to $58.2 million, with a margin of 22.3%. 5. Guidance for Q4 2025 predicts revenue between $305-$310 million and EPS of $3.07-$3.18.

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FAQ

Why Bullish?

Despite a significant drop in net income, revenue growth and rising enrollments are positive. Historical trends indicate similar outcomes led to bullish responses from investors even amid litigation concerns.

How important is it?

Revenue growth and GCU enrollment figures are crucial indicators of LOPE's future prospects and profitability. The ongoing litigation reserve needs to be monitored, but overall revenue growth suggests a positive trajectory.

Why Short Term?

Immediate impacts from Q3 results and forward guidance are likely, influencing short-term investor sentiment and stock price.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ: LOPE), ("GCE" or the "Company"), is a publicly traded education services company that currently provides services to 20 university partners.  GCE provides a full array of support services in the post-secondary education sector and has developed significant technological solutions, infrastructure and operational processes to provide superior services in these areas on a large scale.  GCE today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results For the three months ended September 30, 2025: Service revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2025 was $261.1 million, an increase of $22.8 million, or 9.6%, as compared to service revenue of $238.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The increase year over year in service revenue was primarily due to an increase in partner enrollments of 7.9% to 138,073 at September 30, 2025 as compared to 127,977 at September 30, 2024. Revenue per student decreased slightly between years primarily due to contract modifications for some of our university partners in which the revenue share percentage was reduced in exchange for us no longer reimbursing these partners for certain faculty costs which had the effect of reducing revenue per student and a slight decline year over year in revenue per student for online students due to the continued mix shift to students that have a slightly lower net tuition rate. These decreases were partially offset by an additional day of revenue for the ground campus at Grand Canyon University ("GCU"), our most significant partner, due to the start date shifting one day of revenue from the fourth quarter to the third quarter in 2025 which had a $0.9 million impact as well as the service revenue per student for accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing ("ABSN") students at our off-campus classroom and laboratory sites generating a significantly higher revenue per student than we earn under our agreement with GCU as these agreements generally provide us with a higher revenue share percentage, the partners have higher tuition rates than GCU and the majority of our partners' students take more credits on average per semester. GCU enrollments increased to 132,486 at September 30, 2025, an increase of 7.7% over enrollments at September 30, 2024. University partner enrollments at our off-campus classroom and laboratory sites were 6,912, an increase of 17.4% over enrollments at September 30, 2024, which includes 1,325 and 913 GCU students at September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Excluding sites closing in 2024 to new enrollments, total enrollments at our off-campus classroom and laboratory sites increased 19.3% between years. We opened six sites in the year ended December 31, 2024 and opened five new sites in the nine months ended September 30, 2025 while closing two sites at which we stopped recruiting new students in 2024 and merged two sites that were located in the same market bringing the total number of these off-campus sites to 47 at September 30, 2025, which has also positively impacted the enrollment growth. Enrollments for GCU ground students were 24,671 at September 30, 2025 up from 24,657 at September 30, 2024. GCU online enrollments were 107,815 at September 30, 2025, up from 98,345 at September 30, 2024, an increase of 9.6% between years. Operating income for the three months ended September 30, 2025 was $18.0 million, a decrease of $30.2 million, or 62.6%, as compared to $48.2 million for the same period in 2024.  The operating margin for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 was 6.9% and 20.2%, respectively.  Operating income and operating margin were materially impacted in the third quarter of 2025 by a reserve for litigation settlement of $35.0 million related to the settlement of the qui tam lawsuit; lease termination, impairment and other in the amount of $2.4 million due to the Company executing its lease termination provision on an office lease and the impairment of two off-campus classroom and laboratory site leases as the teach out at those locations has completed; loss on disposal of assets of $0.4 million for assets; and $0.3 million of severance costs.  Excluding these costs and the amortization of intangible assets of $2.1 million in both the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin were $58.2 million and 22.3%, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2025 compared to adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin of $50.3 million and 21.1%, respectively for the three months ended September 30, 2024.  The third quarter operating income and operating margin were positively impacted on a year over year basis by an additional day of ground traditional student revenue at GCU shifting from the fourth quarter to the third quarter, a $0.9 million impact, and contract modifications for some of our university partners in which the revenue share percentage was reduced in exchange for us no longer reimbursing the partner for certain faculty costs which had the effect of reducing operating expenses and revenue per student. Income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2025 was $5.4 million, a decrease of $5.5 million, or 50.4%, as compared to income tax expense of $10.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The decrease in income tax expense is due to the decrease in income before taxes partially offset by a higher effective tax rate. Our effective tax rate was 24.9% during the three months ended September 30, 2025 compared to 20.8% during the three months ended September 30, 2024. The effective tax rate increased year over year due to the tax treatment of the litigation settlement recorded in the third quarter and changes in state income taxes partially offset by an increase in the contributions made in lieu of state income taxes from $4.5 million in the third quarter of 2024 to $5.0 million in the third quarter of 2025. Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2025 was $16.3 million, a decrease of $25.2 million, or 60.8% as compared to $41.5 million for the same period in 2024. As adjusted net income was $49.7 million and $43.2 million for the third quarters of 2025 and 2024, respectively. Diluted net income per share was $0.58 and $1.42 for the third quarters of 2025 and 2024, respectively. As adjusted diluted net income per share was $1.78 and $1.48 for the third quarters of 2025 and 2024, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA increased 14.4% to $75.9 million for the third quarter of 2025, compared to $66.3 million for the same period in 2024. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025: Service revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 was $798.0 million, an increase of $57.6 million, or 7.8%, as compared to service revenue of $740.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The increase year over year in service revenue was primarily due to an increase in partner enrollments of 7.9% to 138,073 at September 30, 2025 as compared to 127,977 at September 30, 2024. Revenue per student decreased slightly between years primarily due to the additional day for leap year in 2024 which added additional service revenue of $1.5 million as compared to the current year and contract modifications for some of our university partners in which the revenue share percentage was reduced in exchange for us no longer reimbursing these partners for certain faculty costs, both of which had the effect of reducing revenue per student and a slight decline year over year in revenue per student for online students due to the continued mix shift to students that have a slightly lower net tuition rate. These decreases were partially offset by an additional day of revenue for the ground campus at GCU due to the start date shifting one day of revenue from the fourth quarter to the third quarter in 2025 which had a $0.9 million impact and the service revenue per student for ABSN students at off-campus classroom and laboratory sites generating a significantly higher revenue per student than we earn under our agreement with GCU, as these agreements generally provide us with a higher revenue share percentage, the partners have higher tuition rates than GCU and the majority of our partners' students take more credits on average per semester. Operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 was $157.8 million, a decrease of $17.6 million, or 10.0%, as compared to $175.4 million for the same period in 2024. The operating margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 was 19.8% and 23.7%, respectively. Operating income and operating margin were materially impacted in the nine months ended September 30, 2025 by a reserve for litigation settlement of $35.0 million related to the settlement of the qui tam lawsuit; lease termination, impairment and other in the amount of $2.4 million due to the Company executing its lease termination provision on an office lease and the impairment of two off-campus classroom and laboratory site leases as the teach out at those locations has completed; loss on disposal of assets of $0.5 million; and $0.3 million of severance costs. Excluding these costs and the amortization of intangible assets of $6.3 million in both the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin were $202.3 million and 25.4%, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 compared to adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin of $181.7 million and 24.5%, respectively for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The operating income and operating margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 were positively impacted by an additional day of ground traditional student revenue at GCU shifting from the fourth quarter to the third quarter, a $0.9 million impact, and contract modifications for some of our university partners in which the revenue share percentage was reduced in exchange for us no longer reimbursing the partner for certain faculty costs which had the effect of reducing operating expenses and revenue per student and $1.1 million recorded in the second quarter related to an executive officer that resigned effective June 30, 2024, partially offset by the additional day for leap year in 2024 which added additional service revenue of $1.5 million as compared to the current year. Income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 was $38.6 million, a decrease of $4.4 million, or 10.2%, as compared to income tax expense of $43.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. This decrease is primarily due to the decrease in our income before taxes between years. Our effective tax rate was 23.0% during the nine months ended September 30, 2025 compared to 23.0% during the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The effective tax rate was favorably impacted year over year primarily due to an increase in excess tax benefits of $2.7 million as compared to $1.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The effective tax rate was also favorably impacted by an increase in contributions made in lieu of state income taxes to $5.0 million as compared to $4.5 million in the prior year. These increases were offset by a higher effective tax rate due to the tax treatment of the litigation settlement recorded in the third quarter and changes in state income taxes. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 was $129.4 million, a decrease of $15.0 million, or 10.3% as compared to $144.4 million for the same period in 2024. As adjusted net income was $166.1 million and $150.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Diluted net income per share was $4.60 and $4.91 for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. As adjusted diluted net income per share was $5.90 and $5.11 for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA increased 9.8% to $245.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $223.4 million for the same period in 2024. Liquidity and Capital Resources Our liquidity position, as measured by cash and cash equivalents and investments decreased by $47.6 million between December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2025, which was largely attributable to cash expended for investing activities, capital expenditures and share repurchases exceeding our cash provided by operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2025.  Our unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and investments were $277.0 million and $324.6 million at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results and Full Year Outlook 2025 2025 Outlook Q4 2025: Service revenue of between $305.0 million and $310.0 million; Operating margin of between 35.1% and 35.8%; Effective tax rate of 22.8%; Diluted EPS of between $3.07 and $3.18; and 27.7 million diluted shares. The diluted EPS guidance includes non-cash amortization of intangible assets net of taxes of $1.6 million, which equates to a $0.06 impact on diluted EPS. Thus, as adjusted, non-GAAP diluted income per share of between $3.13 and $3.24. Full Year 2025: Service revenue of between $1,103.0 million and $1,108.0 million; Operating margin of between 24.0% and 24.3%; Effective tax rate of 22.9%; Diluted EPS between $7.66 and $7.77; and 28.0 million diluted shares. The diluted EPS guidance includes non-cash amortization of intangible assets net of taxes of $6.6 million, $29.2 million reserve for litigation, $1.9 million for lease termination and impairment costs, $0.2 million for severance costs and $0.4 million for loss on disposal of assets, which equates to a $1.36 impact on diluted EPS. Thus, as adjusted, non-GAAP diluted income per share of between $9.02 and $9.13. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws which includes information relating to future events, future financial performance, strategies expectations, competitive environment, regulation, and availability of resources.  These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding: proposed new programs; whether regulatory, economic, or business developments or other matters may or may not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or liquidity; projections, predictions, expectations, estimates, and forecasts as to our business, financial and operating results, and future economic performance; and management's goals and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts.  Words such as "may," "should," "could," "would," "predicts," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar expressions, the negative of these expressions, as well as statements in future tense, identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved.  Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements.  Important factors that could cause our actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) legal and regulatory actions taken against us related to our services business, or against our university partners that impact their businesses and that directly or indirectly reduce the service revenue we can earn under our master services agreements; (ii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of any of the key university partner agreements; (iii) our ability to properly manage risks and challenges associated with strategic initiatives, including potential acquisitions or divestitures of, or investments in, new businesses, acquisitions of new properties and new university partners, and expansion of services provided to our existing university partners; (iv) our ability to comply with the extensive regulatory framework applicable to us either directly as a third-party service provider or indirectly through our university partners; (v) our ability to manage risks associated with epidemics, pandemics, or public health crises; (vi) our ability to manage risks resulting from system disruptions, interruptions, or outages associated with our technology platforms or those of third-party service providers; (vii) the ability of our university partners' students to obtain federal Title IV funds, state financial aid, and private financing; (viii) potential damage to our reputation or other adverse effects as a result of negative publicity in the media, in the industry or in connection with governmental reports or investigations or otherwise; (ix) risks associated with changes in applicable federal and state laws and regulations and accrediting commission standards; (x) competition from other education service companies in our geographic region and market sector; (xi) our ability to hire and train new, and develop and train existing employees; (xii) the pace of growth of our university partners' enrollment and its effect on the pace of our own growth; (xiii) fluctuations in our revenues due to seasonality; (xiv) our ability to, on behalf of our university partners, convert prospective students to enrolled students and to retain active students to graduation; and (xv) other risks and uncertainties identified from time to time in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") by us, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, filed on February 19, 2025. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made.  You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.  We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.  If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.  This press release should be read in conjunction with the information included in our other press releases, reports and other filings with the SEC.  Understanding the information contained in these filings is important in order to fully understand GCE's reported financial results and our business outlook for future periods. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results Conference Call Grand Canyon Education, Inc. will discuss its third quarter 2025 results and full year 2025 outlook during a conference call scheduled for today, November 5, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (ET). Live Conference Dial-In: Those interested in participating in the question-and-answer session should follow the conference dial-in instructions below.  Participants may register for the call here to receive the dial-in numbers and unique PIN to access the call seamlessly. Please dial in at least ten minutes prior to the start of the call.  Journalists are invited to listen only. Webcast and Replay: Investors, journalists and the general public may access a live webcast of this event at: Q3 2025 Grand Canyon Education Inc. Earnings Conference Call. A webcast replay will be available approximately two hours following the conclusion of the call at the same link. About Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. ("GCE"), incorporated in 2008, is a publicly traded education services company that currently provides services to 20 university partners.  GCE is uniquely positioned in the education services industry in that its leadership has over 30 years of proven expertise in providing a full array of support services in the post-secondary education sector and has developed significant technological solutions, infrastructure and operational processes to provide superior services in these areas on a large scale.  GCE provides services that support students, faculty and staff of partner institutions such as marketing, strategic enrollment management, counseling services, financial services, technology, technical support, compliance, human resources, classroom operations, content development, faculty recruitment and training, among others.  For more information about GCE visit the Company's website at www.gce.com. Grand Canyon Education, Inc., 2600 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85017, www.gce.com. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC. Consolidated Income Statements (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30,  September 30,  2025 2024 2025 2024 (In thousands, except per share data) Service revenue $ 261,142 $ 238,291 $ 797,951 $ 740,429 Costs and expenses: Technology and academic services 44,908 41,955 129,706 122,081 Counseling services and support 84,405 77,166 254,250 238,157 Marketing and communication 59,145 54,526 175,512 162,774 General and administrative 15,149 14,364 36,926 35,730 Reserve for litigation settlement 35,000 — 35,000 — Lease termination, impairment and other 2,411 — 2,411 — Amortization of intangible assets 2,105 2,105 6,315 6,315 Total costs and expenses 243,123 190,116 640,120 565,057 Operating income 18,019 48,175 157,831 175,372 Investment interest and other 3,637 4,154 10,244 11,991 Income before income taxes 21,656 52,329 168,075 187,363 Income tax expense 5,382 10,862 38,637 43,008 Net income $ 16,274 $ 41,467 $ 129,438 $ 144,355 Earnings per share: Basic income per share $ 0.59 $ 1.43 $ 4.62 $ 4.94 Diluted income per share $ 0.58 $ 1.42 $ 4.60 $ 4.91 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 27,740 29,003 28,002 29,248 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 27,897 29,164 28,165 29,405 Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets As of September 30,  As of December 31, (In thousands, except par value) 2025 2024 ASSETS: (Unaudited) Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 97,284 $ 324,623 Investments 179,691 — Accounts receivable, net 122,041 82,948 Income taxes receivable 22,679 490 Other current assets 12,299 11,915 Total current assets 433,994 419,976 Property and equipment, net 180,013 176,823 Right-of-use assets 99,871 99,541 Amortizable intangible assets, net 153,647 159,962 Goodwill 160,766 160,766 Other assets 4,501 1,357 Total assets $ 1,032,792 $ 1,018,425 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 19,284 $ 26,721 Accrued compensation and benefits 28,766 33,183 Accrued liabilities 70,539 29,620 Income taxes payable 144 8,559 Deferred revenue 3,801 — Current portion of lease liability 14,204 12,883 Total current liabilities 136,738 110,966 Deferred income taxes, noncurrent 40,195 26,527 Other long-term liabilities 1,494 1,444 Lease liability, less current portion 96,324 95,635 Total liabilities 274,751 234,572 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' equity Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 — — Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000 shares authorized; 54,178 and 54,090 shares issued and 28,004 and 28,858 shares outstanding at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively 542 541 Treasury stock, at cost, 26,174 and 25,232 shares of common stock at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively (2,190,582) (2,024,370) Additional paid-in capital 347,146 336,736 Accumulated other comprehensive gain 551 — Retained earnings 2,600,384 2,470,946 Total stockholders' equity 758,041 783,853 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 1,032,792 $ 1,018,425 Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) Nine Months Ended September 30,  (In thousands) 2025 2024 Cash flows provided by operating activities: Net income $ 129,438 $ 144,355 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Share-based compensation 10,411 10,855 Depreciation and amortization 23,323 20,707 Amortization of intangible assets 6,315 6,315 Deferred income taxes 13,497 (560) Reserve for litigation settlement 35,000 — Lease termination, impairment and other 2,411 — Other, including fixed asset disposals (444) (743) Changes in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable from university partners (39,093) (37,577) Other assets (3,218) 1,239 Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities 576 1,296 Accounts payable (8,477) 10,710 Accrued liabilities 70 1,747 Income taxes receivable/payable (30,604) (10,623) Deferred revenue 3,801 6,420 Net cash provided by operating activities 143,006 154,141 Cash flows (used in) provided by investing activities: Capital expenditures (27,225) (27,501) Additions of amortizable content (47) (227) Purchase of equity investment (1,000) — Loss on equity investment 500 — Purchases of investments (224,715) (48,594) Proceeds from sale or maturity of investments 46,872 147,619 Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (205,615) 71,297 Cash flows used in financing activities: Repurchase of common shares and shares withheld in lieu of income taxes (164,730) (108,329) Net cash used in financing activities (164,730) (108,329) Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash (227,339) 117,109 Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period 324,623 146,475 Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $ 97,284 $ 263,584 Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information Cash paid for interest $ — $ 4 Cash paid for income taxes $ 53,748 $ 51,420 Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable $ 798 $ 1,604 ROU Asset and Liability recognition $ 330 $ 6,395 Excise tax on treasury stock repurchases $ 1,482 $ 815 Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC. Adjusted EBITDA  (Non-GAAP Financial Measure) Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income plus interest expense, less interest income and other gain (loss) recognized on investments, plus income tax expense, and plus depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), as adjusted for (i) contributions to private Arizona school tuition organizations in lieu of the payment of state income taxes; (ii) share-based compensation; and (iii) unusual charges or gains, such as litigation and regulatory reserves, impairment charges and asset write-offs, severance costs, and exit or lease termination costs.  We present Adjusted EBITDA because we consider it to be an important supplemental measure of our operating performance.  We also make certain compensation decisions based, in part, on our operating performance, as measured by Adjusted EBITDA.  All of the adjustments made in our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA are adjustments to items that management does not consider to be reflective of our core operating performance.  Management considers our core operating performance to be that which can be affected by our managers in any particular period through their management of the resources that affect our underlying revenue and profit generating operations during that period and does not consider the items for which we make adjustments (as listed above) to be reflective of our core performance. We believe Adjusted EBITDA allows us to compare our current operating results with corresponding historical periods and with the operational performance of other companies in our industry because it does not give effect to potential differences caused by variations in capital structures (affecting relative interest expense, including the impact of write-offs of deferred financing costs when companies refinance their indebtedness), tax positions (such as the impact on periods or companies of changes in effective tax rates or net operating losses), the book amortization of intangibles (affecting relative amortization expense), and other items that we do not consider reflective of underlying operating performance.  We also present Adjusted EBITDA because we believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties as a measure of performance. In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, investors should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses similar to the adjustments described above.  Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by expenses that are unusual, non-routine, or non-recurring.  Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool in that, among other things, it does not reflect: cash expenditures for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital requirements; interest expense, or the cash required to replace assets that are being depreciated or amortized; and the impact on our reported results of earnings or charges resulting from the items for which we make adjustments to our EBITDA, as described above and set forth in the table below. In addition, other companies, including other companies in our industry, may calculate these measures differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of Adjusted EBITDA as a comparative measure.  Because of these limitations, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute for net income, operating income, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with and reported under GAAP, or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of our liquidity.  We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and only use Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental performance measure. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure for the periods indicated: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30,  September 30,  2025 2024 2025 2024 (Unaudited, in thousands) (Unaudited, in thousands) Net income $ 16,274 $ 41,467 $ 129,438 $ 144,355 Less: investment interest and other (3,637) (4,154) (10,244) (11,991) Plus: income tax expense 5,382 10,862 38,637 43,008 Plus: amortization of intangible assets 2,105 2,105 6,315 6,315 Plus: depreciation and amortization 8,063 7,126 23,323 20,707 EBITDA 28,187 57,406 187,469 202,394 Plus: contributions in lieu of state income taxes 5,000 4,500 5,000 4,500 Plus: share-based compensation 3,293 3,375 10,411 10,855 Plus: litigation and regulatory costs 36,318 1,017 39,220 4,488 Plus: lease termination, impairment and other 2,411 — 2,411 — Plus: severance costs 299 — 299 1,133 Plus: loss on fixed asset disposal 392 27 470 71 Adjusted EBITDA $ 75,900 $ 66,325 $ 245,280 $ 223,441 Non-GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Diluted Income Per Share The Company believes the presentation of non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted income per share information that excludes amortization of intangible assets, reserve for litigation settlement, lease termination costs, impairments and other costs, severance costs and loss on disposal of fixed assets allows investors to develop a more meaningful understanding of the Company's performance over time.  Accordingly, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, the table below provides reconciliations of these non-GAAP items to GAAP net income and GAAP diluted income per share, respectively: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30,  September 30,  2025 2024 2025 2024 (Unaudited, in thousands except per share data) GAAP Net income $ 16,274 $ 41,467 $ 129,438 $ 144,355 Amortization of intangible assets 2,105 2,105 6,315 6,315 Reserve for litigation settlement 35,000 — 35,000 — Lease termination, impairment and other 2,411 — 2,411 — Severance costs 299 — 299 1,133 Loss on disposal of fixed assets 392 27 470 71 Income tax effects of adjustments (1) (6,796) (443) (7,848) (1,726) As Adjusted, Non-GAAP Net income $ 49,685 $ 43,156 $ 166,085 $ 150,148 GAAP Diluted income per share $ 0.58 $ 1.42 $ 4.60 $ 4.91 Amortization of intangible assets (2) 0.06 0.06 0.17 0.17 Reserve on litigation settlement (3) 1.05 - 1.05 - Lease termination, impairment and other (4) 0.07 - 0.06 - Severance costs (5) 0.01 - 0.01 0.03 Loss on disposal of fixed assets (6) 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.00 As Adjusted, Non-GAAP Diluted income per share $ 1.78 $ 1.48 $ 5.90 $ 5.11 (1) The income tax effects of adjustments are based on the effective income tax rate applicable to adjusted (non-GAAP) results.  The tax effect for the reserve for litigation was 16.49% for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, due to non-deductible components. (2) The amortization of acquired intangible assets per diluted share is net of an income tax benefit of $0.01 for both of the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, and net of an income tax benefit of $0.05 for both of the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024. (3) The reserve for litigation settlement per diluted share is net of an income tax benefit of $0.21 and $0.20 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively. (4) The lease termination, impairment and other per diluted share is net of an income tax benefit of $0.02 for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025. (5) The severance costs per diluted share is net of an income tax benefit of nil for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and net of an income tax benefit of $0.01 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. (6) The loss on disposal of fixed assets per diluted share is net of an income tax benefit of nil for both the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 and nil for both the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024. Investor Relations Contact:Daniel E. BachusChief Financial OfficerGrand Canyon Education, Inc.602-639-6648[email protected] SOURCE Grand Canyon Education, Inc.

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