Education

Helping schools protect their people, mission and reputation.

A group of five coworkers walk together through a bright modern office corridor, smiling and talking, with one holding a laptop and another a smartphone, all dressed in smart casual business attire.

We work to build a safer place to learn, work and play

Schools, colleges, and universities need insurance programs built around the realities they face today.  

Educational institutions are not just places of learning. They are employers, property owners and community anchors responsible for the safety of the people they serve.

When something goes wrong, the consequences can move quickly. A student injury, cyberattack, misconduct allegation, campus security incident or loss of key funding can affect operations, leadership, reputation and community trust.

That makes effective education insurance more than a set of individual policies. Institutions need programs that reflect how risks connect across the full organization, often under intense public scrutiny.
 

A more specialized approach to education insurance

Protecting an education institution in today’s world depends less on individual insurance products and more on the organization's approach to risk management. The sector has embraced new perspectives here, taking inspiration from large enterprises and tailoring practices to the unique demands of education.

We see clients looking beyond standard property and casualty coverage to education-specialized placements, excess liability strategies, misconduct liability and reputational risk. Title IX and other regulatory concerns add another layer of complexity.

But for too long, universities, colleges, and schools in the U.S. – both private and public – have had limited choice in the insurance market, due in part to market consolidation and years of underinvestment in education-specific solutions.

We have expanded into the United States to provide a fresh perspective, backed by specialists who understand education risk and the pressures institutions face. 

Our Howden education team is built like no other 

Our team has the broadest set of experts we have seen in the Industry.  Each team member focuses on strategies that fit the evolving education industry. From Product innovation and design, broking and carrier strategies for the right education partners, client excellence and engagement and risk and advisory services that are included in our offerings - we are intertwined personally and professionally with serving this industry.
 

New frontier. Proven global experience.

With more than 35 years of experience advising educational institutions, Howden supports clients across the United States, from regional programs to some of the nation’s largest districts and universities.

This is an expansion of capability, not a new entry. Our approach is grounded in established experience, deep market knowledge, and a consistent track record in complex risk environments.

Access to London and Bermuda is also more than a simple yes-or-no question. The real differentiator is the depth of market access. Howden places more than $2 billion annually into the London market and secures over $2.5 billion in Bermuda capacity each year, giving clients meaningful advantages in coverage design, pricing, and available capacity. Our objective is to help educational institutions make informed, defensible risk decisions while protecting their people, mission, and reputation.

The education products we offer

  • A sports trainer kneels on an artificial turf field, holding and spraying a soccer player’s ankle while the player lies on the ground, with a blue medical bag beside them.

    General liability with SML expertise

    Covers claims involving student injury, third-party property damage and sensitive school or campus-related incidents, including sexual misconduct liability.

  • Two young children in yellow raincoats and boots walk along a wet path under a bright yellow umbrella, smiling and splashing near puddles with green trees in the background.

    Umbrella and excess liability

    Enhanced coverage when an institution’s primary policy is not enough to cover large or multiple claims.

  • A person in a blue blouse and glasses stands speaking in front of a blurred audience seated in tiered rows, gesturing with one hand while holding a microphone.

    Workers’ compensation

    Description pertaining to specific industry risk/insurance.

  • An aerial view shows multiple yellow school buses parked in neat, diagonal rows in a large lot, some with white roofs, forming a repeating geometric pattern.

    Auto liability

    Protects against third-party injury or property damage claims involving buses, vans and other school vehicles.

  • A person walks along a leaf-strewn path toward a large, historic stone building covered in ivy, surrounded by tall trees with vibrant autumn foliage in shades of yellow, orange, and red. Sunlight filters through the branches, casting a warm glow over the campus scene.

    Property, equipment breakdown, terrorism

    Addresses covered damage and disruption involving campus property.

  • An aerial, diagonal view of tightly packed shipping containers in various colors—red, orange, teal, and white—stacked in parallel rows, creating a bold geometric pattern across the frame.

    Inland marine insurance

    Covers goods in transit, protecting valuable property such as musical instruments or AV equipment during school trips or events.

  • A young woman works intently on a laptop in a bright, modern open office space, with a large window beside her and an open book in the foreground.

    Cyber liability

    Coverage against losses due to cyberattacks, malicious misuse of computer systems, or data breaches.

  • An adult education classroom scene where a middle‑aged instructor in a rust-colored blazer stands at a table, handing out worksheets to a group of diverse adult students seated around her, with notebooks and phones on the table and a “GRAMMAR RULES” poster and whiteboard visible in the background.

    Financial lines

    Tailored solutions for education institutions, addressing errors and omissions, management liability and other financial risks.

  • An indoor gymnasium undergoing renovation, with stacks of wooden floorboards and scattered planks in the foreground, a portable blue-and-white basketball hoop resting on a bench near the center, gray protective covering spread across most of the court, and empty tiered bleachers lining the far walls beneath a high metal roof.

    Construction and builder’s risk insurance

    Protects growing institutions from risks inherent in the construction or renovation of buildings.

  • Environmental

    Environmental

    Helps education institutions address environmental exposures and liabilities associated with campus operations, construction activities, and regulatory compliance.

  • Crime scene

    Active assailant

    Provides coverage and support designed to help education institutions prepare for, respond to, and recover from active assailant incidents and related threats.

  • International

    International

    Supports education institutions with insurance solutions and risk management strategies for international operations, travel programs, and global exposures.

Other industry products we can offer include:

•    Surety
•    Loss control solutions
•    Clinical trials insurance
•    Miscellaneous professional indemnity
•    Representations (reps) and warranty 
•    Armed guards insurance
•    Claims advocacy

Why choose us? The Howden Difference


We have invested heavily in U.S. expansion, bringing together experienced insurance specialists with deep knowledge of education risk. This strengthens our credibility with underwriters and helps us access markets for education-specific insurance solutions. 

Our team proactively identifies unintended gaps in risk management programs. We look closely at how coverage is structured so the program better reflects each institution’s unique risk profile.

As an employee-owned business, Howden specialists are personally invested in the quality of service they deliver. Working with us, you can expect a team that listens to your needs, understands your risks and cares about protecting your institution and community.

Senior specialists remain engaged from placement through claims, helping education institutions maintain continuity when decisions or losses become more complex.

Other Howden capabilities that are important in your industry

  • Program optimization

    Program optimization

    Reviews the institution’s risk picture to identify changing exposures and areas where the insurance program may need to adapt.

  • People working in an office

    Claims advocacy

    Supports education institutions through complex claims, helping manage the process and work toward resolution.

  • Health & Benefits Team

    Health and benefits

    Helps schools, colleges and universities build benefits strategies that support employees across the organization.

    Learn more
  • Controlled environment

    Loss control

    Helps education institutions identify and mitigate operational risks through practical risk management guidance and preventative strategies.

  • Education governance

    ERM and governance

    Supports institutions in strengthening governance frameworks and enterprise risk management practices to address evolving organizational risks.

  • Training

    Training, webinars and seminars

    Provides educational training opportunities, webinars, and seminars designed to help institutions stay informed on emerging risks and industry best practices.

Ready to talk?

Connect with Howden advisors to review your education insurance program and emerging risks.

Ready to talk?

Connect with Howden advisors to review your education insurance program and emerging risks.

Get in touch