Exhibit 12.1

Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges (a)

(dollars in thousands)

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016		Year Ended December 31, 2015			Year Ended March 31, 2014		Year Ended March 31, 2013		Year Ended March 31, 2012		Year Ended March 31, 2011
Pre-tax income from continuing operations before adjustment for income or loss from equity investees	$	34,900	$	(99,418	)	$	48,661	$	47,728	$	39,406	$	28,145
Fixed charges	18,403		26,537			4,833		3,582		2,650		2,189
Total earnings available for fixed charges	$	53,303	$	(72,881	)	$	53,494	$	51,310	$	42,056	$	30,334
Fixed charges:
Interest factor of rental expense	$	4,665	$	5,416		$	4,254	$	3,214	$	2,650	$	2,189
Interest expense	13,738		21,121			579		368		—		—
Total fixed charges	18,403		26,537			4,833		3,582		2,650		2,189
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges	2.90x		*			11.06x		14.32x		15.87x		13.86x

*Earnings for the year ended December 31, 2015 were inadequate to cover fixed charges by $46,344.

(a) The Advisory Board Company had no preferred equity securities outstanding and did not pay preferred dividends in any of the periods presented. Consequently, the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for each of such periods is identical to the ratio of earnings to fixed charges as indicated above.

The Advisory Board Company computes its ratio of earnings to fixed charges by dividing pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations, before adjustment for income or loss from equity investees, plus fixed charges and less capitalized interest, by fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, including interest expense from amortized premiums, discounts and capitalized expenses related to indebtedness, and the estimated portion of rental expense deemed by the Company to be representative of the interest factor of rental payments under operating leases, which the Company estimates to be one-third of such payments.