Regent Education, the leading provider of financial aid management and enrollment optimization software solutions for higher education institutions, today announced a $9 million round of funding to support and accelerate the company's growth.

The company closed a $4 million Series C equity financing from both new and existing investors: New Markets Venture Partners joins current lead investor Chrysalis Ventures in the investment syndicate. Additionally, Ares Capital Corporation provided $5 million of debt financing. The funds will be used to allow the company to respond to the tremendous demand for its solutions.

"To prosper in the 21st century, higher education institutions need to offer innovative solutions and modify the way they deliver education," said Robb Doub, General Partner at New Markets Venture Partners. "Increasingly, all types of institutions are turning to non-traditional enrollment models such as non-term, self-paced and competency-based education to meet students' changing needs. Regent's financial aid management system, Regent 8, is the only solution on the market today that can fully support these models, properly positioning these institutions for the changing landscape in higher education."

"We're excited about Regent's continued growth potential," said Wright Steenrod, Partner at Chrysalis Ventures. "The company's innovative solutions resolve complex administrative and regulatory problems for its customers through advanced automation, and theirs is the only solution that supports the rapidly-changing business models in higher education today."

Founded in 2006, Regent Education is a leading provider of software solutions that have revolutionized financial aid management and enrollment processes for schools using non-traditional enrollment models. Today, Regent 8, the eighth version of Regent's financial aid management system, is the only solution that provides end-to-end automation for non-term, nonstandard term, and standard academic years.