NAICS 611710 Quarterly Industry Report
Educational Support Services
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 611710Sector: Educational Services (61)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Educational Support Services (NAICS 611710) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[8], Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], U.S. Department of Education[9], and SBA size standards database[7]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, education analysts, and institutional planners with current market data. The editorial analysis reflects the independent assessment of FairMarketValue.com's research team, with all quantitative claims sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the educational support services industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Educational Support Services (NAICS 611710) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in providing non-instructional services that support educational processes or systems per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Services include educational testing and evaluation, curriculum development, student exchange program administration, educational guidance counseling, and educational consulting. These establishments do not deliver direct instruction, distinguishing them from schools and training providers that teach students.
Roughly 22,000 firms employ 266,200 workers per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], with Census data showing 10,729 physical locations and $6.8 billion in annual payroll. Educational Testing Service (ETS) operates as the world's largest private educational testing organization, administering the TOEFL, GRE, Praxis, and TOEIC examinations in more than 180 countries. Pearson, Renaissance, Measurement Incorporated, and Cambridge Assessment also hold major market positions in testing, assessment, and curriculum development.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], the size standard is $24 million in average annual receipts. Rising college enrollment from high school graduates and expanding institutional demand for data-driven assessment tools have supported industry growth following post-pandemic recovery. AI-powered adaptive learning analytics and digital assessment platforms have shifted the industry toward technology-driven service delivery. Student exchange program administration, international education consulting, and institutional accreditation support represent growing service verticals as educational institutions increasingly contract out specialized support functions.
What's Included in This Industry
- Educational testing and standardized assessment administration
- Curriculum development and instructional design services
- Student exchange and study abroad program administration
- Educational guidance counseling and college advising
- Educational consulting and institutional effectiveness research
- Accreditation support and compliance documentation services
- Learning management system implementation and support
- Assessment item development and psychometric analysis
- Professional development program design for educators
- Data analytics and institutional research services
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Educational Services | 61 |
| Subsector | Educational Services | 611 |
| Industry Group | Educational Support Services | 6117 |
| NAICS Industry | Educational Support Services | 61171 |
| National Industry | Educational Support Services | 611710 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 611310 | Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools represent the primary institutional client base for educational support services, contracting for testing administration, accreditation consulting, and institutional research functions |
| 611210 | Junior Colleges | Junior Colleges contract educational support providers for student assessment, accreditation compliance documentation, and learning management system administration across their community college operations |
| 611110 | Elementary and Secondary Schools | Elementary and Secondary Schools purchase curriculum development, standardized testing, and professional development services from educational support providers serving the K-12 institutional market |
| 611691 | Exam Preparation and Tutoring | Exam Preparation and Tutoring companies purchase test content, scoring services, and assessment platforms from educational support service providers that develop and administer the standardized examinations |
| 541611 | Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services | Administrative Management and General Management Consulting overlaps in institutional consulting services, with some management firms providing operational advisory work for educational organizations alongside dedicated educational consultants |
| 541720 | Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities partners with educational support services on psychometric research, assessment validation studies, and education policy analysis projects |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 17.8% | 2,022 |
| 2 | New York | 7.4% | 839 |
| 3 | Texas | 6.6% | 752 |
| 4 | Florida | 6.4% | 731 |
| 5 | Illinois | 3.9% | 440 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 3.8% | 430 |
| 7 | North Carolina | 3.5% | 395 |
| 8 | Virginia | 3.2% | 360 |
| 9 | Georgia | 2.9% | 326 |
| 10 | New Jersey | 2.9% | 325 |
% Of Establishments
0%
18%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
1,712
Total SBA Loans
$409.3M
Total Loan Volume
$239K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.93%
Average Interest Rate
15,720
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], Educational Support Services (NAICS 611710) has a size standard of $24 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[10] support technology platform development, testing center buildout, and program expansion for qualifying educational support providers. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[11] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[12] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Bank | 512 | $59.0M | $115K |
| 2 | Readycap Lending, LLC | 136 | $36.5M | $268K |
| 3 | Bank Five Nine | 8 | $28.2M | $3.5M |
| 4 | Bankwell Bank | 16 | $27.4M | $1.7M |
| 5 | Farmers and Merchants Bank | 8 | $21.8M | $2.7M |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for educational testing and support services?
NAICS 611710 covers non-instructional educational support services including testing, curriculum development, student exchange programs, guidance counseling, and educational consulting per the U.S. Census Bureau[5].
How large is the educational support services industry?
Roughly 22,000 firms employ 266,200 workers per Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] data, with Census data showing $6.8 billion in annual payroll across 10,729 physical locations.
What is the SBA size standard for educational support services?
The SBA size standard[7] is $24 million in average annual receipts, determining eligibility for federal small business contracting programs and SBA lending products.
Who is the largest educational testing organization?
Educational Testing Service (ETS) operates as the world's largest private educational testing organization, administering the TOEFL, GRE, Praxis, and TOEIC examinations in more than 180 countries per ETS organizational data[13].
What services do educational support providers offer?
Services include standardized testing administration, curriculum development, student exchange program management, guidance counseling, accreditation support, learning management systems, and institutional research per Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] industry classification data.
How is AI changing educational support services?
AI-powered adaptive learning analytics and digital assessment platforms have shifted the industry toward technology-driven service delivery, enabling personalized testing experiences and automated scoring capabilities.
Do educational support services provide direct instruction?
NAICS 611710 specifically covers non-instructional services that support educational processes, distinguishing these providers from schools and training organizations that deliver direct instruction to students per Census Bureau[5] classification guidelines.
What educational support services are growing fastest?
Student exchange program administration, international education consulting, and AI-driven assessment platform development represent growing service areas per Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] industry data, as institutions increasingly contract out specialized support functions.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [8]U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [9]U.S. Department of Education ed.gov
- [10]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [12]504 loans sba.gov
- [13]ETS organizational data ets.org
Disclaimer
This publication has been prepared by Fair Market Value (“Fair Market Value”) for informational purposes only. It is provided on an “as-is” and “as available” basis. Fair Market Value makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, completeness, or accuracy of the data or information contained herein. This publication is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, professional financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Users should consult with qualified professionals before making any financial or business decisions based on the information presented.
To the extent permitted by law, Fair Market Value disclaims all liability for loss or damage, direct and indirect, suffered or incurred by any person resulting from the use of, or reliance upon, the data in this publication.
Copyright © 2026 Fair Market Value. All rights reserved. All data, information, articles, graphs, and content contained in this publication are copyrighted works and Fair Market Value hereby reserves all rights. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded to a third party, or distributed without the prior written permission of Fair Market Value.