CEA CAPA Education Abroad

What CEA CAPA Education Abroad does

CEA CAPA Education Abroad is a Phoenix-headquartered (legally incorporated in Illinois) for-profit study-abroad and international-internship provider founded in 1997, serving primarily U.S. undergraduate and graduate students. The company operates a hybrid B2B2C model: students enroll either directly through the ceastudyabroad.com website with support from an internal academic-advisor sales team, or indirectly via articulation agreements with their home U.S. universities. Program inventory spans semester, summer, and academic-year formats across 20+ cities in 12 countries (Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, England, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain), with academic credit transcripted through the University of New Haven acting as School of Record under NECHE accreditation.

The technology stack centers on the MyCEA student portal — a web-based platform for applications, documents, housing assignment, and academic management — hosted on Amazon Web Services and Azure, with Salesforce as the CRM layer and Parchment integrated for transcript ordering. Revenue is generated primarily through bundled program fees ranging from approximately $8,995 (summer pre-health seminars) to $21,895 (semester engineering programs), supplemented by housing fees, optional CEASecure refund protection ($275-$1,000 depending on term length), specialized course fees (e.g., $200 for Business Consulting), and ancillary services such as alumni Go-Again discounts. The portfolio has been expanded significantly through acquisitions: Atlantis (October 2024) for pre-health and pre-law experiential learning, and CIS Abroad, CISaustralia, and Barcelona SAE (July 2025), adding 200+ hospital and 100+ law firm partners and 38 additional locations.

Customer acquisition combines university partnership relationships, third-party review platforms (Go Overseas 2023 Best Study Abroad Provider), social channels, and a faculty/institutional-relations team. The customer base is highly distributed: testimonial evidence spans Mississippi College, University of Mississippi, UMass, USC, and University of Miami students, with no dominant single-institution anchor. Compliance posture includes PCI DSS 3.0 for payment processing and annual SSAE 16 reviews of third-party vendors. Industry affiliations (Forum on Education Abroad, NAFSA, CANIE Accord, IIE Generation Study Abroad, Diversity Abroad) reinforce the company's positioning as an established mid-market operator in the education-abroad category.

Name

CEA CAPA Education Abroad

Legal name

CEA CAPA Education Abroad, Inc.

Website

https://ceastudyabroad.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

CEA CAPA Education Abroad is a Phoenix-based study-abroad and international-internship provider serving U.S. university students across 20+ cities in 12 countries, combining a B2B2C university-partnership model with direct enrollment and credit transfer through the University of New Haven.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Study Abroad and International Education Programs

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Hybrid, Multi-Location & Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Short-Term Certificate & Micro-Credential Programs (International) (EDAIAIAI), Professional & Executive Short Courses (Non-Degree, International) (EDAIAIAH), Faculty-Led & Custom Group Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAA)

Keywords

• Study abroad programs
• International internships
• Education abroad services
• Cultural immersion programs
• Academic credit transfer

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Study Abroad Program Fees: Comprehensive program fees covering tuition, registration, orientation, housing, cultural excursions, student support services, and administrative costs. Fees range from approximately $8,995 to $21,895 depending on program duration and location.
2. Housing Accommodations: Housing fees included in program price for shared rooms, with private room options available for supplemental fees. Various housing types include apartments, student residences, and apart-hotels.
3. Course and Experiential Fees: Additional fees for specialized courses such as Business Consulting ($200 additional fee) to cover active learning components beyond typical course costs.
4. CEASecure Refund Plan: Optional refund plan providing trip cancellation and interruption coverage: $475 for semester/trimester programs, $275 for summer/short term programs, $1,000 for academic year programs.
5. Scholarships and Grants: CEA CAPA offers internal scholarships and grants for students, including Go-Again discounts ($500-$1,000) for alumni returning for additional programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CEA CAPA Education Abroad provides high-quality study abroad programs (semester, summer, academic year) and international internship opportunities for U.S. university students across 12 countries and 20+ cities. Programs include tuition at international study centers, standardized housing, cultural excursions, visa advising, and 24/7 emergency support, with academic credit transcripted through the University of New Haven (School of Record). Specialized experiential learning tracks in pre-health and pre-law (via the Atlantis acquisition) place students in 200+ hospitals and 100+ law firms globally.

Product overview

CEA CAPA Education Abroad is a study abroad provider operating as a unified platform offering multiple program types across 12 countries and 21 cities. The core offerings include Study Abroad, Intern Abroad, Study + Internship, and Study + Consulting programs delivered through CEA CAPA's own study centers and partner institutions. The portfolio has been expanded through acquisitions (Atlantis for pre-health/pre-law experiential learning) and partnerships (CIS Abroad, Barcelona SAE). The company also provides related services including a student portal (MyCEA), transcript services via Parchment, financial options (scholarships, flight credits, payment plans), and the CEASecure refund protection plan. Academic credits are typically transcripted through the University of New Haven as School of Record.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Study Abroad Programs Semester, summer, and academic-year programs at CEA CAPA study centers in 12 countries, allowing students to enroll in courses, earn transferable U.S. academic credits, and live in supported housing abroad. Designed for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students.
• Intern Abroad International internship placement programs across Business, Engineering, Health & Science, Communication & Media, and Culture & Arts career fields in 12 countries for U.S. university students seeking professional experience abroad.
• Study + Internship Abroad Combined academic study and professional internship program allowing students to earn academic credit while gaining international work experience during a single term abroad.
• Study + Consulting Abroad Academic program combined with a business consulting project for academic credit, enabling students to apply classroom learning to real-world consulting engagements with international organizations.
• Pre-Health Abroad Experiential learning programs for pre-health and pre-med students, including clinical shadowing, seminar programs, and placements at international hospital partners across the Atlantis network.
• Pre-Law Abroad Experiential learning programs for pre-law students with placements at international law firm partners, providing exposure to global legal systems and practices through the Lex Fellowship and Atlantis networks.
• Atlantis Experiential Learning Programs Experiential education programs acquired via the Atlantis acquisition (October 2024), specializing in shadowing and clinical experiences for health/pre-med and pre-law students across 38 locations in 12 countries with 200+ hospital and 100+ law firm partners.
• The Lex Fellowship Fellowship program for pre-law students providing experiential learning and professional development opportunities in international legal settings, operated as part of the Atlantis/Lex portfolio.
• CIS Abroad Programs Study abroad program offerings integrated into the CEA CAPA network following the CIS Abroad acquisition (July 2025), expanding destination coverage and student support services.
• Barcelona SAE Programs Study abroad program offerings specialized in Barcelona and Spanish destinations, integrated into the CEA CAPA network following the Barcelona SAE acquisition (July 2025).
• CEA CAPA Scholarships and Grants Need- and merit-based funding opportunities for enrolled students, including flight credits up to $1,250, exclusive scholarships, and partnership discounts to reduce program cost.
• CEASecure Refund Plan Optional refund protection plan allowing students to withdraw from programs up to one week before departure for covered reasons including medical withdrawal, terrorist attacks, job loss, and residence destruction. Priced at $475 (semester/trimester), $275 (summer/short term), or $1,000 (academic year).
• Payment Plans Interest-free installment payment plan allowing students to customize payment amounts and schedules (monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly) to spread program costs across the budget cycle.

Quantifiable outcome

• Credits are transferable to U.S. accredited institutions through University of New Haven School of Record partnership
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AtlantiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024CEA CAPA acquired Atlantis in October 2024, a provider specializing in experiential learning abroad for health/pre-med and pre-law students. Atlantis offers programs in 38 locations across 12 countries, primarily in Europe, with a network of over 200 hospital and 100 law firm partners.
• CIS AbroadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIS Abroad is a trusted leader in study abroad that has been welcomed into the growing CEA CAPA community, expanding destinations and support for students.
• Barcelona SAEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarcelona SAE is a trusted leader in study abroad welcomed into the CEA CAPA community, offering additional destinations and support options.
• University of New HavencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of New Haven serves as CEA CAPA's School of Record, providing transcript services and academic accreditation. The university is fully accredited by NECHE and approves all courses and faculty appointments.
• Charles UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharles University in Prague, founded in 1348, is one of the largest and oldest universities in Europe with over 50,000 students. CEA CAPA students take courses at the Faculty of Arts' Eastern and Central European Studies Department.
• University of Technology Sydney (UTS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEA CAPA Sydney Center is located on the UTS campus in the historic Haymarket precinct, providing students access to university facilities and an immersive student environment.
• Forum on Education AbroadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEA CAPA supported the InnovateEA pitch competition organized by The Forum, promoting innovative solutions in global education access, inclusion, and cultural diplomacy.
• AIFS AbroadminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-supported the InnovateEA pitch competition with CEA CAPA to promote innovation in global education.
• University of Sydney (USYD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect enrollment partnership providing housing options and academic integration for CEA CAPA students in Sydney.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): Largest U.S. nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange provider. Operates multi-country, multi-city study abroad programs with credit-transfer mechanisms and university partnerships — directly comparable to CEA CAPA's core offering.
• IES Abroad: Chicago-based nonprofit study abroad provider offering semester, summer, and internship programs across 30+ locations. Directly comparable multi-city, multi-discipline model with university partnerships and credit portability.
• Arcadia University - The College of Global Studies: University-affiliated study abroad program serving U.S. undergraduates across multiple countries with credit-transfer infrastructure. Operates in overlapping destinations (London, Dublin, Sydney, Florence, etc.) and competes for the same university partnership pipeline.
• ISA (International Studies Abroad) by Worldstrides: Privately held (backed by Sterling Partners via Worldstrides) study abroad provider offering semester, summer, and internship programs across dozens of locations. Closest private-sector comparable in scale, pricing, and B2B2C university partnership model.
• Academic Programs International (API): U.S. study abroad provider offering programs across Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa with faculty-led, semester, and short-term formats. Directly comparable multi-country, multi-discipline offering with university partnership GTM.
• USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium): Consortium-based study abroad provider affiliated with U.S. universities, offering programs in 30+ countries. Overlaps directly with CEA CAPA on destinations, credit-transfer model, and university partnership distribution.
• AIFS Abroad: Part of the AIFS Group, offering faculty-led, semester, and customized study abroad programs worldwide. Directly comparable multi-country model and has co-marketed with CEA CAPA on InnovateEA, confirming overlapping customer base.
• SAI Programs: San Francisco-based study abroad provider offering semester, summer, and internship programs across Europe with university partnerships. Comparable mid-tier provider competing for the same California-and-beyond U.S. student segment.
• Global Experiences: Internship-focused study abroad provider placing students in professional roles across multiple countries. Closely comparable to CEA CAPA's Intern Abroad and Study+Internship product lines.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First - Study Abroad: Global education conglomerate offering study abroad, language travel, and academic programs worldwide. A broader incumbent whose EF Academic Study Abroad division overlaps with CEA CAPA's multi-country offerings, but EF is much larger and not specialty-focused on U.S. credit-transfer programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CEACAPA
• Instagraminstagram.com/cea_capa
• Xx.com/ceastudyabroad

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CEA CAPA Education Abroad