Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (BNED) is a contract operator of physical and virtual bookstores for college, university, and K-12 institutions across the United States. The company is also a textbook wholesaler and provider of inventory management hardware and software. As of May 3, 2025, BNED operated 1,146 physical and virtual bookstores. BNED's business strengths include its ability to develop new products and solutions, its large operating footprint with direct access to students and faculty, its established relationships with academic partners, stable, long-term contracts, and recognized brands. The company offers products and services to address issues in higher education, such as convenience and affordability, through course material delivery models. BNED provides BNC First Day® affordable access course material programs, including First Day Complete and First Day. These programs deliver faculty-required course materials on or before the first day of class at below-market rates compared to purchasing the same materials separately. Students are billed this reduced rate directly by the institution as a course charge or as part of tuition.