In a major development for the U.S. education sector, Princeton-based ETS announced Tuesday that it has acquired ACT, one of the nation’s most prominent organizations in college and career readiness. This strategic merger unites two influential mission-driven entities to provide more comprehensive solutions for students, educators, and employers navigating a rapidly evolving, AI-driven economy.
The acquisition combines ETS’s global reach and assessment expertise—best known for administering tests like the TOEFL and GRE—with ACT’s deep-rooted footprint in K–12 and higher education across all 50 states. By joining forces, the organizations aim to create a more seamless path for learners transitioning from the classroom to the workforce.
“Every student deserves a strong education, a fair shot at college, and a path to a good job,” Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS said. “Together with ACT, we’re determined to serve students and parents along with educators and states by expanding access to education and job opportunities across America.”
The integration will leverage ACT’s widely utilized workforce readiness portfolio, including WorkKeys, which is used by millions of job seekers and employers to validate workplace skills. ETS stated that the acquisition is a critical step in its ambitious goal to prepare more than 100 million people for the next generation of jobs.
For the immediate future, ETS has confirmed that there will be no disruption to current ACT products or services. Customers and partners can continue to rely on the assessments and resources they use today, while the combined organization works to integrate its measurement science and innovation capabilities.
Steve Tapp, CEO of ACT, emphasized the potential for scaling impact: “Becoming part of ETS will allow us to take what we’ve built and scale it within a broader vision for readiness. Joining ETS gives us the platform to fulfill our mission at a scale we couldn’t reach alone.”
As educational institutions and employers grapple with the challenges of a labor market reshaped by artificial intelligence, the merger is positioned to provide a more integrated approach to skill validation. By aligning educational outcomes more closely with workforce demands, the combined organization seeks to help millions of individuals achieve their career goals and improve their livelihoods.
While the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, industry analysts view the move as a significant consolidation of American education and assessment services, offering a more unified “school-to-career” pipeline for millions of learners nationwide.
