Supplemental Prospectus - Form 424B5

Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration No. 333-281930

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To prospectus dated September 17, 2024)

$40,000,000

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

Common Stock

On September 19, 2024, we entered into an At-the-Market Sales Agreement (the "Sales Agreement") with BTIG, LLC, or BTIG, relating to the sale of shares of our common stock, $0.01 par value per share, or our common stock offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, filed as part of our registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-281930). In accordance with the terms of the Sales Agreement, under this prospectus supplement we may offer and sell shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, having an aggregate offering price of up to $40,000,000 from time to time through BTIG, acting as our agent.

We may, from time to time, offer and sell the securities identified above in one or more offerings. The aggregate initial offering price of all securities sold under this prospectus will not exceed $40,000,000.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") under the symbol "BNED." On September 18, 2024, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE was $11.28 per share.

Sales of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus will be made by any method permitted that is deemed an "at the market offering" as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, including sales made directly on or through the NYSE or any other existing trading market for our common stock. BTIG is not required to sell any specific amount, but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices on mutually agreed terms between BTIG and us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

The aggregate compensation payable to BTIG as sales agent equals 2.0% of the gross proceeds of the shares of our common stock sold through it pursuant to the Sales Agreement. See "Plan of Distribution" beginning on page S-17 for additional information regarding the compensation to be paid to BTIG. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, BTIG will be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of BTIG will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts.

Investing in our securities involves risks. See the section entitled "Risk Factors" on page S-5 of this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus and the documents that are incorporated by reference herein and therein.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. The securities are not being offered in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.

BTIG

The date of this prospectus supplement is September 19, 2024.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

Prospectus

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document is part of a registration statement that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a "shelf" registration process and consists of two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering and also supplements and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which provides more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. This prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in the accompanying prospectus. If the information contained in this prospectus supplement differs or varies from, or is inconsistent with, the information contained in the accompanying prospectus, or the information contained in any document incorporated by reference that was filed with the SEC before the date of this prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information set forth in this prospectus supplement.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not, and BTIG has not, authorized anyone else to provide you with information that is in addition to or different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, along with the information contained in any permitted free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. We and BTIG take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may provide.

The information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus supplement or the date of the accompanying prospectus, and the information in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is accurate only as of the date of those respective documents, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or of any sale of our common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. It is important for you to read and consider all information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in making your investment decision. You should read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as well as the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the additional information described under "Where You Can Find More Information" in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus before investing in our common stock.

We further note that the representations, warranties, and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties, and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.

We use various trademarks and trade names in our business, including without limitation our corporate name and logo. All other trademarks or trade names referred to in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein may be referred to without the ^® and ^™ symbols, but such references should not be construed as any indicator that their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, their rights thereto.

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You should not consider this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus to be an offer or solicitation relating to the securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation relating to the securities is not authorized. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the securities and the distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus outside the United States. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus supplement by any person in any jurisdiction if the person making the offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so, or if it is unlawful for you to receive such an offer or solicitation.

Unless otherwise indicated, information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus concerning our business and the industry and markets in which we operate, including with respect to our business prospects, our market position and opportunity, and the competitive landscape, is based on information from our management's estimates, as well as from industry publications, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. Our management's estimates are derived from publicly available information, their knowledge of our business and industry, and assumptions based on such information and knowledge, which they believe to be reasonable. In addition, while we believe that information contained in the industry publications, surveys and studies has been obtained from reliable sources, we have not independently verified any of the data contained in these third-party sources, and the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in these sources is not guaranteed. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances reflected in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained this industry, business, market, and other data from reports, research surveys, studies and similar data prepared by market research firms and other third parties, industry, medical, and general publications, government data and similar sources.

Except as otherwise indicated herein or as the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to "BNED," the "Company," "we," "us," "our," and similar references refer to Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. and, unless the context requires otherwise, its subsidiaries.

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described below and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent filings, each of which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and all of the other information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including our financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. If any of these risks is realized, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose part or all of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties that are not yet identified or that we think are immaterial may also materially harm our business, operating results and financial condition and could result in a complete loss of your investment.

Risks Related to our Common Stock and this Offering

Purchasers in this offering will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of their investment.

The price per share of our common stock being offered may be higher than the net tangible book value per share of our outstanding common stock prior to this offering. Assuming that an aggregate of 3,546,099 shares of our common stock are sold at a price of $11.28 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE on September 18, 2024, for aggregate net proceeds after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses of $39,049,997, new investors in this offering will incur immediate dilution of $16.19 per share. For a more detailed discussion of the foregoing, see "Dilution" in this prospectus supplement. To the extent outstanding stock options or restricted stock, RSUs, performance shares or performance stock units ("PSUs") are exercised or vested, as applicable, there will be further dilution to new investors. In addition, to the extent we need to raise additional capital in the future and we issue additional shares of common stock or securities convertible or exchangeable for our common stock, our then existing stockholders may experience dilution and the new securities may have rights senior to those of our common stock offered in this offering.

We will have broad discretion in how we use the net proceeds of this offering. We may not use these proceeds effectively, which could affect our results of operations and cause our stock price to decline.

Although we currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering in the manner described in the section entitled "Use of Proceeds" in this prospectus supplement, we will have considerable discretion in the application of the net proceeds of this offering. We may use the net proceeds for purposes that do not yield a significant return or any return at all for our stockholders. In addition, pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value. If we do not invest or apply the net proceeds from this offering in ways that enhance stockholder value, we may fail to achieve expected financial results, which could cause our stock price to decline.

The actual number of shares we will issue under the Sales Agreement, at any one time or in total, is uncertain.

Subject to certain limitations in the Sales Agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a placement notice to BTIG at any time throughout the term of the Sales Agreement. The number of shares that are sold by BTIG after delivering a placement notice will fluctuate based on the market price of our common stock during the sales period and limits we set with BTIG. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate based on the market price of our common stock during the sales period, it is not possible at this stage to predict the number of shares that will be ultimately issued.

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The common stock offered hereby will be sold in "at the market offerings," and investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.

Investors who purchase shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and numbers of shares sold, and there is no minimum or maximum sales price. Investors may experience a decline in the value of their shares as a result of share sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.

Risks Relating to our Common Stock and the Securities Market

Our stock price may fluctuate significantly.

We cannot predict the prices at which our common stock may trade. The market price of our common stock may fluctuate widely, depending on many factors, some of which may be beyond our control, including:

Stock markets in general have experienced volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of a particular company. These broad market fluctuations could adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.

Provisions in our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws and of Delaware law may prevent or delay an acquisition of the Company, which could affect the trading price of our common stock.

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our Amended and Restated By-laws contain provisions which, together with applicable Delaware law, may discourage, delay or prevent a merger or acquisition that our stockholders consider favorable, including provisions that:

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In addition, Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or the DGCL, may affect the ability of an "interested stockholder" to engage in certain business combinations, for a period of three years following the time that the stockholder becomes an "interested stockholder".

These provisions may discourage, delay or prevent certain types of transactions involving an actual or a threatened acquisition or change in control of the Company, including unsolicited takeover attempts, even though the transaction may offer our stockholders the opportunity to sell their common stock at a price above the prevailing market price.

Our Amended and Restated By-laws designate courts in the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders' ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.

Our Amended and Restated By-laws provide that, subject to limited exceptions, the state and federal courts of the State of Delaware are the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or our Amended and Restated By-laws or (d) any other action asserting a claim that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of our capital stock will be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to these provisions. This provision may limit a stockholder's ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and employees.

Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our Amended and Restated By-laws inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions.

We recently have not been in compliance with the NYSE's minimum share price requirement and thus were at risk of the NYSE delisting shares of our common stock, which would have an adverse impact on the trading volume, liquidity and market price of shares of our common stock.

On February 27, 2024, we received a letter from the NYSE notifying us that, for the last 30 consecutive business days, the bid price of our common stock had closed below $1.00 per share, the minimum closing bid price required by the continued listing requirements of Rule 802.01C of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. On June 11, 2024, we completed a reverse stock split of the Company's outstanding shares of common stock at a ratio of 1-for-100 (the "Reverse Stock Split"), which was previously approved by stockholders at a special meeting held on June 5, 2024. In connection with the Reverse Stock Split, every 100 shares of the common stock issued and outstanding was converted into one share of the Company's common stock. On July 1, 2024, the Company was notified by the NYSE that the deficiency had been cured and no further action was required by the Company. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to remain in compliance with this or other NYSE continued listing standards. A delisting of shares of our common stock from the NYSE could negatively impact us as it would likely reduce the liquidity and market price of shares of our common stock, reduce the number of investors willing to hold or acquire shares of our common stock, and negatively impact our ability to access equity markets and obtain financing.

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Three of our stockholders collectively own over 72% of the Company's outstanding shares, and their interests could differ from the interests of our other stockholders.

As of June 10, 2024, Immersion Corporation ("Immersion"), Fanatics Retail Group Fulfillment, LLC ("Fanatics") and Vital Fundco, LLC ("Vital") own 42%, 17.1% and 12.3% of the Company's outstanding shares of common stock.

Based on the foregoing, Immersion, Fanatics and Vital have considerable influence or collective veto control regarding the outcome of any transaction or action that requires stockholder approval, including the election of our Board of Directors, mergers, acquisitions, amendments to our charter and various corporate governance actions.

Our Board of Directors is composed of seven members, four of whom are executives and members of the Board of Directors of Immersion Corporation. Immersion has agreed to maintain at least three directors on our Board of Directors that satisfy the independence standard under the NYSE rules applicable to audit committee members. However, Immersion through its stock ownership may have significant influence over the election of all Board members, inclusive of the independent directors.

Each of Immersion, Fanatics and Vital may have interests different than those of other stockholders. For example, they may delay or prevent a change of control of us, even if such a change of control would benefit other stockholders, or pursue strategies that are different from the wishes of other investors. The significant concentration of stock ownership may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock due to investors' perception that conflicts of interest may exist or arise.

The future sales, or the perception of future sales, of shares by existing stockholders may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of common stock in the public market could occur at any time. If our existing stockholders sell substantial amounts of common stock in the public market, or the market perceives that they intend to do so, the market price of our common stock could decline. The registration of shares of common stock for resale creates the possibility of a significant increase in the supply of our common stock in the market. The increased supply, coupled with the potential disparity in purchase prices, may lead to heightened selling pressure, which could negatively affect the public trading price of our common stock.

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, the accompanying prospectus and the documents we have filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and information relating to us and our business that are based on the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to our management. When used herein and therein, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "will," "forecasts," "projections," and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, identify forward-looking statements. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future events and trends discussed in this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus and the documents we have filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.

Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, the outcome of which is subject to certain risks, including, among others:

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Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those described as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or planned. Subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph. Unless required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this prospectus supplement.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We expect the aggregate net proceeds after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses to be approximately $39,049,997, assuming that an aggregate of 3,546,099 shares of our common stock are sold at a price of $11.28 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE on September 18, 2024. We intend to use 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus to repay principal outstanding under our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (without a permanent reduction of the revolving loan commitment), which provides us with an asset-backed revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $325 million with a maturity date of June 9, 2028. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, we have $167.2 million outstanding pursuant to our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. Proceeds from the Credit Facility are and will be used for general corporate purposes, including seasonal working capital needs. The Company has interest-only obligations under the Credit Facility until the maturity date, at which time the total principal then-outstanding is due and payable. Interest under the Credit Facility accrues, at the election of the Company, either (x) based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, which is subject to a floor of 2.50% per annum, plus a spread of 3.50% per annum or (y) at an alternate base rate, which is subject to a floor of 3.50% per annum, plus a spread of 2.50% per annum, provided that, in the event the Company meets certain financial metrics for a consecutive six-month period beginning and ending after June 10, 2025, the foregoing spreads shall be reduced by 0.25% per annum.

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a summary description of the material terms of our securities as of the date of this prospectus, as provided in our (i) Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (our "Certificate of Incorporation") and (ii) By-Laws, as amended (our "By-laws"), which have been filed as exhibits to our periodic reports filed with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. For a more detailed description of these securities, you should read the applicable provisions of Delaware law, our Certificate of Incorporation, and our By-laws.

Authorized Capital Stock

The Company's authorized capital stock consists of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.

Common Stock

Dividend Rights. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as and when may be declared at such times and in such amounts as our Board of Directors (our "Board") in its discretion shall determine.

Voting Rights. Each holder of common stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of common stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation relating to any series of preferred stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of preferred stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation relating to any series of preferred stock) or pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Holders of shares of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights.

Rights upon Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-up. Subject to the preferential liquidation rights of any preferred stock that may be outstanding, upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, holders of our common stock, as such, are entitled to share ratably, in proportion to the number of shares held by them, in our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders.

Preemptive and Conversion Rights. The holders of our common stock do not have preemptive rights, conversion rights, or preferential rights to subscribe for shares of our capital stock.

Fully Paid. The issued and outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. Any additional shares of common stock that we may issue in the future will also be fully paid and non-assessable.

Listing. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "BNED."

Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Transfer Agent and Registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Preferred Stock

Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes our Board to designate and issue from time to time one or more series of preferred stock without stockholder approval. Our Board may fix and determine the preferences, limitations and relative rights of each series of preferred stock.

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Certain Provisions of Delaware Law, Our Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws

Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws

Certain provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation and our By-laws summarized below may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider to be in its best interests, including attempts that might result in a premium being paid over the market price for the shares held by stockholders. These provisions are intended to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened change of control.

Blank Check Preferred Stock. Our Certificate of Incorporation permits us to issue, without any further vote or action by the stockholders, up to five million shares of preferred stock in one or more series and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting the series and the designation of the series, the voting powers (if any) of the shares of the series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions, of the shares of such series. The ability to issue such preferred stock could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could delay or prevent a change in control.

Board Size. Except as otherwise fixed by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation relating to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, the number of the directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors and any vacancies shall only be filled by the Board, and not by the stockholders.

No Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Our Certificate of Incorporation expressly excludes the right of our stockholders to act by written consent. Stockholder action must take place at an annual meeting or at a special meeting of our stockholders.

Special Stockholder Meetings. Under our By-laws, only the chairman of our Board or a majority of the members of our Board are able to call a special meeting of stockholders.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals. Under our By-laws, stockholders of record are able to nominate persons for election to our Board or bring other business constituting a proper matter for stockholder action only by providing proper notice to our secretary. Proper notice must be timely, generally between 90 and 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the prior year's annual meeting, and must include, among other information, the name and address of the stockholder giving the notice, certain information regarding such stockholder's beneficial ownership of our securities and any derivative instruments or other agreements the value of or return on which is based on or linked to the value of or return on our securities as of the date of the notice, certain information relating to each person whom such stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director, including any arrangements or understandings between the nominating stockholder and the nominee, in the case of a director nomination, a representation that such stockholder is a holder of record of our common stock as of the date of the notice and a brief description of any other business such stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting and the reason for conducting such business, and, if such stockholder intends to solicit proxies, a representation to that effect.

Delaware Takeover Statute

We are subject to the provision of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("Section 203"), subject to certain exceptions, prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any "business combination" (as defined below) with any "interested stockholder" (as defined below) for a period of three years following the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless: (1) prior to such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; (2) on consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder

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becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned (x) by persons who are directors and also officers and (y) by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or (3) on or subsequent to such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Section 203 defines "business combination" to include: (1) any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; (2) any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder; (3) subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; (4) any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or (5) the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.

In general, Section 203 defines an "interested stockholder" as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.

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DILUTION

If you invest in our common stock, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the price per share you pay in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering. Our net tangible book value (deficit) of our common stock as of July 27, 2024 was $(185) million, or $(7.07) per share of common stock based upon 26,208,036 shares outstanding. Net tangible book value (deficit) per share is equal to our total tangible assets, less our operating lease right-of-use asset and total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding as of July 27, 2024.

After giving effect to the sale of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $40,000,000 at an assumed offering price of $11.28 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE on September 18, 2024, and after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value (deficit) as of July 27, 2024 would have been $(146) million, or $(4.91) per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $2.16 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $16.19 per share to new investors in this offering.

The following table illustrates this calculation on a per share basis. The as adjusted information is illustrative only and will change based on the actual price to the public, the actual number of shares sold and other terms of the offering determined at the time shares of our common stock are sold pursuant to this prospectus supplement. The as adjusted information assumes that all of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $40,000,000 is sold at the assumed offering price of $11.28 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE on September 18, 2024. The shares sold in this offering, if any, will be sold from time to time at various prices.

The above table is based on 26,208,036 shares outstanding as of July 27, 2024, which excludes:

To the extent any options are exercised or restricted stock or RSUs vest, new options, restricted stock awards, RSUs, performance shares or PSUs are issued under our Plan, or we otherwise issue additional shares of common stock in the future, there will be further dilution to new investors.

In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations, even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We have entered into the Sales Agreement with BTIG under which we may offer and sell shares of our common stock up to the Maximum Amount (as defined in the Sales Agreement) from time to time through, at our discretion, BTIG, or directly to BTIG Agents acting as principal.

Sales, if any, of our common stock made through BTIG, as contemplated by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, may be made by means of transactions that are deemed to be "at the market offerings" as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, including ordinary brokers' transactions on the NYSE at market prices, in block transactions or by any other method permitted by law, at prices related to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices, or as otherwise agreed by us and BTIG. As our agent, BTIG will not engage in any transactions that stabilize the price of our common stock.

Upon its acceptance of written instructions from us, BTIG will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to solicit offers to purchase shares of our common stock, as our agent and on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Sales Agreement. If we elect to offer shares of our common stock, we will instruct BTIG as to the maximum number of shares of our common stock to be sold by it, as our agent, a minimum sales price and the date or dates on which such shares are to be sold. We may instruct BTIG not to sell shares of our common stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us in any instruction. We or BTIG may suspend the offering of shares of our common stock under the Sales Agreement by BTIG, as our agent, upon proper notice to the other party.

If shares of our common stock are sold by BTIG, as our agent, in an at the market offering, BTIG will provide written confirmation to us promptly following the close of trading on the NYSE each trading day on which shares of our common stock are sold under the Sales Agreement. Each confirmation will include the number of shares of our common stock sold on the preceding day, the gross sales price, the net proceeds to us and the compensation payable by us to BTIG in connection with the sales.

We will pay BTIG a commission equal to two percent (2.0%) of the gross proceeds from the sales of our common stock sold through BTIG, as our agent, under the Sales Agreement. The remaining sales proceeds, after deducting any transaction fees, transfer taxes or similar taxes or fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales of shares our common stock, will be our net proceeds (before the expenses referred to in the next paragraph) from the sale of shares of our common stock in the offering.

We estimate that the total expenses payable by us in connection with the program to offer shares of our common stock described in this prospectus supplement, excluding commissions payable to BTIG and any discounts payable to BTIG and any other deductions described in the paragraph above, will be approximately $150,000. In addition, we have agreed to reimburse BTIG for fifty percent (50.0%) of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by BTIG, including the fees and disbursements of counsel to BTIG, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Sales Agreement.

Under the terms of the Sales Agreement, we may, if agreed to by BTIG, also sell shares of our common stock to BTIG, as principal for its own account, at a price per share and such other terms to be agreed upon at the time of sale. However, BTIG has no obligation to agree to purchase shares of our common stock as principal.

Settlement for sales of our common stock under the Sales Agreement will occur on the first trading day following the date on which any sales are made, or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and BTIG in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

We will report at least quarterly the number of shares of our common stock sold through BTIG, as our agent, under the Sales Agreement, the net proceeds to us and the compensation paid by us to BTIG in connection with the sales of our common stock, if any.

S-17

BTIG has agreed that to the extent required by Regulation M under the Exchange Act, they will not engage in any market making activities involving our common stock while the offering is ongoing under this prospectus supplement.

In connection with the sale of common stock on our behalf, BTIG may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of BTIG may be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to BTIG against certain liabilities, including civil liabilities under the Securities Act.

The offering of shares of our common stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (1) the sale of shares of our common stock subject to the Sales Agreement equal to the Maximum Amount and (2) the termination of the Sales Agreement. The Sales Agreement may be terminated by BTIG or us at any time upon five days' notice to the other party, or BTIG at any time in certain circumstances set forth in the Sales Agreement.

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol "BNED."

Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or BTIG that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus supplement may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus supplement or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus supplement comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus supplement in any jurisdiction where any such offer or a solicitation is unlawful.

Other Relationships

BTIG and its affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. BTIG and its affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, a variety of these services to us and to persons and entities with relationships with is, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, BTIG and its affiliates, officers, directors and employees may purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to our assets, securities and/or instruments (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) and/or persons and entities with relationships with us. BTIG and its affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long and/or short positions in such assets, securities and instruments.

S-18

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the shares of common stock being offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Palo Alto, California. BTIG has been represented by Cozen O'Connor P.C., Minneapolis, Minnesota.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. appearing in the Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 27, 2024 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of the registration statement but the registration statement includes and incorporates by reference additional information and exhibits. This prospectus supplement does not contain all the information set forth in the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules, portions of which have been omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information about us, we refer you to the registration statement and to its exhibits and schedules. Certain information in the registration statement has been omitted from this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in accordance with the rules of the SEC. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding companies, such as ours, that file documents electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov. The information on the SEC's website is not part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, and any references to this website or any other website are inactive textual references only.

We also make available free of charge our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and amendments to those reports, on our website at www.bned.com as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such documents with the SEC. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus.

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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC permits us to "incorporate by reference" the information contained in documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents rather than by including them in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Information that is incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and you should read it with the same care that you read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information that is either contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and will be considered to be a part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus from the date those documents are filed. We have filed with the SEC, and incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus:

We also incorporate by reference all additional documents that we file with the SEC under the terms of Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are filed after the initial filing date of the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is a part and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, as well as between the date of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the termination of any offering of securities offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We are not, however, incorporating, in each case, any documents or information that we are deemed to furnish and not file in accordance with SEC rules.

The documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are also available on our corporate website at www.bned.com under the heading "Investors." Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus unless specifically incorporated herein or therein by reference. You may obtain copies of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus from us free of charge by requesting them in writing or by telephone at the following address:

Chief Financial Officer

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

120 Mountain View Blvd. Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

Telephone: (908) 991-2966

S-20

PROSPECTUS

$40,000,000

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

Debt Securities

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Warrants

Units

Rights

We may, from time to time, offer and sell the securities identified above in one or more offerings. The aggregate initial offering price of all securities sold under this prospectus will not exceed $40,000,000.

This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which these securities will be offered. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements will also describe the manner in which these securities will be offered and may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and any applicable accompanying prospectus supplement, together with the information incorporated by reference and any related free writing prospectus, before you invest.

We may offer and sell the securities separately or together in any combination for sale directly to investors or through underwriters, dealers or agents. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of these securities we will set forth their names and describe their compensation in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") under the symbol "BNED." On August 30, 2024, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE was $13.00 per share.

Investing in our securities involves risks. See the section entitled "Risk Factors" on page 2 of this prospectus and any similar section included in or incorporated by reference into any applicable accompanying prospectus supplement and in the documents we incorporate by reference herein and therein.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. The securities are not being offered in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.

The date of this prospectus is September 17, 2024.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any free-writing prospectus contain and incorporate by reference information that you should consider when making your investment decision. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any applicable free writing prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, is accurate only as of the dates of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

i

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a "shelf" registration, or continuous offering, process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell separately or together in any combination the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $40,000,000.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the offered securities. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. Any prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus or information incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement that is of a more recent date, may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. The registration statement we filed with the SEC includes exhibits that provide more detail of the matters discussed in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the related exhibits filed with the SEC, any prospectus supplement, and any applicable free writing prospectus, together with additional information described under the headings "Where You Can Find More Information," and "Incorporation by Reference," before making your investment decision.

Except as otherwise indicated herein or as the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to "BNED," the "Company," "we," "us," "our," and similar references refer to Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. and, unless the context requires otherwise, its subsidiaries.

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risk. The prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering will contain or incorporate by reference a discussion of risks applicable to an investment in the securities offered. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the specific factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" included in or incorporated by reference herein and in any applicable prospectus supplement together with all of the other information contained in the prospectus supplement or appearing in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including the risk factors incorporated by reference contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. See "Where You Can Find More Information." The risks and uncertainties described in any applicable prospectus supplement and in the documents we incorporate by reference are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.

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BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC.

We are one of the largest contract operators of physical and virtual bookstores for college and university campuses and K-12 institutions across the United States. We are also one of the largest textbook wholesalers and inventory management hardware and software providers. We operate 1,164 physical, virtual, and custom bookstores and serve more than 5.7 million students, delivering essential educational content, tools and general merchandise within a dynamic omnichannel retail environment.

The strengths of our business include our ability to compete by developing new products and solutions to meet market needs, our large operating footprint with direct access to students and faculty, our well-established, deep relationships with academic partners and stable, long-term contracts and our well-recognized brands. We provide product and service offerings designed to address the most pressing issues in higher education, including equitable access, enhanced convenience and improved affordability through innovative course material delivery models designed to drive improved student experiences and outcomes.

The Barnes & Noble brand (licensed from our former parent) along with our subsidiary brands,BNC and MBS, are synonymous with innovation in bookselling and campus retailing, and are widely recognized and respected brands in the United States. Our large college footprint, reputation, and credibility in the marketplace not only support our marketing efforts to universities, students, and faculty, but are also important to our relationship with leading publishers who rely on us as one of their primary distribution channels.

Our principal executive offices are located at 120 Mountain View Blvd, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, and our telephone number at that location is (908) 991-2665. Our Internet address is www.bned.com. Except for the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the information contained on our website is not part of this prospectus and should not be relied upon in connection with making an investment decision.

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

When used in this prospectus, words such as "intend," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "will," "should," "would," "could," "may," "designed," "potential," and similar expressions, or the negative of such expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or otherwise implied by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We will discuss many of these risks and uncertainties in greater detail in any prospectus supplement under the heading "Risk Factors." Additional cautionary statements or discussions of risks and uncertainties that could affect our results or the achievement of the expectations described in forward-looking statements may also be contained in the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus.

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. You should, however, review additional disclosures we make in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include additions to working capital, financing of capital expenditures, repayment or redemption of existing indebtedness, repurchases of stock and future acquisitions and strategic investment opportunities. Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, pending the application of net proceeds, we expect to invest the net proceeds in short- and intermediate-term, interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following is a summary of the general terms of the debt securities that we may issue under this prospectus. We will file a prospectus supplement that may contain additional terms when we issue debt securities. The terms presented here, together with the terms in a related prospectus supplement, together with any pricing supplement or term sheet, will be a description of the material terms of the debt securities.

We may issue, from time to time, debt securities, in one or more series. These debt securities that we may issue include senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities, subordinated debt securities, convertible debt securities and exchangeable debt securities. The debt securities we offer will be issued under an indenture between us and the trustee named in the indenture. The following is a summary of the material provisions of the form of indenture filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. All capitalized terms have the meanings specified in the indenture. For each series of debt securities, the applicable prospectus supplement for the series may change and supplement the summary below.

As used in this section only, "we," "us" and "our" refer to Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. excluding our subsidiaries, unless expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.

General Terms of the Indenture

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities for any series of debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us. For each series of debt securities, any restrictive covenants for those debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement for those debt securities.

We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as "discount securities," which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may, for United States federal income tax purposes, be treated as if they were issued with "original issue discount," or OID, because of interest payment and other characteristics. Special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with original issue discount will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.

You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities for a description of the following terms of the debt securities offered by that prospectus supplement and by this prospectus:

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The applicable prospectus supplement will present material United States federal income tax considerations for holders of any debt securities and the securities exchange or quotation system on which any debt securities are to be listed or quoted.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

Debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our equity securities or other securities. The terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:

7

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

We cannot consolidate with or merge with or into, or transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to, any person, unless we are the surviving corporation or the successor person is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture. In addition, we cannot complete such a transaction unless immediately after completing the transaction, no event of default under the indenture, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default under the indenture, has occurred and is continuing. When the successor person has assumed our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture, we will be discharged from all our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture except in limited circumstances.

This covenant would not apply to any recapitalization transaction, a change of control affecting us or a highly leveraged transaction, unless the transaction or change of control were structured to include a merger or consolidation or transfer or lease of all or substantially all of our assets.

Events of Default

The indenture provides that the following will be "events of default" with respect to any series of debt securities:

An event of default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture. For each series of debt securities, any modifications to the above events of default will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement for those debt securities.

The indenture provides that if an event of default specified in the first, second, third, fourth or sixth bullets above occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all those debt securities (or, in the case of discount securities or indexed securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) to be due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the fifth bullet above occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of all those debt securities (or, in the case of discount securities or indexed securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) will be due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder. In certain cases, holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of holders of all those debt securities, rescind and annul a declaration of acceleration.

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The indenture imposes limitations on suits brought by holders of debt securities against us. Except for actions for payment of overdue principal or interest, no holder of debt securities of any series may institute any action against us under the indenture unless:

We will be required to file annually with the trustee a certificate, signed by one of our officers, stating whether or not the officer knows of any default by us in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any condition or covenant of the indenture.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

We can discharge or decrease our obligations under the indenture as stated below.

We may discharge obligations to holders of any series of debt securities that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that have either become due and payable or are by their terms to become due and payable, or are scheduled for redemption, within one year. We may effect a discharge by irrevocably depositing with the trustee cash or government obligations, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be enough to pay when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities and any mandatory sinking fund payments.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may also discharge any and all of our obligations to holders of any series of debt securities at any time, which we refer to as defeasance. We may also be released from the obligations imposed by any covenants of any outstanding series of debt securities and provisions of the indenture, and we may omit to comply with those covenants without creating an event of default under the trust declaration, which we refer to as covenant defeasance. We may effect defeasance and covenant defeasance only if, among other things:

In the case of a defeasance by us, the opinion we deliver must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service issued, or a change in United States federal income tax law occurring, after the date of the indenture, since such a result would not occur under the United States federal income tax laws in effect on that date.

Although we may discharge or decrease our obligations under the indenture as described in the two preceding paragraphs, we may not avoid, among other things, our duty to register the transfer or exchange of any series of debt securities, to replace any temporary, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen series of debt securities or to maintain an office or agency in respect of any series of debt securities.

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Modification of the Indenture

The indenture provides that we and the trustee may enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities to, among other things:

The indenture also provides that we and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of each series of debt securities affected by such supplemental indenture then outstanding, add any provisions to, or change in any manner, eliminate or modify in any way the provisions of, the indenture or any supplemental indenture or modify in any manner the rights of the holders of the debt securities. We and the trustee may not, however, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:

10

The indenture provides that the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series, by notice to the relevant trustee, may on behalf of the holders of the debt securities of that series waive any default and its consequences under the indenture except:

Concerning the Trustee

The indenture provides that there may be more than one trustee under the indenture, each for one or more series of debt securities. If there are different trustees for different series of debt securities, each trustee will be a trustee of a trust under the indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee under that indenture. Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, any action permitted to be taken by a trustee may be taken by such trustee only on the one or more series of debt securities for which it is the trustee under the indenture. Any trustee under the indenture may resign or be removed from one or more series of debt securities. All payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery of, the debt securities of a series will be effected by the trustee for that series at an office designated by the trustee in New York, New York.

The indenture provides that, except during the continuance of an event of default, the trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the indenture. During the existence of an event of default, the trustee will exercise those rights and powers vested in it under the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs.

If the trustee becomes a creditor of ours, the indenture places limitations on the right of the trustee to obtain payment of claims or to realize on property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee may engage in other transactions. If it acquires any conflicting interest relating to any duties concerning the debt securities, however, it must eliminate the conflict or resign as trustee.

No Individual Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers or Directors

The indenture provides that no past, present or future director, officer, stockholder or employee of ours, any of our affiliates, or any successor corporation, in their capacity as such, shall have any individual liability for any of our obligations, covenants or agreements under the debt securities or the indenture.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a summary description of the material terms of our securities as of the date of this prospectus, as provided in our (i) Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (our "Certificate of Incorporation") and (ii) By-Laws, as amended (our "By-laws"), which have been filed as exhibits to our periodic reports filed with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. For a more detailed description of these securities, you should read the applicable provisions of Delaware law, our Certificate of Incorporation, and our By-laws.

Authorized Capital Stock

The Company's authorized capital stock consists of 10,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.

Common Stock

Dividend Rights. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as and when may be declared at such times and in such amounts as our Board of Directors (our "Board") in its discretion shall determine.

Voting Rights. Each holder of common stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of common stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation relating to any series of preferred stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of preferred stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation relating to any series of preferred stock) or pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Holders of shares of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights.

Rights upon Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-up. Subject to the preferential liquidation rights of any preferred stock that may be outstanding, upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, holders of our common stock, as such, are entitled to share ratably, in proportion to the number of shares held by them, in our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders.

Preemptive and Conversion Rights. The holders of our common stock do not have preemptive rights, conversion rights, or preferential rights to subscribe for shares of our capital stock.

Fully Paid. The issued and outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. Any additional shares of common stock that we may issue in the future will also be fully paid and non-assessable.

Listing. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "BNED."

Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Transfer Agent and Registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Preferred Stock

Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes our Board to designate and issue from time to time one or more series of preferred stock without stockholder approval. Our Board may fix and determine the preferences, limitations and relative rights of each series of preferred stock.

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Certain Provisions of Delaware Law, Our Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws

Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws

Certain provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation and our By-laws summarized below may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider to be in its best interests, including attempts that might result in a premium being paid over the market price for the shares held by stockholders. These provisions are intended to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened change of control.

Blank Check Preferred Stock. Our Certificate of Incorporation permits us to issue, without any further vote or action by the stockholders, up to five million shares of preferred stock in one or more series and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting the series and the designation of the series, the voting powers (if any) of the shares of the series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions, of the shares of such series. The ability to issue such preferred stock could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could delay or prevent a change in control.

Board Size. Except as otherwise fixed by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation relating to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, the number of the directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors and any vacancies shall only be filled by the Board, and not by the stockholders.

No Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Our Certificate of Incorporation expressly excludes the right of our stockholders to act by written consent. Stockholder action must take place at an annual meeting or at a special meeting of our stockholders.

Special Stockholder Meetings. Under our By-laws, only the chairman of our Board or a majority of the members of our Board are able to call a special meeting of stockholders.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals. Under our By-laws, stockholders of record are able to nominate persons for election to our Board or bring other business constituting a proper matter for stockholder action only by providing proper notice to our secretary. Proper notice must be timely, generally between 90 and 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the prior year's annual meeting, and must include, among other information, the name and address of the stockholder giving the notice, certain information regarding such stockholder's beneficial ownership of our securities and any derivative instruments or other agreements the value of or return on which is based on or linked to the value of or return on our securities as of the date of the notice, certain information relating to each person whom such stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director, including any arrangements or understandings between the nominating stockholder and the nominee, in the case of a director nomination, a representation that such stockholder is a holder of record of our common stock as of the date of the notice and a brief description of any other business such stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting and the reason for conducting such business, and, if such stockholder intends to solicit proxies, a representation to that effect.

Delaware Takeover Statute

We are subject to the provision of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("Section 203"), subject to certain exceptions, prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any "business combination" (as defined below) with any "interested stockholder" (as defined below) for a period of three years following the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless: (1) prior to such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; (2) on consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder

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becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned (x) by persons who are directors and also officers and (y) by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or (3) on or subsequent to such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Section 203 defines "business combination" to include: (1) any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; (2) any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder; (3) subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; (4) any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or (5) the receipt by the interestedstockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.

In general, Section 203 defines an "interested stockholder" as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

The following description of the depositary shares does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by the relevant deposit agreement and the depositary receipts with respect to the depositary shares relating to any particular series of preferred stock. You should read these documents as they, and not this description, will define your rights as a holder of depositary shares. Forms of these documents will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of depositary shares.

General

If we elect to offer fractional interests in shares of preferred stock, we will provide for the issuance by a depositary to the public of receipts for depositary shares. Each depositary share will represent fractional interests of preferred stock. We will deposit the shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares under a deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company selected by us. The bank or trust company must have its principal office in the United States and a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. The depositary receipts will evidence the depositary shares issued under the deposit agreement.

The deposit agreement will contain terms applicable to the holders of depositary shares in addition to the terms stated in the depositary receipts. Each owner of depositary shares will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in the underlying shares of preferred stock. The depositary will issue the depositary receipts to individuals purchasing the fractional interests in shares of the related preferred stock according to the terms of the offering described in a prospectus supplement.

Dividends and Other Distributions

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received for the preferred stock to the entitled record holders of depositary shares in proportion to the number of depositary shares that the holder owns on the relevant record date. The depositary will distribute only an amount that can be distributed without attributing to any holder of depositary shares a fraction of one cent. The depositary will add the undistributed balance to and treat it as part of the next sum received by the depositary for distribution to holders of depositary shares.

If there is a non-cash distribution, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the entitled record holders of depositary shares, in proportion, insofar as possible, to the number of depositary shares owned by the holders, unless the depositary determines, after consultation with us, that it is not feasible to make such distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders. The deposit agreement also will contain provisions relating to how any subscription or similar rights that we may offer to holders of the preferred stock will be available to the holders of the depositary shares.

Conversion, Exchange, Redemption and Liquidation

If any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares may be converted or exchanged, each record holder of depositary receipts will have the right or obligation to convert or exchange the depositary shares represented by the depositary receipts.

The terms on which the depositary shares relating to the preferred stock of any series may be redeemed, and any amounts distributable upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement.

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Voting

When the depositary receives notice of a meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the particulars of the meeting to the record holders of the depositary shares. Each record holder of depositary shares on the record date may instruct the depositary on how to vote the shares of preferred stock underlying the holder's depositary shares. The depositary will try, if practical, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares according to the instructions. We will agree to take all reasonable action requested by the depositary to enable it to vote as instructed.

Amendments

We and the depositary may agree to amend the deposit agreement and the depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares. Any amendment that (a) imposes or increases certain fees, taxes or other charges payable by the holders of the depositary shares as described in the deposit agreement or that (b) otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of holders of depositary shares, will not take effect until 30 days after the depositary has mailed notice of the amendment to the record holders of depositary shares. Any holder of depositary shares that continues to hold its shares at the end of the 30-day period will be deemed to have agreed to the amendment.

Termination

We may direct the depositary to terminate the deposit agreement by mailing a notice of termination to holders of depositary shares at least 30 days prior to termination. In addition, a deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:

Payment of Fees and Expenses

We will pay all fees, charges and expenses of the depositary, including the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary shares will pay transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges as are stated in the deposit agreement for their accounts.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

At any time, the depositary may resign by delivering notice to us, and we may remove the depositary. Resignations or removals will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of the appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.

Reports

The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary shares all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the depositary and that we are required by law, the rules of an applicable securities exchange or our Certificate of Incorporation to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock. Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if the depositary is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstances beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. The deposit agreement limits our obligations and the depositary's obligations to performance in good faith of the duties stated in the deposit agreement. Neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding connected with any depositary shares or preferred stock unless the holders of depositary shares requesting us to do so furnish us with satisfactory indemnity. In performing our obligations, we and the depositary may rely upon the written advice of our counsel or accountants, on any information that competent people provide to us and on documents that we believe are genuine.

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, depositary shares, or any combination thereof. We may issue warrants independently or together with any other securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from the other offered securities. Each series of warrants may be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into by us with a warrant agent. The applicable warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. Further terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreements will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any particular issue of warrants will describe the terms of the warrants, including, as applicable, the following:

We and the applicable warrant agent may amend or supplement the warrant agreement for a series of warrants without the consent of the holders of the warrants issued thereunder to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may, from time to time, issue units consisting of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, or rights or any combination of the securities that may be offered under this prospectus, in one or more series. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. We may enter into one or more unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent will be a bank or trust company that we select. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately at any time, or at any time before a specified date.

You should read any prospectus supplement related to the units being offered, as well as the complete unit agreements that contain the terms of the units. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or will incorporate by reference from another report that we file with the SEC, the form of each unit agreement relating to units offered under this prospectus.

Any applicable prospectus supplement may describe, among other things:

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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

We may issue rights to purchase common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, depositary shares, warrants, units or any combination of those securities. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms and conditions for each right. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the rights as described in this prospectus.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms and conditions of the issue of rights being offered, the rights agreement relating to the rights and any rights certificates representing the rights, including, as applicable:

Each right will entitle the holder of rights to purchase for cash the specified number of shares or principal amount, as applicable, of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities or a combination of those securities, at the exercise price provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and, where applicable, the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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FORMS OF SECURITIES

Each debt security, depositary share, warrant, unit and right will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, certificated securities will be issued in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities, depositary shares, warrants, units or rights represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor's beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.

Registered Global Securities

We may issue the registered debt securities, depositary shares, warrants, units and rights in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.

If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants' accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture, deposit agreement, warrant agreement, unit agreement or rights agreement. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security:

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Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that registered global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture, deposit agreement, warrant agreement, unit agreement or rights agreement.

We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture, deposit agreement, warrant agreement, unit agreement or rights agreement, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

We will make payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities, and any payments to holders with respect to depositary shares, warrants, units or rights, represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. None of us, the trustees, the depositaries for depositary shares, the warrant agents, the units agents, the rights agents or any other agent of ours, agent of the trustees, agent of such depositaries, agent of the warrant agents, agent of the units agents, or agent of the rights agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders on that registered global security, will immediately credit participants' accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that standing customer instructions and customary practices will govern payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through the participants, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in "street name." We also expect that any of these payments will be the responsibility of those participants.

If the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee, warrant agent, unit agent, rights agent or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary's instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depositary.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus to one or more underwriters or dealers for public offering and sale by them or to investors directly or through agents, including in underwritten public offerings, at-the-market offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. The accompanying prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering and the method of distribution and will identify any firms acting as underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering, including:

Only those underwriters identified in such prospectus supplement are deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities offered in the prospectus supplement.

The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at prices determined as the applicable prospectus supplement specifies. The securities may be sold through an at the market offering, a rights offering, forward contracts or similar arrangements. In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.

In connection with the sale of the securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and also may receive commissions from securities purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and the dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.

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We will provide in the applicable prospectus supplement information regarding any underwriting discounts or other compensation that we pay to underwriters or agents in connection with the securities offering, and any discounts, concessions or commissions that underwriters allow to dealers. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the securities distribution may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts, commissions or concessions they receive and any profit they realize on the resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933. Underwriters and their controlling persons, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification against and contribution toward specific civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. Some of the underwriters, dealers or agents who participate in the securities distribution may engage in other transactions with, and perform other services for, us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

Our common stock is currently listed on the New York Stock Exchange, but any other securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.

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LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated, the validity of any securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Palo Alto, California.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. appearing in the Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 27, 2024 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933. This prospectus is part of the registration statement but the registration statement includes and incorporates by reference additional information and exhibits. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding companies, such as ours, that file documents electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov. The information on the SEC's website is not part of this prospectus, and any references to this website or any other website are inactive textual references only.

We also make available free of charge our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and amendments to those reports, on our website at www.bned.com as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such documents with the SEC. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus.

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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC permits us to "incorporate by reference" the information contained in documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents rather than by including them in this prospectus. Information that is incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and you should read it with the same care that you read this prospectus. Later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information that is either contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus, and will be considered to be a part of this prospectus from the date those documents are filed. We have filed with the SEC, and incorporate by reference in this prospectus:

We also incorporate by reference all additional documents that we file with the SEC under the terms of Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are filed after the initial filing date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, as well as between the date of this prospectus and the termination of any offering of securities offered by this prospectus. We are not, however, incorporating, in each case, any documents or information that we are deemed to furnish and not file in accordance with SEC rules.

The documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus are also available on our corporate website at www.bned.com under the heading "Investors." Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus, and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this report unless specifically incorporated herein by reference You may obtain copies of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from us free of charge by requesting them in writing or by telephone at the following address:

Chief Financial Officer

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

120 Mountain View Blvd. Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

Telephone: (908) 991-2966

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$40,000,000

Common Stock

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

BTIG

September 19, 2024