Really?
"There are several public university systems that may be interested in purchasing Ashford, said Urdan….The University of Massachusetts and George Mason University are both rumored to be considering purchases."
https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/article/2019/10/09/ashford-university-could-be-sold-nonprofit-university
This is why the stock will crash again. They made a lot of statements to raise stock price and increase shareholder value, but they won't be able to do 70% of what they are telling everyone they will do. The price will crash again when the jig is up and the truth of what's happening sees the day of light.
An well-placed expert in the online ed biz tells me that several states might be interested.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dahn-shaulis/detail/recent-activity/posts/
Previous models:
ECMC takeover of Corinthian Colleges (failed)
https://www.thelayoff.com/corinthian-colleges
Dream Center takeover of EDMC schools (failed)
https://www.thelayoff.com/dceh
Purdue University takeover of Kaplan University (struggling)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereknewton/2019/08/31/early-troubles-in-the-purdue-kaplan-marriage/#79ac4de4670d