L.E.K. Consulting’s latest analysis finds that after a megadeal-driven spike in 2024, North America’s education M&A market is normalizing in 2025 with broader activity across small and mid-sized deals. Meanwhile, long-term investment themes are taking shape for 2026. Growth is fueled by K–12 systems consolidating fragmented edtech tools, continued expansion of school choice programs, and rising demand for vocational and skilled trades education supported by policy and employer needs.
At the same time, AI adoption in education is still early but steadily increasing, suggesting significant future upside. Overall, the sector is shifting from volatility toward more balanced, theme-driven growth opportunities across K-12, higher education and workforce training.
