Federal agency contract profile
Department of Education: Federal Contract Spending & Top Vendors
Data through 2026-08-24 · FY2026 to date
- Obligations, FY2026 to date
- $2.2B
- Contract awards
- 669
- Average award size
- $3.2M
- vs. prior full fiscal year
- 13.6% decline
| Item | Obligations |
|---|---|
| FY21 | $2.7B |
| FY22 | $2.4B |
| FY23 | $2.4B |
| FY24 | $2.7B |
| FY25 | $2.5B |
| FY26 | $2.2B |
Obligations fell 13.6% year over year, from $2.5B in FY2025 to $2.2B in FY2026 to date.
The Department of Education obligated $2.2B in contracts in FY2026 to date. The agency recorded 669 awards with an average award size of $3.2M, and obligations fell 13.6% year over year. Yearly obligations have moved between $2.4B and $2.7B since FY22, with FY21 at $2.7B, FY22 at $2.4B, FY23 at $2.4B, FY24 at $2.7B, and FY25 at $2.5B. Other Activities Related to Credit Intermediation is the largest spending category at $935M, followed by Computer Systems Design Services at $663M. Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities accounts for $149M of obligations, while multiple IT and services categories together make up significant remaining spending. ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC is the top vendor at $340M, followed by NELNET SERVICING LLC at $294M and MAXIMUS EDUCATION LLC at $251M. The mix shows strong emphasis on credit intermediation, IT systems, and social science research in the current fiscal year to date.
What drove Education's contract spending this year?
Other Activities Related to Credit Intermediation drove the largest share of obligations at $935M. Computer Systems Design Services also drove a major portion of spending at $663M. Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities contributed $149M, with several other IT and financial services categories adding smaller but meaningful amounts.
| Item | Obligations |
|---|---|
| Other Activities Related to Credit Intermediation | $935M |
| Computer Systems Design Services | $663M |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $149M |
| Other Computer Related Services | $69.4M |
| Custom Computer Programming Services | $58.9M |
| Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services | $57.9M |
| Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities | $53.8M |
| Collection Agencies | $36.2M |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $33.2M |
| Educational Support Services | $23.7M |
Other Activities Related to Credit Intermediation was Education's largest contract category, with $935M obligated (43.2% of contract spending).
Which vendors and industries dominate Education contracting?
ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC is the largest vendor at $340M, followed by NELNET SERVICING LLC at $294M and MAXIMUS EDUCATION LLC at $251M. The top categories are concentrated in credit intermediation and IT services, with Computer Systems Design Services at $663M and Other Activities Related to Credit Intermediation at $935M. A mix of loan servicers and research contractors appears among the highest-ranked vendors and NAICS categories.
| Item | Obligations |
|---|---|
| ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC | $340M |
| NELNET SERVICING LLC | $294M |
| MAXIMUS EDUCATION LLC | $251M |
| EDFINANCIAL SERVICES LLC | $193M |
| MAXIMUS FEDERAL SERVICES, INC. | $158M |
| MISSOURI HIGHER EDUCATION LOAN AUTHORITY | $140M |
| CENTRAL RESEARCH INC | $70.2M |
| WESTAT, INC. | $63.2M |
| PERATON ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS LLC | $48M |
| EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE | $46.4M |
ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC led all Education contractors with $340M, 15.7% of obligations.
| Rank | Vendor | Obligations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC | $340M |
| 2 | NELNET SERVICING LLC | $294M |
| 3 | MAXIMUS EDUCATION LLC | $251M |
| 4 | EDFINANCIAL SERVICES LLC | $193M |
| 5 | MAXIMUS FEDERAL SERVICES, INC. | $158M |
| 6 | MISSOURI HIGHER EDUCATION LOAN AUTHORITY | $140M |
| 7 | CENTRAL RESEARCH INC | $70.2M |
| 8 | WESTAT, INC. | $63.2M |
| 9 | PERATON ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS LLC | $48M |
| 10 | EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE | $46.4M |
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Department of Education spend on contracts?
The Department of Education obligated $2.2B in contracts in FY2026 to date. The agency recorded 669 awards with an average award size of $3.2M, and obligations fell 13.6% year over year. Fiscal-year obligations ranged from $2.4B to $2.7B in recent years, with FY21 at $2.7B and FY25 at $2.5B.
What does Education buy?
Education buys services concentrated in Other Activities Related to Credit Intermediation and Computer Systems Design Services. Other Activities Related to Credit Intermediation accounts for $935M and Computer Systems Design Services accounts for $663M, with Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities at $149M and several IT-related services making up the rest.
Who are Education's largest contractors?
ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC is the largest contractor at $340M. NELNET SERVICING LLC follows at $294M, MAXIMUS EDUCATION LLC at $251M, EDFINANCIAL SERVICES LLC at $193M, and MAXIMUS FEDERAL SERVICES, INC. at $158M, with other top vendors including MISSOURI HIGHER EDUCATION LOAN AUTHORITY at $140M and CENTRAL RESEARCH INC at $70.2M.
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