Karl McDonnell is the CEO of Strategic Education, Inc., where he has been since 2013. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from the University of Maryland and has a solid background in the education sector. Before taking on his...

Karl McDonnell is the CEO of Strategic Education, Inc., where he has been since 2013. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from the University of Maryland and has a solid background in the education sector. Before taking on his leadership role at Strategic Education, McDonnell worked as the COO of InteliStaf Healthcare and also spent time at Goldman Sachs in investment banking. Under his watch, the company has seen fluctuations in its stock price, but he has made significant contributions in aligning educational strategies with growing business goals. In 2021, McDonnell's total compensation was around $6.2 million, reflecting his performance-driven approach to leadership. He is not just about numbers but is deeply involved in maintaining the academic quality of the institutions under Strategic Education. McDonnell's approach to equity compensation shows that he is focused on long-term success and aligning executive interests with those of shareholders, which helps keep the company steady even in tough times.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

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Karl McDonnell

CEO of Strategic Education, Inc.

Education

Bachelor’s degree from Virginia Wesleyan College and a master’s degree in business administration from Duke University

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Consumer Defensive

Born

January 1, 1971 - 54 years ago

CEO of Strategic Education, Inc. for

11 years 11 months (May 2013 - Present)

Previous Experience

Chief Operating Officer of InteliStaf Healthcare, Inc.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Karl McDonnell

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Karl G. Glassman

CEO of Leggett & Platt

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.08M

Salary

$1.12M

Bonus

$1.31M

Other

$509.52K

Total Holdings

$11.92M

A

Stephen W. Beard

CEO of Adtalem Global Education Inc.

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$918.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$120.58K

Total Holdings

$12.99M

Holdings

See how much did Karl McDonnell make over time.

As the CEO of Strategic Education, Karl McDonnell’s stock holdings paint an interesting picture of his confidence and stake in the company's future. Throughout his time as CEO, he's seen his compensation tied closely to company performance, with a total...

As the CEO of Strategic Education, Karl McDonnell’s stock holdings paint an interesting picture of his confidence and stake in the company's future. Throughout his time as CEO, he's seen his compensation tied closely to company performance, with a total compensation of $6.2 million in 2021. His vested stock in the company reflects this, standing at around $1.7 million at one point, illustrating his investment in the company's success. Over the years, the fluctuations in the value of these stocks show not only his commitment but also the challenges faced by the education sector. McDonnell has navigated through ups and downs, ensuring he aligns executive and shareholder interests. His holdings demonstrate a blend of faith in the educational mission of Strategic Education while also managing the realities of the business side of things.

Mar 17, 2025

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shares

STRA @ $79.72

Total Stock Sold

$25.09M

STRA

$25.09M

240,672 STRA shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Karl McDonnell didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra STRA240,672 shares worth $33.43M.
This is 33.23% and $8.34M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Karl McDonnell.

STRA

33,184 shares

STRA

Feb 25, 2025

Received

STRA

$3.12M

STRA at $98.04/share

Feb 25, 2025

Sale

STRA

34,189 shares

STRA

Feb 27, 2024

Received

STRA

$1.23M

STRA at $95.99/share

Feb 27, 2024

Sale

STRA

$1.87M

STRA at $86.35/share

Feb 27, 2023

Sale

STRA

34,531 shares

STRA

Feb 22, 2023

Received

STRA

67,133 shares

STRA

Feb 24, 2022

Received

STRA

$1.13M

STRA at $54.04/share

Feb 13, 2022

Sale

STRA

55,267 shares

STRA

Feb 25, 2021

Received

STRA

$1.09M

STRA at $93.74/share

Feb 14, 2021

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Karl McDonnell make over time.

Karl McDonnell's compensation as CEO of Strategic Education has shown notable variability, reflecting both his performance and company results. In 2021, he earned a total of approximately $6.2 million, which includes a salary of $906,000 and a bonus tied to the company's performance. His bonus payout for 2021 was 25% of the target level, indicating that while he met some operational goals, financial objectives were not fully achieved. McDonnell also received significant stock grants, valued around $1.7 million, emphasizing long-term growth. This structure highlights his focus on aligning the interests of management with those of the shareholders. His key performance indicators include both financial and non-financial metrics, reflecting a balance between profitability and academic success, a crucial aspect of his leadership in the education sector. McDonnell's compensation strategy signals his commitment to performance-driven results.

Year

2021

Total Compensation

$2.93M

Salary

$906.00K

Board Justification

The compensation program is designed to drive performance and align the long-term interests of management with stockholders, focusing on academic quality and achievement of financial and non-financial goals.

Bonus

$283.13K

Board Justification

The target non-equity incentive compensation for the CEO was set at 125% of base salary, with actual payout determined based on performance metrics achieved in 2021, resulting in a payout of 25% of target due to not meeting financial objectives but meeting non-financial measures.

Other

$8.70K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes the Company's matching contribution to the 401(k) plan.

Restricted Stock

$1.73M(18.37K restricted stock)

Board Justification

The number of shares of restricted stock that vested in 2021, with a realized value of $1,734,217 upon vesting.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for 2021 included financial objectives (Revenue, Operating Income, EPS) accounting for 75% of the non-equity incentive compensation, and non-financial measures accounting for the remaining 25%.