{{short description|American educational products company}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox publisher | image = cengage-primary.svg | founded = {{start date and age|2007}} | founder = | successor = | country = | headquarters = Boston, Massachusetts, United States | distribution = | keypeople = Michael Hansen (CEO) | publications = Educational content, technology, and services | topics = | genre = | imprints = {{hlist| | Nelson | ed2go | Gale | Milady | Cengage MindTap | National Geographic Learning | Thorndike Press | Infosec | Ready To Hire }} | revenue = {{increase}} {{USD|1.5 billion|link=yes}} (2023) | numemployees = 3,800 (2026) | owner = | url = {{URL|https://cengagegroup.com}} |name=Cengage}}
'''Cengage Group''' is an American educational content, technology, and services company. Its headquarters is located in Independence, Kentucky.
==History== International Thomson Publishing entered the publishing business in 1979 with the acquisition of Wadsworth Publishing. The company acquired the publishing operations of Litton Industries in 1981, including Van Nostrand Reinhold and Delmar.<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0743-1791| pages = –1| last = Mehegan| first = David| title = Little, Brown Shrinking Again |edition=3rd| work = Boston Globe | location = Boston, Mass.| date = January 26, 2002| id = {{ProQuest|405447754}}}}</ref> They also acquired Gale Research in 1985,<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0099-9660| pages = 1| title = Sale to International Thomson of Publisher Is Set for $66 Million| work = Wall Street Journal|location=New York, N.Y.| date = May 8, 1985| id = {{ProQuest|397970242}}}}</ref> South-Western Publishing from SFN in 1986,<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0099-9660| pages = 1| last = Landro| first = Laura| title = SFN to Sell Unit to Time For $520 Million – Sale of Another Subsidiary To a Canadian Concern Is Set for $270 Million| work = Wall Street Journal | location = New York, N.Y.| date = October 15, 1986| id = {{ProQuest|397963634}}}}</ref> Course Technology in 1992,<ref>{{Cite news| pages = 1| last = Diamond| first = Howard| title = Thomson Acquires Course Technology, Inc.| work = Business Wire| location = New York, N.Y.| date = November 24, 1992| id = {{ProQuest|447043731}}}}</ref> and educational reference publisher Peterson's In 1997.<ref>{{Cite news| title = Thomson acquires Peterson's Guides| work = Publishers Weekly| access-date = December 5, 2019| date = October 30, 1995| url = http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A17460330/LitRC?sid=googlescholar}}</ref> Van Nostrand Reinhold was later sold to John Wiley & Sons.<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| last = Chen| first = David W.| title = Metro Business; John Wiley Acquires A Trade Book Unit| work = The New York Times| access-date = October 20, 2019| date = October 10, 1997| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/10/nyregion/metro-business-john-wiley-acquires-a-trade-book-unit.html}}</ref>
In 2000, Thomson Learning was created out of a restructuring of International Thomson Publishing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20000731/19613-pw-thomson-learning-adapts-to-market.html|title=PW: Thomson Learning Adapts to Market|website=PublishersWeekly.com}}</ref> Later that year Thomson acquired the higher education title of Harcourt from Reed Elsevier,<ref>{{Cite news| pages = 1| title = The Thomson Corporation to Acquire Select Harcourt Business Units From Reed Elsevier| work = Business Wire| location = New York, N.Y.| date = October 27, 2000| id = {{ProQuest|445856898}}}}</ref> and the test prep publisher Arco from IDG Books.<ref>{{Cite news| pages = 1| title = Thomson Learning Acquires ARCO Imprint from IDGB; Peterson's to Provide Consumers a Singular Resource for a Wide Range of Test-Prep Materials and Information| work = Business Wire| location = New York, N.Y.| date = June 12, 2000| id = {{ProQuest|445835057}}}}</ref> In 2002, Wadsworth acquired F.E. Peacock Publishers.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Wadsworth buys F.E. Peacock Publishers Inc.| work = San Francisco Business Times| access-date = November 21, 2020| url = https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2002/10/07/daily4.html}}</ref> It was announced on October 25, 2006, that Thomson Learning would be offered for sale by the Thomson Corporation, with an estimated value of up to US$5 billion.<ref>Thomas, Helen (October 25, 2006) [https://web.archive.org/web/20171128071043/https://ftalphaville.ft.com/2006/10/25/417/wsj-reports-thomson-may-put-learning-unit-on-the-block Thomson to put learning unit on the block.] FT Alphaville. Financial Times.</ref><ref>(October 25, 2006) [https://archive.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2006/10/25/thomson_to_sell_education_units/ Thomson to sell education units] Boston.com</ref> The company was bought by a private equity consortium consisting of Apax Partners and OMERS Capital Partners for US$7.75 billion, and the name was changed to Cengage Learning on July 24, 2007.<ref name="NYT Dealb%k - Cengage bankruptcy">{{cite web |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/cengage-learning-files-for-bankruptcy/ |title=Cengage Learning Files for Bankruptcy |work=New York Times |date=July 2, 2013 |access-date=2014-11-07 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108021125/http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/cengage-learning-files-for-bankruptcy/ |archive-date=November 8, 2014 }}</ref> In 2007, Cengage Learning sold Peterson's to Nelnet.<ref>{{cite press release|title = Nelnet Acquires Peterson's|publisher = Nelnet|date = July 27, 2006|url = http://www.nelnetinvestors.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=205566|access-date = September 5, 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110714162655/http://www.nelnetinvestors.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=205566|archive-date = July 14, 2011|url-status = dead}}</ref>
In 2011, Cengage Learning acquired the National Geographic Society's school publishing unit, and combined this school business with the Global ELT business to create and launch the National Geographic Learning brand. The global brand combined the former Cengage Learning ELT and National Geographic School Publishing imprints and sub-brands under one unified identity.<ref name="Bloomberg - Cengage buys Nat Geo Schools Pub">Jinks, Beth (June 24, 2011) [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-06-24/apax-s-cengage-buying-national-geographic-s-school-publishing-unit Apax's Cengage Buying National Geographic's School Publisher] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731010711/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-06-24/apax-s-cengage-buying-national-geographic-s-school-publishing-unit |date=July 31, 2016 }} Bloomberg.com</ref>
In September 2013, David Shaffer retired as chairman of the company.<ref>Edgecliffe-Johnson, Andrew (July 6, 2013) [https://www.ft.com/content/957d4318-c6f1-11e1-95ea-00144feabdc0 Debt-laden Cengage in hunt for new chief] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714061332/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/957d4318-c6f1-11e1-95ea-00144feabdc0.html |date=July 14, 2012 }} The Financial Times</ref> He had previously been executive vice president of The Thomson Corporation from 2005 to 2006, and then President and CEO of both Thomson Publishing International and Thomson Learning.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=1134132&privcapId=515275 Executive Profile – David H. Shaffer] bloomberg.com</ref>
The company had acquired significant debt during its initial buyout and subsequent acquisitions, and experienced declining revenues as the market for paper textbooks contracted. Cengage Learning filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 on July 2, 2013.<ref name="NYT Dealb%k - Cengage bankruptcy" /><ref name="Chronicle of HE - Cengage bankruptcy">Howard, Jennifer (July 3, 2013) [http://chronicle.com/article/Publishers-Bankruptcy-Filing/140103/ Publisher's Bankruptcy Filing Comes as Market for Print Textbooks Shrinks] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512134542/http://chronicle.com/article/Publishers-Bankruptcy-Filing/140103 |date=May 12, 2015 }} The Chronicle of Higher Education</ref> Cengage Learning emerged from bankruptcy on April 1, 2014, eliminating approximately $4 billion of its funded debt and securing $1.75 billion in exit financing. Post-bankruptcy, the company decided to focus on developing digital study guides and other educational supplements, as well as hard-copy textbooks. The company moved its headquarters from Stamford, Connecticut, to Boston.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Textbook publisher quits Stamford for Boston| work = Associated Press News| date = April 15, 2014| access-date = November 11, 2019| url = https://apnews.com/d760f2c2a811445d95b317ada500fa22}}</ref>
In January 2015, they announced expansion of their LearnLaunch Accelerator program, which provides seed funding and intensive coaching to promising startups, to the University of Chihuahua in Mexico.<ref>Borchers, Callum (April 1, 2014) [https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/04/01/cengage-emerges-from-bankruptcy-with-boston-its-electronic-publishing-base/unXD00onI6Bxagr5sx9yOJ/story.html Cengage exits bankruptcy, focuses on e-books in Boston] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915115610/https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/04/01/cengage-emerges-from-bankruptcy-with-boston-its-electronic-publishing-base/unXD00onI6Bxagr5sx9yOJ/story.html |date=September 15, 2014 }} bostonglobe.com</ref><ref>Shulman, Eden (Feb 12, 2015) {{cite web |url=http://www.betaboston.com/news/2015/02/12/boston-ed-tech-firm-cengage-learning-announces-the-expansion-of-learnlaunch-to-latin-america/ |title=Boston ed-tech firm Cengage Learning announces the expansion of LearnLaunch to Latin America |access-date=2015-06-04 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502124301/http://www.betaboston.com/news/2015/02/12/boston-ed-tech-firm-cengage-learning-announces-the-expansion-of-learnlaunch-to-latin-america/ |archive-date=2015-05-02 }} BetaBoston – Boston Globe</ref>
In November 2016, Cengage Learning rebranded as simply Cengage. {{citation needed|date=June 2019}}
In May 2019, Cengage announced its potential merger with another major publisher, McGraw-Hill Education, thereby creating a duopoly with Pearson in the market and would have used McGraw-Hill as the merged corporate name with Michael Hansen as CEO.<ref> {{cite web | url = https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/article/2019/05/02/cengage-and-mcgraw-hill-merge | title = Rival Publishers Join Forces | last = McKenzie | first = Lindsay | date = May 2, 2019 | website = insidehighered.com | access-date = June 6, 2019 }} </ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/industry-deals/article/79930-mcgraw-hill-cengage-agree-to-merge.html|title=McGraw-Hill, Cengage Agree to Merge|website=Publishers Weekly|access-date=2019-07-08}}</ref> It is estimated Cengage has 24% of the market while McGraw-Hill has 21%, Pearson, the current market leader, has about 40 percent of the market and Wiley has about 7 percent.<ref>{{cite news |title=College textbook merger raises 'serious concern' among U.S. lawmakers |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mcgrawhill-m-a-cengage/college-textbook-merger-raises-serious-concern-among-u-s-lawmakers-idUSKBN20X31R |access-date=March 11, 2020 |work=Reuters |date=March 11, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> The merger was called off on May 1, 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-04/mcgraw-hill-cengage-jointly-agree-to-terminate-planned-merger|title=McGraw-Hill, Cengage Jointly Agree to Terminate Planned Merger |date=May 4, 2020|work=Bloomberg}}</ref>
In August 2021, Cengage rebranded as Cengage Group.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
In May 2026, major publishers including Cengage sued Meta Platforms, alleging that Meta used their books and journal articles, without their permission, to train Llama.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Major publishers sue Meta for copyright infringement over AI training |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/major-publishers-sue-meta-copyright-infringement-over-ai-training-6101466 |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=CNA |language=en}}</ref>
===Acquisitions=== In addition to organic growth, Cengage has expanded through acquisitions within the publishing industry. Notable acquisitions include: {| class="wikitable" |- ! Date of acquisition announced ! Asset acquired ! Industry |- | March 1, 2004 | Education to Go<ref name="Ed2Go">MacFadyen, Ken (June 9, 2008) [http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thomson-course-technology-acquires-education-to-go-to-expand-continuing-education-offerings-58682417.html Thomson Course Technology Acquires Education To Go To Expand Continuing Education Offerings] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129005713/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thomson-course-technology-acquires-education-to-go-to-expand-continuing-education-offerings-58682417.html |date=January 29, 2016 }}</ref> | Online continuing education courses |- | May 16, 2008 | PAL Publications<ref name="Middle Market - Cengage Houghton Mifflin purchase">MacFadyen, Ken (June 9, 2008) [http://www.themiddlemarket.com/mar/2008_23/182761-1.html Cengage Buys Houghton Mifflin's College Unit] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605021222/http://www.themiddlemarket.com/mar/2008_23/182761-1.html |date=June 5, 2015 }} themiddlemarket.com</ref> | Professional reference series |- | June 2, 2008 | Houghton Mifflin College Division<ref name="Middle Market - Cengage Houghton Mifflin purchase" /> | Publishing for 2- and 4-year colleges |- | July 17, 2008 | Gatlin Education Services<ref>[https://www.owler.com/iaApp/poll/52987836e4b0a36bb5790216/cengage-learning/good-or-bad-move-for-cengage-learning-.htm Cengage Learning Acquired Gatlin Education Services. Was this a good decision? owler.com] {{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=Al83tito |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> | Web-based training for education providers |- | December 16, 2008 | HighBeam Research<ref>[http://www.libraries.wright.edu/noshelfrequired/2008/12/16/highbeam-research-now-part-of-galecengage/ Polanka, Sue (Dec 16, 2008)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605040630/http://www.libraries.wright.edu/noshelfrequired/2008/12/16/highbeam-research-now-part-of-galecengage/ |date=June 5, 2015 }} No Shelf Required – Wright State University Libraries</ref> | Paid search engine of newspapers and magazines |- | August 1, 2011 | National Geographic School Publishing<ref name="Bloomberg - Cengage buys Nat Geo Schools Pub" /> | Publishing for K-12 schools and English language programs |- | September 2015 | Learning Objects, Inc | Learning management systems and adaptive education tools |- | October 2015 | Pathbrite, Inc | ePortfolio services for learning, reflection, and career advancement |- |September 2016 |WebAssign<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.cengage.com/corporate/cengage-acquires-webassign-strengthening-market-position-in-science-technology-and-math/|title=Cengage Acquires WebAssign, Strengthening Market Position in Science, Technology and Math|date=September 27, 2016|newspaper=Cengage|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-15|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116103533/http://news.cengage.com/corporate/cengage-acquires-webassign-strengthening-market-position-in-science-technology-and-math/|archive-date=2016-11-16}}</ref> |Online instructional application for faculty and students |- | March 2022 | InfoSec Institute<ref>{{cite web |title=Cengage Group Completes Acquisition of Infosec |url=https://www.citybiz.co/article/224763/cengage-group-completes-acquisition-of-infosec/ |website=Infosec |date=March 2, 2022 |access-date=August 22, 2022}}</ref> | Cybersecurity training |- | January 2025 | Visible Body | Interactive 3D computer generated models of anatomy and physiology |} ==Products== The company's product lines include Cengage MindTap, Gale, Nelson, National Geographic Learning, Big Ideas Learning, Thorndike Press, ed2go, Infosec, Ready to Hire and Milady.
On December 5, 2017, Cengage announced Cengage Unlimited, a subscription service that allows students to pay for access to the company's entire digital higher education catalog by the semester or year, rather than buying individual textbooks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Boston publisher launches a Netflix for textbooks – The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/talking-points/2017/12/05/boston-publisher-launches-netflix-for-textbooks/lx6KlMs957j7A7tB5CI5qI/story.html |website=BostonGlobe.com}}</ref> This service became available during summer 2018, and was reported to be "in line with expectations" with its initial sales goal.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McKenzie |first1=Lindsay |date=November 8, 2018 |title=Promising Early Sales for Cengage Unlimited |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2018/11/08/promising-early-sales-cengage-unlimited |access-date=November 20, 2018 |publisher=Inside Higher Ed}}</ref> The University of Missouri is the first university to offer this plan to all students, effective January 2019.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 16, 2018 |title=University of Missouri System Chooses Cengage Unlimited Subscriptions to Save Students Money on Course Materials |url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/university-of-missouri-system-chooses-cengage-unlimited-subscriptions-to-save-students-money-on-course-materials-1027735582 |access-date=November 20, 2018 |publisher=Business Insider}}</ref>
Since 2015, South-Western products have been branded as Cengage Learning.<ref>[http://solutions.cengage.com/brands/south-western/ "There's a new way to find South-Western titles"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408172944/http://solutions.cengage.com/brands/south-western/ |date=April 8, 2017 }}, Cengage Learning. Retrieved April 8, 2017.</ref>
Cengage Unlimited, a SaaS solution, launched on August 1, 2018. <ref name="eLearning Inside News">(August 4, 2018) [https://news.elearninginside.com/cengage-unlimited-has-arrived/ eLearning Inside News: Cengage]</ref>
==Rankings== In 2024, based on its 2015 revenues, ''Publishers Weekly'' ranked the company 15 out of 47 publishers worldwide, based on revenues of $1,503,000,000 (US). The list includes both trade and educational publishers.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Milliot |first1=Jim |title=RELX Stays the World’s Largest Publisher in 2024 |journal=Publishers Weekly |date=2024-11-25 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/96589-relx-stays-the-world-s-largest-publisher-in-2024.html |access-date=21 November 2025}}</ref>
==See also== * Books in the United States
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://ngl.cengage.com/ National Geographic Learning, part of Cengage Learning] * [https://www.ed2go.com/ ed2go, part of Cengage Learning]
{{Cengage}}
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Category:Cengage Category:American companies established in 2007 Category:Book publishing companies based in Massachusetts Category:Educational publishing companies of the United States Category:Textbook publishing companies Category:Companies based in Boston Category:Education companies established in 2007 Category:Publishing companies established in 2007 Category:2007 establishments in Massachusetts Category:Apax Partners companies Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2013 Category:Privately held companies based in Boston