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Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015
Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Significant Accounting Policies | 2. Significant Accounting Policies Financial Statement Presentation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, the University. On January 13, 2016, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of NYCDA, and the results of NYCDA will be included with the Company from the acquisition date. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. Revenue Recognition The Company’s educational programs are offered on a quarterly basis and such periods coincide with the Company’s quarterly financial reporting periods. Approximately 96% of the Company’s revenues during the year ended December 31, 2015 consisted of tuition revenue, which is recognized in the quarter of instruction. Tuition revenue is assessed for collectibility on a student-by-student basis throughout the quarter of instruction, and is shown net of any refunds, withdrawals, corporate discounts, scholarships and employee tuition discounts. This collectibility assessment considers available sources of funds for the student including Federal Financial Student Aid programs. The Company reassesses the collectibility of tuition revenue that it may earn based on new information and changes in the facts and circumstances relevant to a student’s ability to pay, including the timing of a student’s withdrawal from a program of study. At the start of each academic term, a liability (deferred revenue) is recorded for academic services to be provided and a tuition receivable is recorded for the portion of the tuition not paid in advance. Any cash received prior to the start of an academic term is recorded as deferred revenue. Some students may be eligible for scholarship awards, the estimated value of which will be realized in the future and is deducted from revenue when earned, based on historical student attendance and completion behavior. Deferred revenue is recorded as a current or long-term liability in the consolidated balance sheets based on when the benefit is expected to be realized. Revenues also include textbook-related income, certificate revenue, certain academic fees, licensing revenue, and other income, which are recognized when earned. The Company’s refund policy typically permits students who complete less than half of a course to receive a partial refund of tuition for that course. Refunds reduce the tuition revenue that would have otherwise been recognized for that student. Since the Company’s academic terms coincide with its financial reporting periods, nearly all refunds are processed and recorded within the same quarter as the corresponding revenue. The amount of tuition revenue refundable to students may vary based on the student’s state of residence. Unused books and related academic materials may be returned for a full refund within 21 days of the start of class; however, purchases of electronic content are not refundable if downloaded. Revenues derived from fees are not eligible for a refund. Graduation Fund In the third quarter of 2013, the Company introduced the Graduation Fund, which allows new undergraduate students to earn tuition credits that are redeemable in the final year of a student’s course of study if he or she successfully remains in the program. New students registering in credit-bearing courses in any undergraduate program for the summer 2013 term (fiscal third quarter) and subsequent terms qualify for the Graduation Fund. Students must meet all of the University’s admission requirements, and must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. The Company’s employees and their dependents are not eligible for the program. Students who have more than one consecutive term of non-attendance lose any Graduation Fund credits earned to date, but may earn and accumulate new credits if the student is reinstated or readmitted by the University in the future. In their final academic year, qualifying students will receive one free course for every three courses that were successfully completed. Revenue from students participating in the Graduation Fund is recorded in accordance with the Revenue Recognition Topic, ASC 605-50. The Company defers the value of benefits estimated to be redeemed in the future based on the underlying revenue transactions that result in progress by the student toward earning the benefit. The Company’s estimate of the benefits that will be redeemed in the future is based on its historical experience of student persistence toward completion of a course of study within this program and similar programs. Each quarter, the Company assesses its methodologies and assumptions underlying these estimates and, to date, any adjustments to the estimates have not been material. The amount estimated to be redeemed in the next twelve months is $10.0 million and is included in deferred revenue as a current liability in the consolidated balance sheets. The table below presents activity in the Graduation Fund for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015 (in thousands):
|  |  |  | 2014 |  |  |  | 2015
Balance at beginning of year |  |  |  | $ | 1,898 |  |  |  |  | $ | 9,706 |
Revenue deferred |  |  |  |  | 8,507 |  |  |  |  |  | 17,882 |
Benefit redeemed |  |  |  |  | (699 | ) |  |  |  |  | (6,651 | )
Balance at end of year |  |  |  | $ | 9,706 |  |  |  |  | $ | 20,937 |
Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash maintained in mostly FDIC-insured bank accounts and cash invested in bank overnight deposits and money market mutual funds. The Company places its cash and temporary cash investments with various financial institutions. The Company considers all highly liquid instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Concentration of Credit Risk The Company places its cash and temporary cash investments in bank overnight deposits and money market mutual funds with various financial institutions. Cash and cash equivalent balances are in excess of the FDIC insurance limit. The Company has not experienced any losses on its cash and cash equivalents. Restricted Cash A significant portion of the Company’s revenues are funded by various federal and state government programs. The Company generally does not receive funds from these programs prior to the start of the corresponding academic term. The Company may be required to return certain funds for students who withdraw from the University during the academic term. There were no amounts payable for these obligations at December 31, 2015. At December 31, 2014, the Company had approximately $0.2 million of these unpaid obligations, which are recorded as restricted cash and included in other current assets in the consolidated balance sheet. As part of commencing operations in Pennsylvania in 2003, the Company was required to maintain a “minimum protective endowment” of at least $0.5 million in an interest-bearing account. These funds are required as long as the Company operates its campuses in the state. The Company holds these funds in an interest-bearing account which is included in other assets. Tuition Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company records tuition receivable and deferred revenue for its students upon the start of the academic term. Therefore, at the end of the quarter (and academic term), tuition receivable represents amounts due from students for educational services already provided and deferred revenue represents advance payments from students for academic services to be provided in the future. Tuition receivables are not collateralized; however, credit risk is minimized as a result of the diverse nature of the University’s student base. An allowance for doubtful accounts is established primarily based upon historical collection rates by age of receivable, net of estimated recoveries. These collection rates incorporate historical performance based on a student’s current enrollment status and likelihood of future enrollment. The Company periodically assesses its methodologies for estimating bad debts in consideration of actual experience. The Company’s tuition receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts were as follows as of December 31, 2014 and 2015 (in thousands):
|  | 2014 |  |  |  | 2015
Tuition receivable |  | $ | 25,777 |  |  |  |  | $ | 28,543 |
Allowance for doubtful accounts |  |  | (8,835 | ) |  |  |  |  | (10,024 | )
Tuition receivable, net |  | $ | 16,942 |  |  |  |  | $ | 18,519 |
Approximately $1.6 million and $2.0 million of tuition receivable is included in other assets as of December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively, because these amounts are expected to be collected after 12 months. The following table illustrates changes in the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts for each of the three years ended December 31, 2015 (in thousands):
|  | 2013 |  |  |  | 2014 |  |  |  | 2015
Beginning allowance for doubtful accounts |  | $ | 6,596 |  |  |  |  | $ | 10,303 |  |  |  |  | $ | 8,835 |
Additions charged to expense |  |  | 22,225 |  |  |  |  |  | 16,947 |  |  |  |  |  | 13,067 |
Write-offs, net of recoveries |  |  | (18,518 | ) |  |  |  |  | (18,415 | ) |  |  |  |  | (11,878 | )
Ending allowance for doubtful accounts |  | $ | 10,303 |  |  |  |  | $ | 8,835 |  |  |  |  | $ | 10,024 |
Property and Equipment Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. In accordance with the Property, Plant and Equipment Topic, ASC 360, the carrying values of the Company’s assets are re-evaluated when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If it is determined that an impairment loss has occurred based on expected undiscounted future cash flows, then a loss is recognized using a fair value-based model. Through 2015, no such impairment loss had occurred. Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives ranging from 3 to 40 years. Depreciation and amortization amounted to $35.6 million, $20.6 million and $18.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively. Construction in progress includes costs of computer software developed for internal use, which is accounted for in accordance with the Internal-Use Software Topic, ASC 350-40. Computer software development costs that are incurred in the preliminary project stage are expensed as incurred. During the development stage, direct consulting costs, payroll, and payroll-related costs for employees that are directly associated with the project are capitalized and will be amortized over the estimated useful life of the software once placed into operation. Purchases of property and equipment and changes in accounts payable for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015 in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows have been adjusted to exclude non-cash purchases of property and equipment transactions during that period. Fair Value The Fair Value Measurement Topic, ASC 820-10 (“ASC 820-10”), establishes a framework for measuring fair value, establishes a fair value hierarchy based upon the observability of inputs used to measure fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Under ASC 820-10, fair value of an investment is the price that would be received to sell an asset or to transfer a liability to an entity in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to assets and liabilities with readily available quoted prices in an active market and lowest priority to unobservable inputs which require a higher degree of judgment when measuring fair value, as follows: • Level 1 assets or liabilities use quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the measurement date; • Level 2 assets or liabilities use observable inputs, other than quoted market prices, that are either directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace for identical or similar assets and liabilities; and • Level 3 assets or liabilities use unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity. The Company’s assets and liabilities that are subject to fair value measurement are categorized in one of the three levels above. Fair values are based on the inputs available at the measurement dates, and may rely on certain assumptions that may affect the valuation of fair value for certain assets or liabilities. Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of an acquired business over the amount assigned to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Indefinite-lived intangible assets, which include a trade name, are recorded at fair market value on their acquisition date. An indefinite life was assigned to the trade name because it has the continued ability to generate cash flows indefinitely. Goodwill and the indefinite-lived intangible asset are assessed at least annually for impairment during the three-month period ending September 30, or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change between annual tests that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the respective reporting unit below its carrying amount. Under Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-08, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment, the Company is permitted, but not required, to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the more thorough quantitative goodwill impairment test. Following its qualitative assessment, the Company determined it was not more likely than not that the fair value of its goodwill was less than the carrying amount and, accordingly, no impairment existed in 2015. Long-Term Liabilities Included in the Company’s long-term liabilities are amounts related to the Company’s operating leases, deferred payments related to an acquisition completed in 2011, the fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap, and the non-current portion of deferred revenue. In conjunction with the opening of some campuses and other facilities, the Company was reimbursed by the lessors for improvements made to those leased properties. In accordance with the Operating Leases Subtopic, ASC 840-20 (“ASC 840-20”), these underlying assets were capitalized as leasehold improvements and a liability was established for the reimbursements. The leasehold improvements and the liability are amortized on a straight-line basis over the corresponding lease terms, which generally range from five to ten years. In accordance with ASC 840-20, the Company records rent expense on a straight-line basis over the initial term of a lease. The cumulative difference between the rent payment and the straight-line rent expense is recorded as a liability. The Company also records the non-current portion of the gain related to the sale and lease back of a campus facility as a long-term liability. Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities On the date that the Company enters into a derivative contract, it designates the derivative as a hedge of (a) a forecasted transaction or (b) the variability of cash flows that are to be received or paid in connection with a recognized asset or liability (a cash flow hedge). All derivatives are recognized in the balance sheet at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective and that is designated and qualifies as a cash flow hedge, to the extent that the hedge is effective, are recorded, net of income tax, in other comprehensive income, until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows of the hedged transaction (e.g., until periodic settlements of a variable-rate asset or liability are recorded in earnings). Any hedge ineffectiveness (which represents the amount by which the changes in the fair value of the derivative exceed the variability in the cash flows of the forecasted transaction) is recorded in current-period earnings. The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. The Company also formally assesses (both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis) whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions have been highly effective in offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flows of hedged items and whether those derivatives may be expected to remain highly effective in future periods. When it is determined that a derivative is not (or has ceased to be) highly effective as a hedge, the Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively. Authorized Stock The Company has authorized 20,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01, of which 10,903,341 and 11,027,177 shares were issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively. The Company also has authorized 8,000,000 shares of preferred stock, none of which has been issued or outstanding since 2004. Before any preferred stock may be issued in the future, the Board of Directors would need to establish the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and the terms or conditions of the redemption of the preferred stock. Advertising Costs The Company expenses advertising costs in the quarter incurred, except for costs associated with the production of media commercials which are expensed when the commercial is first aired. Stock-Based Compensation As required by the Stock Compensation Topic, ASC 718, the Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors, including employee stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and employee stock purchases related to the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan, based on estimated fair values. Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015 is based on awards ultimately expected to vest and, therefore, has been adjusted for estimated forfeitures. The Company is required to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and revise the estimate, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The forfeiture rate used is based on historical experience. The Company also assesses the likelihood that performance criteria associated with performance-based awards will be met. If it is determined that it is more likely than not that performance criteria will not be achieved, the Company revises its estimate of the number of shares it believes will ultimately vest. Net Income Per Share Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the periods. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur assuming conversion or exercise of all dilutive unexercised stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units. The dilutive effect of stock awards was determined using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, all of the following are assumed to be used to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock: (1) the proceeds received from the exercise of stock options, (2) the amount of compensation cost associated with the stock awards for future service not yet recognized by the Company, and (3) the amount of tax benefits that would be recorded in additional paid-in capital when the stock awards become deductible for income tax purposes. Stock options are not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share when the stock option exercise price of an individual grant exceeds the average market price for the period. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company had no issued and outstanding stock options that were excluded from the calculation. Set forth below is a reconciliation of shares used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share for each of the three years ended December 31, 2015 (in thousands):
|  | 2013 |  |  |  | 2014 |  |  |  | 2015
Weighted average shares outstanding used to compute basic earnings per share |  | 10,584 |  |  |  | 10,561 |  |  |  | 10,588
Incremental shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of stock options |  | — |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  | 6
Unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units |  | 40 |  |  |  | 83 |  |  |  | 146
Shares used to compute diluted earnings per share |  | 10,624 |  |  |  | 10,650 |  |  |  | 10,740
Income Taxes The Company provides for deferred income taxes based on temporary differences between financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Income Taxes Topic, ASC 740, requires the company to determine whether uncertain tax positions should be recognized within the Company’s financial statements. The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. Uncertain tax positions are recognized when a tax position, based solely on its technical merits, is determined to be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination. Upon determination, uncertain tax positions are measured to determine the amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. A tax position is derecognized if it no longer meets the more likely than not threshold of being sustained. The tax years 2012-2015 remain open for Federal tax examination and the tax years 2011-2015 remain open to examination by state and local taxing jurisdictions in which the Company is subject. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the period reported. The most significant management estimates included allowances for doubtful accounts, the useful lives of property and equipment, fair value of future contractual operating lease obligations, potential sublease income and vacancy periods, accrued expenses, forfeiture rates and the likelihood of achieving performance criteria for stock-based awards, value of free courses earned by students that will be redeemed in the future, valuation of goodwill, intangible assets and the interest rate swap arrangement, and the provision for income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Comprehensive Income Comprehensive income consists of net income and the change in the fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap, net of income taxes. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (“ASU 2014-09”). The standard establishes a new recognition model that requires revenue to be recognized in a manner to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company currently is evaluating the impact that the standard will have on its financial condition, results of operations, and disclosures. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, “Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30)” (“ASU 2015-03”). The new guidance requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. ASU 2015-03 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. The new guidance will be applied on a retrospective basis, and early adoption is permitted. The Company currently is evaluating the impact that the standard will have on its financial condition, results of operations, and disclosures. In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes” (“ASU 2015-17”). The new guidance requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The amendments in ASU 2015-17 are effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company intends to adopt the standard during the first quarter of 2016.

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