What School for International Training does

School for International Training (SIT) is a private nonprofit institution of higher education, founded in 1964 and headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, that operates as the accredited academic arm of World Learning Inc. SIT delivers experiential, field-based education through three core portfolios: SIT Study Abroad (undergraduate semester and summer programs in 41+ host countries), SIT Graduate Institute (global master's, low-residency, and online doctoral degrees in international education, sustainable development, peacebuilding, and TESOL), and the TESOL Center (180-hour accredited teacher training certificate program that has trained 15,000+ teachers in 100+ countries). Custom and Signature Programs provide tailored international experiences for partner colleges and universities such as Yale, Macalester, and the University of Puget Sound.

SIT's underlying technology is its experiential learning pedagogy, developed over 80+ years and inherited from The Experiment in International Living (founded 1932) and the original Peace Corps training program. The model combines classroom learning, fieldwork, and structured reflection cycles, delivered through nearly 30 in-country learning centers and field offices across 29 countries, with locally raised academic directors, host-country lecturers, and homestay networks. A proprietary Critical Global Issues framework organizes curriculum around interconnected planetary challenges (climate, health, inequality, peace, justice), and the 2018-introduced global master's format uses these centers as primary delivery locations.

SIT generates revenue primarily through tuition (recurring subscription-style fees for study abroad, master's, doctoral, and TESOL programs), professional-services pricing for custom programs negotiated with institutional partners, philanthropic donations (with more than $1.5 million in financial aid distributed annually and a new Bonfire merchandise store directing up to 25% of sales back to SIT), and grant funding such as the U.S. Department of Education's Fulbright-Hays program. Customer segments include individual undergraduate and graduate students (B2C), partner universities and institutions (B2B), and educators seeking TESOL certification, with distribution via direct admissions, a nationwide University Relations team, and multi-channel digital marketing. NECHE accreditation and NC-SARA membership underwrite the institution's regulatory standing and federal-aid eligibility.

Name

School for International Training

Legal name

School for International Training

Website

https://sit.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Short description

School for International Training is a private nonprofit higher education institution delivering experiential, field-based study abroad, graduate, and TESOL programs in 41+ countries, serving undergraduate students, working professionals, partner universities, and educators through nearly 30 global learning centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

In-Country Placement, Homestay & On-Ground Coordination Services (EDAIAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Unpaid/Volunteer-Linked Work Placement Programs (EDAIAFAE)

Keywords

• Experiential education abroad
• Study abroad programs
• Graduate degree programs
• TESOL teacher training
• International higher education

Headquarters

HQ city

Brattleboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Study Abroad Tuition: Revenue from semester and summer study abroad programs where students pay tuition for field-based academic programs across 40+ countries.
2. Graduate Degree Programs: Tuition revenue from global master's degrees, doctoral programs (EdD, PhD), and certificate programs offered through SIT Graduate Institute in various formats including low-residency and online.
3. Custom Programs for Partner Institutions: Custom program development and delivery for universities, colleges, and organizations seeking tailored international education experiences. Includes programs like University of Puget Sound's PacRim partnership.
4. Donations and Philanthropy: Charitable contributions from alumni, donors, and supporters. SIT provides more than $1.5 million in financial aid annually. The school also launched an online merchandise store where up to 25% of sales are donated back to SIT.
5. TESOL Certificate Programs: Revenue from the SIT TESOL Certificate program (180-hour accredited program) and related teacher training programs offered since 1997 to aspiring and experienced teachers worldwide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SIT is a nonprofit institution of higher education offering accredited, experiential programs including undergraduate semester and summer study abroad in 40+ countries, graduate master's and doctoral degrees (global, low-residency, and online formats), and a TESOL Certificate program for teachers. Programs are delivered through nearly 30 learning centers worldwide and focus on critical global issues such as climate change, global health, human rights, peacebuilding, and sustainable development.

Product overview

School for International Training is an educational institution offering a portfolio of experiential learning programs across multiple academic levels. The core offerings include SIT Study Abroad (undergraduate semester and summer programs in 41+ countries), SIT Graduate Institute (global master's degrees, low-residency master's, and online doctoral programs), and the TESOL Center (teacher education certificates). The International Honors Program (IHP) provides comparative multi-country study experiences, while Custom Programs serve partner institutions with tailored offerings. All programs are rooted in experiential education and focus on critical global issues including climate change, global health, human rights, peacebuilding, and sustainable development. Programs are accredited by NECHE and supported by learning centers across nearly 30 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SIT Study Abroad Undergraduate semester and summer study abroad programs offering experiential, field-based learning across 41 host countries on all seven continents, focusing on critical global issues such as climate change, global health, human rights, peace studies, and sustainable development. Designed for college and university students from partner institutions across the US and globally.
• SIT Graduate Institute Graduate degree programs including global master's degrees, low-residency master's, and online doctoral programs (EdD and PhD) in international education, sustainable development, peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance, and TESOL. Designed for working professionals and recent undergraduates seeking practitioner-oriented advanced degrees.
• SIT TESOL Certificate 180-hour accredited TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificate program for aspiring and experienced teachers, with related teacher training and training of trainers programs. Delivered globally in partnership with universities, schools, and government agencies.
• International Honors Program (IHP) Comparative study abroad program allowing students to spend a semester living in multiple countries while exploring a single field in depth, with programs that traverse continents and focus on themes such as climate change, globalization, and social movements.
• SIT First Year First-year study abroad programs designed to provide college students with early international experiential learning opportunities through SIT's network of learning centers worldwide.
• Custom Programs Tailored study abroad and training programs designed for partner institutions and organizations, including custom program development for universities seeking specific international academic experiences, BA/MA articulation agreements, and first-year study abroad programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 68,000+ students have participated in SIT programs since inception
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• U.S. Department of Education (Fulbright-Hays Program)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023SIT operates a fully funded Fulbright-Hays faculty summer program in Tanzania (Tuko Pamoja: Tanzanian Creativity and Perspectives in an Era of Climate Change). The program is offered with support from a Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad (GPA) grant from the U.S. Department of Education, providing opportunities for 12 U.S. college and high school educators annually.
• World Learning Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Learning Inc. is SIT's parent organization - a nonprofit NGO dedicated to making the world more peaceful, sustainable, and just through education, development, and exchange programs. SIT is the accredited institution of higher education of World Learning, which encompasses three distinct units: SIT, The Experiment in International Living, and the nonprofit global development and exchange unit. SIT's Board of Trustees is the World Learning Board of Trustees.
• The Experiment in International LivingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1932, The Experiment in International Living is the original organization that evolved into SIT. The Experiment's Cooperative Overseas Program for university students evolved into SIT Study Abroad. World Learning and SIT have worked in partnership to offer TESOL programs for more than 30 years.
• New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIT is accredited by NECHE, a globally recognized accrediting association known for rigorous standards and commitment to academic excellence. NECHE is one of seven U.S. regional accrediting commissions, accrediting institutions including Harvard, Yale, MIT, and Dartmouth College.
• NC-SARA (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIT is an approved NC-SARA institution, allowing the school to offer post-secondary distance education programs to students residing in other SARA member states.
• Windham Higher Education CooperativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIT Graduate Institute is a member of the Windham Higher Education Cooperative, a consortium of six higher education institutions with presence in Windham County, Vermont. Members include Marlboro College, Landmark College, Vermont Technical College, Union Institute, and the Community College of Vermont.
• Eimur (Icelandic Public-Private Partnership)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEimur is an Icelandic public-private partnership working towards sustainable resource utilization in Northern Iceland. Partner in EU LIFE-funded RECET project which aims to empower European rural municipalities in energy transition planning. SIT student collaborated with Eimur on the Iceland Fossil Fuel Dashboard project.
• EU LIFE-funded RECET ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU LIFE-funded RECET project focused on empowering European rural municipalities in energy transition planning. Eimur is a partner in this project, and SIT students collaborate on projects related to sustainable development and climate action.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is one of the largest and oldest US study abroad organizations, offering semester, summer, and custom programs in dozens of countries. It is SIT's closest direct competitor in field-based study abroad with comparable institutional partners and program breadth.
• IES Abroad: IES Abroad designs and operates study abroad and internship programs for US college students across multiple continents, with a similar university-relations recruitment model and academic-credit framework directly competitive with SIT Study Abroad.
• API (Academic Programs International): API delivers study abroad, intern, and custom programs for US undergraduates and faculty, with comparable custom-program and partnership offerings targeted at similar partner institutions as SIT.
• DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia: DIS provides semester and summer study abroad programs in Copenhagen and Stockholm with strong disciplinary and field-study tracks, competing directly with SIT's European programs on recruiting similarly positioned US students from partner institutions.
• ISA (International Studies Abroad, part of WorldStrides): ISA, now backed by WorldStrides, operates study abroad programs globally with custom-program offerings and university partnerships closely mirroring SIT's Study Abroad and Custom Programs business lines.
• CEA CAPA Education Abroad: CEA CAPA delivers study abroad, internship, and faculty-led programs across many of the same cities and partners as SIT, with comparable credit-bearing, field-based program structures for US undergraduates.
• Arcadia Abroad (Arcadia University): Arcadia Abroad, run out of Arcadia University, designs semester and summer study abroad programs for US students, including hybrid and customized offerings, and competes for the same institutional partnerships and student cohorts as SIT.
• International TEFL Academy: International TEFL Academy is one of the largest TESOL/TEFL certification providers globally, competing directly with SIT's TESOL Center for aspiring English-language teachers seeking accredited training.
• CET Academic Programs: CET designs study abroad and internship programs with a strong experiential and language-immersion focus, including customized faculty-led programs, closely aligned with SIT's field-based and custom program model.

Regional players

• USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium): USAC, hosted at the University of New Mexico, offers study abroad programs in dozens of countries and competes with SIT for undergraduate semester and summer enrollment, especially at US public and regional institutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SITGrad
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/sitstudyabroad
• Facebookfacebook.com/SITGraduateInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/165875
• Instagraminstagram.com/sitstudyabroad

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about School for International Training