The Center for Excellence in Higher Education (CEHE) is a Utah-based nonprofit, 501(c)(3) corporation that owned and managed Independence University, CollegeAmerica, Stevens-Henager College, and California College San Diego before their abrupt closings in August 2021.^[2] The company was a nonprofit organization.^[3] CEHE's colleges were accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).^[4] The colleges were placed on probation in September 2018 due to ACCSC's concerns that "the inputs, resources, and processes of CEHE schools are designed and implemented in a manner that is not designed for student success."^[5][6] CEHE was also the lender to National American University.^[7]

The Center for Excellence in Education (CEHE) was founded by a group of academics and businessmen in 2007.^{[8] [9] [10] [11]} In 2020, CEHE was fined $3 million by the State of Colorado for violation of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. ^[12] In August 2021, this decision was reversed, in part, and the State of Colorado refunded the $3 million to CEHE in November 2021.^[13] By early August 2021 all CEHE campuses were closed. In 2022, CEHE filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education, in which CEHE is pursuing three claims with damages in excess of $100 million.^[14][15]

The Center for Excellence in Higher Education supported free-market ideas in higher education.^[16] Its stated purpose was "to educate the public about the state of higher education in America and help donors promote excellence in higher education through philanthropy".^[17] CEHE had as an area of particular focus of ensuring that gifts to universities and colleges were used in accordance with the intent of the donors.^[18][19][20] It also supported efforts directed at the structural reform of higher education. It received its initial funding from the Marcus Foundation, the John Templeton Foundation, and the John William Pope Foundation.^{[21][22][23][24][25][26]}