Brown Mackie College – Merrillville in Merrillville, Indiana, is a member of the Brown Mackie College system of schools, a collection of private, for-profit educational institutions for career preparation in the business, legal, health sciences, information technology, and creative fields. The Brown Mackie College system of schools has 22 locations throughout the United States, and has a total enrollment of 9,078 students (as of fall 2006). The Brown Mackie College schools are owned by Education Management Corporation, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Brown Mackie College schools provide bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree, diploma, and certificate programs. Brown Mackie College — Merrillville is a branch of Brown Mackie College - Cincinnati. Founded in 1890 by A.N. Hirons as LaPorte Business College in LaPorte, Indiana, the institution later became known as Commonwealth Business College. In 1919, ownership was transferred to Grace and J.J. Moore, who successfully operated the College under the name of Reese School of Business for several decades. In 1975, the College came under the ownership of Steven C. Smith as Commonwealth Business College.