Strategic Education, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Strategic Education, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Herndon, VAEducational Services4,234 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,031Employer $ per active participant
$5,645Employee $ saved per active participant
0.03%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$416.5MNet plan assets, end of year
$74,428Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity40.9 / 5082th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost22.6 / 2591th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving12.7 / 1585th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-23 pts3 issues reported on the filing
Total score63 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Educational Services plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (34 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 82th |
| Lower admin cost | 91th |
| Employee saving | 85th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 65% |
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Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($42 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Benefits not paid when due: the plan reported failing to pay some benefits on time.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $13,713 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Strategic Education put in about $2,031 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($1,155). Contribute at least enough to collect the full match. Skipping it leaves part of your pay on the table.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- Fund expense ratios aren't in the filing. Look them up in your 404(a)(5) fee disclosure and favor low-cost index or target-date funds.
- The plan auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- The plan reported late deposits of employee contributions. Compare your pay stubs with your account statements, and contact the plan administrator if money shows up late.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $8,596,705 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $23,897,033 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,777,252 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $112,401 |
| Contract administrator fees | $600 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $1,551 |
| Benefits paid out | $30,404,975 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $364.3M / $416.5M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 4,031 / 4,436 |
| Participants with account balances | 5,596 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Sikich CPA LLC |
| Employer stock held by plan | $3,314,318 |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $111,300 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250926113311NAL0010082336001, received 2025-09-26, EIN 52-1975978, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.