Kaplan University (KU) was a Private online for-profit university owned by Kaplan, Inc., a subsidiary of the Graham Holdings Company. It was predominantly a distance learning institution, maintaining 14 ground locations across the United States. The university was named in honor of Stanley H. Kaplan, who founded Kaplan Test Prep. It was regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of the seven major accrediting bodies in the U.S., but the degrees in certain programs did not have the field-specific accreditation needed for graduates to obtain certification.