Federal agency contract profile
Department of Education: Federal Contract Spending & Top Vendors
Data through 2026-09-28 · FY2026 to date
- Obligations, FY2026 to date
- $2.4B
- Contract awards
- 780
- Average award size
- $3.1M
- vs. prior full fiscal year
- 3.2% decline
| Item | Obligations |
|---|---|
| FY21 | $2.7B |
| FY22 | $2.4B |
| FY23 | $2.4B |
| FY24 | $2.7B |
| FY25 | $2.5B |
| FY26 | $2.4B |
Obligations fell 3.2% year over year, from $2.5B in FY2025 to $2.4B in FY2026 to date.
The Department of Education obligated $2.4B in contracts in FY2026 to date across 780 awards, with an average award size of $3.1M. Obligations fell 3.2% year over year. Year-to-year totals show FY21 at $2.7B, FY22 at $2.4B, FY23 at $2.4B, FY24 at $2.7B, FY25 at $2.5B, and FY26 at $2.4B. Spending concentrates in financial services and IT categories: Other Activities Related to Credit Intermediation received $936M, and Computer Systems Design Services received $693M. Vendor concentration is notable: ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC received $372M and NELNET SERVICING LLC received $300M. The mix of categories and top vendors points to continuing emphasis on loan servicing, payment processing, research, and IT systems work. The current-year totals are partial and represent fiscal year to date activity only.
How has Education's contract spending trended year over year?
The Department of Education obligated $2.4B in FY2026 to date and obligations fell 3.2% year over year. Fiscal-year obligations were $2.7B in FY21, $2.4B in FY22, $2.4B in FY23, $2.7B in FY24, and $2.5B in FY25. The FY2026 total reported so far equals the FY22 and FY23 totals and remains a partial, fiscal year to date figure.
| Item | Obligations |
|---|---|
| Other Activities Related to Credit Intermediation | $936M |
| Computer Systems Design Services | $693M |
| Other Computer Related Services | $166M |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $149M |
| Custom Computer Programming Services | $112M |
| Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services | $106M |
| Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities | $63M |
| Collection Agencies | $36.2M |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $35M |
| Software Publishers | $25.1M |
Other Activities Related to Credit Intermediation was Education's largest contract category, with $936M obligated (38.6% of contract spending).
Which industries and vendors account for most Education spending?
Other Activities Related to Credit Intermediation is the largest category at $936M, followed by Computer Systems Design Services at $693M and Other Computer Related Services at $166M. ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC leads vendors with $372M, followed by NELNET SERVICING LLC at $300M and MAXIMUS EDUCATION LLC at $243M. The top categories and vendors reflect large allocations to credit intermediation, loan servicing, and IT systems work.
| Item | Obligations |
|---|---|
| ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC | $372M |
| NELNET SERVICING LLC | $300M |
| MAXIMUS EDUCATION LLC | $243M |
| EDFINANCIAL SERVICES LLC | $201M |
| MISSOURI HIGHER EDUCATION LOAN AUTHORITY | $138M |
| MAXIMUS FEDERAL SERVICES, INC. | $132M |
| GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC. | $90.4M |
| CENTRAL RESEARCH INC | $72.6M |
| WESTAT, INC. | $63.2M |
| EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE | $46.9M |
ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC led all Education contractors with $372M, 15.4% of obligations.
| Rank | Vendor | Obligations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC | $372M |
| 2 | NELNET SERVICING LLC | $300M |
| 3 | MAXIMUS EDUCATION LLC | $243M |
| 4 | EDFINANCIAL SERVICES LLC | $201M |
| 5 | MISSOURI HIGHER EDUCATION LOAN AUTHORITY | $138M |
| 6 | MAXIMUS FEDERAL SERVICES, INC. | $132M |
| 7 | GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC. | $90.4M |
| 8 | CENTRAL RESEARCH INC | $72.6M |
| 9 | WESTAT, INC. | $63.2M |
| 10 | EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE | $46.9M |
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Department of Education spend on contracts?
The Department of Education obligated $2.4B in contracts in FY2026 to date. The agency recorded 780 awards with an average award size of $3.1M, and obligations fell 3.2% year over year. Fiscal-year obligations were $2.7B in FY21, $2.4B in FY22, $2.4B in FY23, $2.7B in FY24, and $2.5B in FY25.
What does Education buy?
Education buys services concentrated in financial and information technology categories. Other Activities Related to Credit Intermediation received $936M, Computer Systems Design Services received $693M, and Other Computer Related Services received $166M, with additional spending across research, custom programming, consulting, and data processing categories.
Who are Education's largest contractors?
ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC is the largest contractor at $372M, followed by NELNET SERVICING LLC at $300M and MAXIMUS EDUCATION LLC at $243M. Other top vendors include EDFINANCIAL SERVICES LLC at $201M, MISSOURI HIGHER EDUCATION LOAN AUTHORITY at $138M, and MAXIMUS FEDERAL SERVICES, INC. at $132M.
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