Form 8-K - Current report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): February 26, 2024

LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

New Jersey		000-51371		57-1150621
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

14 Sylvan Way, Suite A, Parsippany, NJ 07054

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (973) 736-9340

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock No Par Value	LINC	NASDAQ

Item 2.02.

Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On February 26, 2024, Lincoln Educational Services Corporation. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 2.02 by reference.

The information contained under this Item 2.02 in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. Furthermore, the information contained under this Item 2.02 in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated therein by reference. The furnishing of the information under this Item 2.02 in this Current Report is not intended to, and does not, constitute a determination or admission by the Company that the information contained under this Item 2.02 in this Current Report is material or complete, or that investors should consider this information before making an investment decision with respect to any security of the Company.

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)

Exhibits

	99.1	Press release of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation dated February 26, 2024

	104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION

Date: February 26, 2024

	By:	/s/ Brian K. Meyers

	Name:	Brian K. Meyers
	Title:	Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
		and Treasurer

Exhibit 99.1

Lincoln Educational Services Reports Results for Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023

Strong Demand Driving Outlook for Continued Growth in 2024

Conference Call Today at 10 a.m. ET

PARSIPPANY, N.J., February 26, 2023 – Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (Nasdaq: LINC) today announced financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023, as well as recent business developments.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights*

•

Revenue grew 13.6% to $102.5 million

•

New student starts increased 16.0%

•

Adjusted EBITDA of $15.7 million

•

Adjusted net income of $10.0 million

•

Earnings per share of $0.23

•

Cashflow from operations of $21.9 million

Full Year 2023 Financial and Operational Highlights*

•

Revenue grew 10.3% to $376.6 million

•

New student starts increased 11.4%

•

Adjusted EBITDA of $26.5 million

•

Adjusted net income of $14.8 million

•

Earnings per share of $0.86

•

Total liquidity of $80.3 million; no debt outstanding

•

Ended year with student population of 13,270, 8.8% higher than 2022

•

Exceeded all guidance metrics for 2023

Recent Developments

•

Entered into new credit facility with Fifth Third Bank

•

Added Hyundai Genesis to our list of OEM partners

•

Completed sale of recently acquired Levittown, Pennsylvania campus for $11.0 million, simultaneously entering into sale lease-back agreement for 20 year-term

•

First classes have enrolled at new East Point, Georgia campus with classes expected to commence in March 2024

*Note: The highlighted financial results exclude the Transitional segment. A reconciliation of GAAP / non-GAAP measures is included in this release.

“Our team is successfully executing our transformative growth strategies, which has led to increased student starts, retention, graduation and placement rates, and allowed us to exceed all of our 2023 guidance metrics,” said Scott Shaw, President & CEO. “During the fourth quarter, we achieved a 16% increase in student starts, all from existing campus operations, and grew revenue to more than $100 million. Our solid student start growth enabled us to begin 2024 with a thousand more students than the start of last year.”

“We have completed the build-out of our new East Point campus in Georgia, which is planning to have its first enrolled class in March. Additionally, plans for the opening of our Houston campus are moving forward as well as the campus relocation efforts in Nashville and Philadelphia. Program expansions across our existing campuses remain in progress and are expected to be operational in the second half of this year. We also remain on track to complete the transition to our highly scalable hybrid instructional platform, which we call Lincoln 10.0, by the end of 2024, which we anticipate will begin to deliver lower instructional costs as a percentage of revenue in 2025.

“With $80 million in cash and no debt at year end, Lincoln’s strong financial position allows us to make significant investments to expand our business and create long lasting benefits to our students, graduates, instructors, and corporate partners, while increasing returns to our shareholders. We hope that analysts and investors will be able to join us either in person at our new East Point campus or virtually on Tuesday March 19, 2024 as we host our first Investor Day where we will provide an overview of our growth strategy.”

2023 FOURTH QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS

(Quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022)

•

Revenue increased $12.3 million, or 13.6% to $102.5 million from $90.2 million in the prior year comparable period excluding the Transitional segment. Revenue benefited from student start growth of 16.0%, which drove a 7.8% increase in average student population as well as an increase in average revenue per student of 5.4%, driven in part by the continuing roll-out of the Lincoln 10.0 platform in combination with tuition increases. The Lincoln 10.0 platform’s hybrid teaching model increases program efficiency and delivers accelerated revenue recognition in certain evening programs.

•

Educational services and facilities increased $4.5 million, or 12.4% to $41.0 million from $36.5 million in the prior year comparable period. Instructional expense grew with higher staffing levels in addition to merit increases. Staffing levels were higher due to the increase in students and increased staffing at campuses that are providing instruction through both Lincoln 10.0’s hybrid teaching model and traditional learning models while we continue to transition to 10.0. Facilities expense rose mainly due to non-cash rent expense driven by the sale leaseback of the Nashville, Tennessee property and two months of non-cash rent at the East Point, Georgia campus. Rent payments for the East Point, Georgia campus began in December of 2023. Partially offsetting these additional costs was a decrease in expense resulting in the Transitional segment.

•

Selling, general and administrative expense increased $9.6 million, or 22.5% to $52.5 million from $42.9 million in the prior year comparable period. Increased costs were driven by higher performance-based incentive compensation expenses, additional marketing investments, and credits received from a vendor in the prior year. Partially offsetting the additional costs was a decrease in expenses within the Transitional segment.

•

Net interest income increased $0.2 million to $0.5 million from $0.3 million in the prior year comparable period. The increase was the result of a full quarter of investments yielding a higher rate of return in the current year.

FOURTH QUARTER SEGMENT RESULTS

Campus Operations Segment

Revenue increased $12.3 million, or 13.6% to $102.5 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased $3.5 million or 15.8% to $25.7 million, from $22.2 million in the prior year.

Transitional Segment

The Somerville, Massachusetts campus teach-out was completed in the fourth quarter. Revenue decreased $1.5 million to less than $20 thousand compared to $1.6 million in the prior year comparable period. Total operating expenses decreased $1.3 million to $0.5 million from $1.8 million in the prior year comparable period.

Corporate and Other

Corporate and other expenses increased $4.4 million to $12.0 million from $7.6 million in the prior year comparable period, driven by higher performance-based compensation expense.

YEAR END FINANCIAL RESULTS

(Period ended December 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022)

•

Total revenue increased $29.8 million, or 8.6% to $378.1 million, compared to $348.3 million.

•

Campus Operations segment revenue increased $35.2 million, or 10.3% to $376.6 million, compared to $341.4 million.

•

Transitional segment revenue decreased $5.3 million, or 78.6% to $1.5 million, compared to $6.8 million.

RECENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

Relocation of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Area Campus. In September, 2023, the Company purchased a 90,000 square foot property in Levittown, Pennsylvania for approximately $10.2 million and, subsequently, entered into a sale leaseback transaction in January, 2024 for a sale price of approximately $11.0 million. Simultaneously with the closing of the sale, the Company and the purchaser have entered into a triple-net lease agreement pursuant to which the property is being leased back to Lincoln for a twenty-year term. The lease agreement includes a $2.5 million tenant improvement allowance.

The Company expects to invest approximately $15.0 million, net of the tenant allowance, in the buildout of new classrooms and training areas to ensure a best-in-class campus that provides a positive experience for students, faculty, and industry partners. Students training at the new campus will go on to launch new careers in the Automotive, Welding, HVAC, and Electrical industries throughout the greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area.

The new Levittown campus is expected to open in the second half of 2025 and is not expected to impact the student experience at the existing Philadelphia campus, which today serves approximately 230 Automotive Technology students. The existing campus will continue to operate until the buildout of the new campus is fully complete in order to ensure a seamless transition. As of December 31, 2023, the Levittown, Pennsylvania campus was classified as held-for-sale on the consolidated balance sheet.

Relocation of Nashville, Tennessee Area Campus. On November 3, 2023, the Company announced that it had entered into a new lease agreement for the relocation of its Nashville, Tennessee campus. The new Nashville campus has over 120,000 square feet which enables Lincoln to expand its skilled trades offerings with the addition of electrical and HVAC programs while keeping automotive, diesel, heavy equipment, collision repair and welding. The sale of the existing Nashville, Tennessee property, that closed in the second quarter, included a lease agreement allowing Lincoln to continue to occupy the existing campus for up to eighteen months while operations are transitioned to the new facility.

New Houston, Texas Campus. On November 3, 2023, the Company also announced an expansion into a new market with the leasing of a facility in Houston, Texas, the country’s fourth largest employment market. The Houston campus will be the Company’s second campus in Texas. Lincoln has operated a campus in Grand Prairie since 1966. The new campus will feature an approximately 100,000 square foot training center, offering career opportunities in automotive, diesel, welding, HVAC and electrical and electronic fields. This campus is expected to open in the first quarter of 2026.

New Credit Facility. In mid-February, we entered into a new credit facility with Fifth Third Bank. The facility includes a $40.0 million revolving line of credit, in addition to a $20.0 million accordion feature providing additional financial flexibility to support strategic growth initiatives.

FULL YEAR 2024 OUTLOOK

The Company ended the year with $80.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, and no debt. With an ending student population up over 1,000 students compared to the prior year comparable period, and momentum carrying through into the first quarter, the Company is anticipating continued growth in 2024.

Operating and financial guidance for the coming year are outlined below:

	2024 Guidance
	Low				High
Revenue	$	410		-	$	420		¹
Adjusted EBITDA	$	35		-	$	40		^1,2
Adjusted net income	$	10		-	$	15		^1,2
Starts		7	%	-		12	%
Capital expenditures	$	65		-	$	70		¹

¹	$ amounts in millions

²	The guidance in this release includes references to non-GAAP operating measures. A reconciliation to the midpoint of our guidance can be reviewed below in the non-GAAP operating measures at the end of this release.

CONFERENCE CALL INFO

Lincoln will host a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time to discuss results. To access the live webcast of the conference call, please go to the investor relations section of Lincoln’s website at http://www.lincolntech.edu. Participants may also register via teleconference at: Q4 2023 Lincoln Educational Services Earnings Conference Call. Once registration is completed, participants will be provided with a dial-in number containing a personalized PIN to access the call. Participants are requested to register at a minimum 15 minutes before the start of the call.

An archived version of the webcast will be accessible for 90 days at http://www.lincolntech.edu.

MARCH 19, 2024 INVESTOR DAY

The Company announced that it will hold an Investor Day for analysts and institutional investors on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, to preview its new, state-of-the-art East Point, Georgia campus, learn corporate partner and student perspectives, and attend senior management presentations about the Company’s growth initiatives and 2024 plan. To receive an invitation and more information, please contact mpolyviou@evcgroup.com.

A live webcast of the event and presentation materials will be available on the investor relations section of the Company’s website. A replay of the webcast will also be made available shortly after the event.

ABOUT LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation is a leading provider of diversified career-oriented post-secondary education helping to provide solutions to America’s skills gap. Lincoln offers career-oriented programs to recent high school graduates and working adults in five principal areas of study: automotive technology, health sciences, skilled trades, business and information technology, and hospitality services. Lincoln has provided the workforce with skilled technicians since its inception in 1946 and currently operates 21 campuses in 13 states under 4 brands: Lincoln College of Technology, Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln Culinary Institute, and Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences. For more information, please go to www.lincolntech.edu.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this press release and in oral statements made from time to time by representatives of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation regarding Lincoln’s business that are not historical facts, including those made in a conference call, may be “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the federal securities law. The words “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” and “continue,” and their opposites and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved, if at all. Generally, these statements relate to business plans or strategies and projections involving anticipated revenues, earnings, or other aspects of the Company’s operating results. Such forward-looking statements include the Company’s current belief that it is taking appropriate steps regarding the pandemic and that student growth will continue. The Company cautions you that these statements concern current expectations about the Company’s future performance or events and are subject to a number of uncertainties, risks, and other influences, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, that may influence the accuracy of the statements and the projects upon which the statements are based including, without limitation, impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic or other epidemics or pandemics; our failure to comply with the extensive regulatory framework applicable to our industry or our failure to obtain timely regulatory approvals in connection with acquisitions or a change of control of our Company; our success in updating and expanding the content of existing programs and developing new programs for our students in a cost-effective manner or on a timely basis; risks associated with cybersecurity; risks associated with changes in applicable federal laws and regulations; uncertainties regarding our ability to comply with federal laws and regulations, such as the 90/10 rule and prescribed cohort default rates; risks associated with the opening of new campuses; risks associated with integration of acquired schools; industry competition; our ability to execute our growth strategies; conditions and trends in our industry; general economic conditions; and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Reports and Quarterly Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Lincoln undertakes no obligation to publicly revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date hereof.

(Tables to Follow)

(In Thousands)

	Three Months Ended						Year-Ended
	December 31,						December 31,
	(Unaudited)						(Unaudited)
	2023			2022			2023			2022

REVENUE	$	102,522		$	91,778		$	378,070		$	348,287
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Educational services and facilities		41,024			36,513			162,275			148,746
Selling, general and administrative		52,530			42,888			209,135			182,391
Loss (gain) on sale of assets		6			-			(30,918	)		(177	)
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets		-			1,049			4,220			1,049
Total costs & expenses		93,560			80,450			344,712			332,009
OPERATING INCOME		8,962			11,328			33,358			16,278
OTHER:
Interest income		736			318			2,628			318
Interest expense		(273	)		(47	)		(347	)		(160	)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		9,425			11,599			35,639			16,436
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES		2,633			3,041			9,642			3,802
NET INCOME	$	6,792		$	8,558		$	25,997		$	12,634
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS		-			196			-			1,111
INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$	6,792		$	8,362		$	25,997		$	11,523
Basic
Net income per share	$	0.23		$	0.27		$	0.86		$	0.36
Diluted
Net income per share	$	0.22		$	0.27		$	0.85		$	0.36
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		30,126			26,436			30,105			25,879
Diluted		30,847			26,436			30,541			25,879

Other data:

Adjusted EBITDA (1)	$	15,730		$	15,659		$	26,500		$	28,344
Depreciation and amortization	$	2,114		$	1,745		$	6,770		$	6,364
Number of campuses		21			22			21			22
Average enrollment		13,983			13,230			12,941			12,894
Stock-based compensation	$	1,845		$	745		$	5,894		$	3,111
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	21,946		$	270		$	25,558		$	882
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	$	12,330		$	(16,691	)	$	7,369		$	(21,354	)
Net cash used in financing activities	$	-		$	(2,911	)	$	(2,945	)	$	(12,548	)

Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:	December 31,
	(Unaudited)

Cash and cash equivalents	$	75,992
Restricted cash		4,277
Current assets		134,663
Working capital		61,253
Total assets		345,249
Current liabilities		73,410
Total stockholders' equity		166,804

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In addition to disclosing financial results that are determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the Company believes it is useful to present non-GAAP financial measures that exclude certain significant items as a means to understand the performance of its business. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Total liquidity are measures not recognized in financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP.

•

We define EBITDA as income (loss) before interest expense (net of interest income), provision (benefit) for income taxes, depreciation and amortization.

•

We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA plus stock compensation expense and adjustments for items not considered part of the Company’s normal recurring operations.

•

We define Adjusted net income as net income plus adjustments for items not considered part of the Company’s normal recurring operations.

•

We define Total liquidity as the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash.

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income, and Total liquidity are presented because we believe they are useful indicators of the Company’s performance and ability to make strategic investments and meet capital expenditures and debt service requirements. However, they are not intended to represent cash flows from operations as defined by GAAP and should not be used as an alternative to net income (loss) as indicators of operating performance or cash flow as a measure of liquidity. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Total liquidity are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

The following is a reconciliation of net income (loss) to EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income, and Total liquidity:

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Year Ended December 31,
	(Unaudited)						(Unaudited)
	Consolidated Operations						Consolidated Operations
	2023			2022			2023			2022

Net income	$	6,792		$	8,558		$	25,997		$	12,634
Interest income, net		(463	)		(271	)		(2,281	)		(158	)
Provision for income taxes		2,633			3,041			9,642			3,802
Depreciation and amortization		2,114			1,745			6,770			6,364
EBITDA		11,076			13,073			40,128			22,642
Stock compensation expense		1,845			745			5,894			3,111
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets		-			1,049			4,220			1,049
Severance and other one-time costs		437			364			1,831			765
Transitional segment		487			198			1,900			408
New campus start-up costs		1,435			230			2,451			369
Gain on sale of Nashville, Tennessee ¹		-			-			(30,939	)		-
FMV of Nashville, Tennessee rent²		450			-			1,015			-
Adjusted EBITDA	$	15,730		$	15,659		$	26,500		$	28,344

¹	Gain is related to the sale of our Nashville, Tennessee property connsumated on June 8, 2023.

The fair market value ("FMV") of Nashville, Tennessee rent relates to non-cash rent expense recognized resulting from the sale of the Nashville,Tennessee property. A prepaid asset was recognized upon the sale of approximately $2.3 million representing the FMV of rent expense that would have been paid during the 15-month "free-rent" period where the Company will occupy this property.

	Three Months Ended December 31,
	(Unaudited)
	Campus Operations				Transitional						Corporate
	2023		2022		2023			2022			2023			2022

Net income (loss)	$	21,179	$	19,092	$	(490	)	$	(202	)	$	(13,897	)	$	(10,332	)
Interest expense (income), net		233		-		-			-			(696	)		(271	)
Provision for income taxes		-		-		-			-			2,633			3,041
Depreciation and amortization		1,962		1,579		3			4			149			162
EBITDA		23,374		20,671		(487	)		(198	)		(11,811	)		(7,400	)
Stock compensation expense		-		108		-			-			1,845			637
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets		-		1,049		-			-			-			-
Severance and other one-time costs		437		364		-			-			-			-
Transitional segment		-		-		487			198			-			-
New campus start-up costs		1,435		-		-			-			-			230
FMV of Nashville, Tennessee rent²		450		-		-			-			-			-
Adjusted EBITDA	$	25,696	$	22,192	$	-		$	-		$	(9,966	)	$	(6,533	)

	Year-Ended December 31,
	(Unaudited)
	Campus Operations				Transitional						Corporate
	2023		2022		2023			2022			2023			2022

Net income (loss)	$	47,346	$	49,524	$	(1,913	)	$	(430	)	$	(19,436	)	$	(36,460	)
Interest expense (income), net		233		-		-			-			(2,514	)		(158	)
Provision for income taxes		-		-		-			-			9,642			3,802
Depreciation and amortization		6,127		5,754		13			22			630			588
EBITDA		53,706		55,278		(1,900	)		(408	)		(11,678	)		(32,228	)
Stock compensation expense		-		116		-			-			5,894			2,995
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets		4,220		1,049		-			-			-			-
Severance and other one-time costs		-		364		-			-			1,831			401
Transitional segment		-		-		1,900			408			-			-
New campus start-up costs		2,451		-		-			-			-			369
Gain on sale of Nashville, Tennessee ¹		-		-		-			-			(30,939	)		-
FMV of Nashville, Tennessee rent²		1,015		-		-			-			-			-
Adjusted EBITDA	$	61,392	$	56,807	$	-		$	-		$	(34,892	)	$	(28,463	)

	Three Months Ended						Year Ended
	December,						December,
	(Unaudited)						(Unaudited)
	2023			2022			2023			2022
Net income	$	6,792		$	8,558		$	25,997		$	12,634

Non-recurring adjustments:
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets		-			1,049			4,220			1,049
Severance and other one time costs		437			472			2,608			1,263
Transitional segment		487			198			1,900			408
New campus start-up costs		1,849			230			2,875			369
Performance based catch-up stock compensation		1,264			-			2,742			-
Gain on sale of Nashville, Tennessee ¹		-			-			(30,939	)		-
FMV of Nashville Rent²		450			-			1,015			-
Total non-recurring adjustments		4,487			1,949			(15,579	)		3,089
Income tax effect		(1,256	)		(561	)		4,362			(890	)
Adjusted net income, non-GAAP	$	10,023		$	9,946		$	14,780		$	14,833

	As of
	December 31, 2023
Cash and cash equivalents	$	75,992
Restricted cash		4,277
Total Liquidity	$	80,269

	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2023			2022			% Change
Revenue:
Campus Operations	$	102,509		$	90,225			13.6	%
Transitional		13			1,553			-99.2	%
Total	$	102,522		$	91,778			11.7	%

Operating Income (loss):
Campus Operations	$	21,412		$	19,092			12.2	%
Transitional		(490	)		(202	)		142.6	%
Corporate		(11,960	)		(7,562	)		-58.2	%
Total	$	8,962		$	11,328			-20.9	%

Starts:
Campus Operations		3,191			2,750			16.0	%
Transitional		-			36			-100.0	%
Total		3,191			2,786			14.5	%

Average Population:
Campus Operations		13,982			12,971			7.8	%
Transitional		1			259			-99.6	%
Total		13,983			13,230			5.7	%

End of Period Population:
Campus Operations		13,270			12,196			8.8	%
Transitional		-			192			-100.0	%
Total		13,270			12,388			7.1	%

	Year Ended December 31,
	2023			2022			% Change
Revenue:
Campus Operations	$	376,602		$	341,440			10.3	%
Transitional		1,468			6,847			-78.6	%
Total	$	378,070		$	348,287			8.6	%

Operating Income (loss):
Campus Operations	$	47,579		$	49,524			-3.9	%
Transitional		(1,914	)		(430	)		-345.1	%
Corporate		(12,307	)		(32,816	)		62.5	%
Total	$	33,358		$	16,278			104.9	%

Starts:
Campus Operations		16,199			14,541			11.4	%
Transitional		-			379			-100.0	%
Total		16,199			14,920			8.6	%

Average Population:
Campus Operations		12,875			12,602			2.2	%
Transitional		66			292			-77.4	%
Total		12,941			12,894			0.4	%

End of Period Population:
Campus Operations		13,270			12,196			8.8	%
Transitional		-			192			-100.0	%
Total		13,270			12,388			7.1	%

Information included in the table below provides student starts and population under the Campus Operations segment with a breakdown by Transportation and Skilled Trade programs and Healthcare and Other Professions programs. This information is not comparable to the Company’s prior period segment reporting, which was performed on a campus basis rather than a program basis.

Population by Program (Campus Operations Segment):

	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		% Change
Starts:
Transportation and Skilled Trades		1,810		1,500		20.7	%
Healthcare and Other Professions		1,381		1,250		10.5	%
Total		3,191		2,750		16.0	%

Average Population:
Transportation and Skilled Trades		9,741		8,904		9.4	%
Healthcare and Other Professions		4,241		4,067		4.3	%
Total		13,982		12,971		7.8	%

End of Period Population:
Transportation and Skilled Trades		9,170		8,243		11.2	%
Healthcare and Other Professions		4,100		3,953		3.7	%
Total		13,270		12,196		8.8	%

Population by Program (Campus Operations Segment):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		% Change
Starts:
Transportation and Skilled Trades		10,876		9,693		12.2	%
Healthcare and Other Professions		5,323		4,848		9.8	%
Total		16,199		14,541		11.4	%

Average Population:
Transportation and Skilled Trades		8,871		8,654		2.5	%
Healthcare and Other Professions		4,004		3,948		1.4	%
Total		12,875		12,602		2.2	%

End of Period Population:
Transportation and Skilled Trades		9,170		8,243		11.2	%
Healthcare and Other Professions		4,100		3,953		3.7	%
Total		13,270		12,196		8.8	%

The reconciliations provided below represent managements best projection for the execution of our 2024 guidance. These calculations are for illustrative purposes and will be reviewed throughout 2024 to ensure accuracy and continued relevance. Any revisions or modifications, if necessary, will be made transparent and disclosed during the 2024 quarterly reviews. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income have been reconciled to the midpoint of our guidance.

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income - 2024 Guidance

(Reconciled to the Mid-Point of 2024 Guidance)

	Adjusted
	EBITDA		Net Income
Net Income	$	5,200	$	5,200
Interest expense, net		700		-
Provision for taxes		2,000		-
Depreciation and amortization		10,700		-
Depreciation¹		2,500		-
EBITDA		21,100		-
New campus and campus relocation costs²		9,700		9,700
Program expansions		2,500		2,500
Stock compensation		4,200		-
Tax Effect		-		(4,900	)
Total	$	37,500	$	12,500

2024 Guidance Range	$	35,000 - $40,000	$	10,000 - $15,000

¹	Depreciation expense relates to new campuses and campus relocations.

²	New campus and campus relocation costs relate to the following locations:

East Point, Georgia

Nashville, Tennessee

Levittown, Pennsylvania

Houston, Texas

LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION

Brian Meyers, CFO

973-736-9340

EVC GROUP LLC

Investor Relations: Michael Polyviou, mpolyviou@evcgroup.com, 732-933-2755

Media Relations: Tom Gibson, 201-476-0322

Document and Entity Information	Feb. 26, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Feb. 26, 2024
Entity File Number	000-51371
Entity Registrant Name	LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION
Entity Central Index Key	0001286613
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	NJ
Entity Tax Identification Number	57-1150621
Entity Address, Address Line One	14 Sylvan Way, Suite A
Entity Address, City or Town	Parsippany
Entity Address, State or Province	NJ
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	07054
City Area Code	973
Local Phone Number	736-9340
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock No Par Value
Trading Symbol	LINC
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false