Kaplan College Maryland Campuses Merge with Kaplan University

July 1, 2009 - PRLog -- Kaplan College in Maryland and Kaplan University announced the merger of the Maryland campuses into the University.  The merger is intended to provide students with a wider selection of program offerings and new online learning opportunities at a regionally accredited university.  Located in Hagerstown and Frederick, the campuses are now among 10 Kaplan University campuses across the nation.

“Kaplan College has a 70-year history in the extended Washington County area and has strong relationships within the Hagerstown and Frederick communities,” said Kaplan University Provost David Clinefelter, Ph.D.  “Now, we are building upon that legacy and are committed to providing students with a high-quality education that offers flexibility by combining campus-based and online educational options for today’s student.  A Kaplan University education will give students the opportunity to enter or advance in some of the fastest-growing professional fields in the Quad State Corridor."

The merger provides campus students greater flexibility to pursue blended learning options by offering both online and campus-based courses.  Previously, Kaplan College courses of study included certificate and degree programs in allied health, business, information technology and criminal justice, among others.  Becoming a part of Kaplan University now allows students to explore additional degrees online, including master’s degrees, which were previously not available to Kaplan College students in Hagerstown and Frederick.

“We are very excited about the educational opportunities for our current and future students that will result from this merger,” said W. Christopher Motz, president of Kaplan College’s Hagerstown and Frederick campuses.  “We also will continue to work closely with local employers to prepare our students for fields that reflect employment needs in the communities we serve.”

Kaplan University now serves nearly 2,300 online and campus-based students across Maryland.

About Kaplan College in Maryland
Kaplan College’s Hagerstown campus was founded in 1938 as Hagerstown Business College.  It is the only postsecondary institution in Washington County where a student can start and finish a four-year bachelor’s degree at the same institution.  In 2004, a branch campus in Frederick was opened.

The combined campuses serve nearly 1,000 students and employ more than 140 individuals among its faculty and staff.  Kaplan College Maryland campuses are members of the Chambers of Commerce for Hagerstown-Washington County, Frederick County, Greater Chambersburg, Waynesboro and Maryland.  They are also members of the Washington County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Computing Technology Industry Association and the Career College Association.  For more information, visit http://hagerstown.kaplanuniversity.edu.  

About Kaplan University
Kaplan University offers a different school of thought for higher education.  It strives to help adult students unlock their untapped talent by providing a practical, student-centered education that prepares them for careers in some of the fastest-growing industries.  Based in Davenport, Iowa, the University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).  Kaplan University offers more than 100 academic programs and currently serves more than 58,000 online and campus-based students.  To learn more about Kaplan University, visit http://www.portal.kaplan.edu.