CIS Abroad

What CIS Abroad does

CIS Abroad is a US-based study abroad and intern abroad program provider founded in 2000 (incorporated as CIS Abroad, Inc.) and headquartered in Easthampton, Massachusetts. The company serves primarily US college and university students seeking semester, summer, January/maymester, academic-year, and internship-abroad experiences in 11 countries (Australia, Costa Rica, England, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Scotland, South Korea, Spain, Thailand) plus multi-country itineraries. Programs are delivered through partnerships with accredited host universities (60%+ of Business offerings are AACSB-accredited), a Jacksonville University school-of-record relationship that transcripts 3-6 credits for internships, and on-site Site Directors in each location operating a "Local Life" cultural co-curriculum.

The technology stack is a web-based program management platform comprising a mobile-friendly online application (completable in under 10 minutes), student portals for documents and tracking, learning-management integrations with partner universities, and a micro-credential issuance layer on Badgr (Cross-Cultural Agility, Global Agility, Global Citizenship, Working Across Cultures). The go-to-market blends product-led growth (self-service application) with inside sales (Global Advisors by phone/text/chat at +1-877-617-9090), community-led growth (alumni ambassadors, Bring a Friend $100-$250 referral discounts, Go Again returning-student incentives), and event-driven engagement (virtual fairs, Meet & Greets, NAFSA/Forum on Education Abroad/Diversity Abroad participation).

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time program fees billed per semester/summer/intern term (range: $4,000-$36,000 by program and country), a $95 application fee, deposits of $300-$500, and a $500 fee for Jacksonville University academic credit. The company distributes $320,000+ annually in scholarships/grants, with 70% of students receiving some form of financial aid. In July 2025, CIS Abroad was acquired by CEA CAPA Education Abroad (a portfolio company of Infinedi Partners) alongside sister brands CISaustralia and Barcelona SAE, integrating the operator into a larger global education abroad network.

Name

CIS Abroad

Legal name

CIS Abroad, Inc.

Website

https://cisabroad.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CIS Abroad is a US-based study abroad and intern abroad provider founded in 2000, serving American college students across 11 countries through accredited university partnerships and on-site cultural programs. Following its July 2025 acquisition by CEA CAPA Education Abroad (Infinedi Partners), it operates as part of a larger global education abroad network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Study Abroad Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Language Schools (Multi-Language) (EDAIAEAA)

Keywords

• Study abroad programs
• Intern abroad programs
• International education services
• Academic credit transfer
• Cultural immersion programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Northampton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: CIS Abroad generates primary revenue through program fees charged to students for study abroad and intern abroad experiences. Fees vary by program type (semester, summer, internship), destination country, duration, and housing options. Program fees include tuition, housing, medical and accident insurance, airport pickup, orientation, cultural excursions, and on-site support.
2. Application Fee: A $95 application fee is charged upon initial application submission, which unlocks access to the online participant community and scholarship applications.
3. Program Deposits: Students pay deposits ($300-$500) to secure their spot on programs, with deadlines typically 2-4 weeks before final payment deadlines.
4. Internship Credit Fee: A $500 fee is added for interns who wish to receive academic credit through Jacksonville University partnership (3-6 credits for 6-10 week internships).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

CIS Abroad designs and delivers study abroad and intern abroad programs for US college students at partner universities across 11 countries plus multi-country itineraries. Program packages include tuition, housing, medical and accident insurance, airport pickup, orientation, cultural excursions, on-site support, and (for internships) academic credit through a Jacksonville University partnership. Pricing is structured by program type and duration (semester, summer, January/Maymester, academic year, internship) with a $95 application fee, $300–$500 enrollment deposits, and a separate $500 academic credit fee for interns.

Product overview

CIS Abroad is a study abroad and intern abroad provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs. The core offerings include Study Abroad Programs (semester, summer, and short-term options at partner universities across 12+ countries), Intern Abroad Programs (career-focused internships with academic credit), and Study + Intern Programs (combined academic and professional experiences). Supporting add-on modules include Micro-Credentials (Cross-Cultural Agility, Global Agility, Global Citizenship, Working Across Cultures) for professional skill certification, and Jacksonville University partnership credit programs. The company has expanded through acquisitions of CISaustralia and Barcelona SAE brands. Additional services include Greek Life programming, custom institutional programs, and consulting services for universities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 25,000+ students have transformed their lives through CIS Abroad programs since 2000
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments9 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

One partnership is on record.

• CEA CAPA Education AbroadflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2025Infinedi Partners' portfolio company CEA CAPA Education Abroad completed the acquisition of CIS Abroad, CISaustralia, and Barcelona SAE from Global Educators. CIS Abroad and CEA CAPA Education Abroad are joining forces to create an expanded global network with even more opportunities for students. The acquisition positions CIS Abroad within the CEA CAPA organization while maintaining its brand identity.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IES Abroad: IES Abroad is a nonprofit study abroad provider offering semester, summer, and January programs across more than 30 locations. It competes head-to-head with CIS Abroad for the same US undergraduate customer and the same university advisor relationships.
• API (Academic Programs International): API is a study abroad provider offering semester, summer, short-term, and intern abroad programs across Europe, Latin America, and Asia. It targets the same US college student segment and competes directly on price, country coverage, and academic credit transfer.
• SAI Programs: SAI is a US-based study abroad provider offering semester, summer, and internship programs focused on Italy, Spain, and France. It overlaps directly with CIS Abroad on European destination programs and the same US student demographic.
• CAPA International Education: CAPA International Education is a US-based study abroad and internship provider with programs in multiple cities globally. It is highly comparable in scale, model, and customer focus to CIS Abroad and now sits under the same CEA CAPA Education Abroad umbrella.
• CEA CAPA Education Abroad: CEA CAPA is a US-based study abroad provider offering semester, summer, and internship programs in multiple countries. It is now CIS Abroad's parent company following the July 2025 acquisition, making it the most directly comparable operator in the same product category and customer base.
• ISA (International Studies Abroad) by WorldStrides: ISA, part of WorldStrides, provides study, intern, and service-learning programs in dozens of countries for US undergraduates. It is a direct competitor on multi-country coverage, program pricing, and academic credit partnerships.
• USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium): USAC is a nonprofit study abroad program based at the University of Nevada, Reno, offering semester, summer, and short-term programs across 50+ locations. It competes with CIS Abroad for value-conscious US undergraduates and faculty-led custom programs.

Broad incumbents

• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is one of the largest US study abroad and intercultural exchange organizations, offering programs across dozens of countries. It is a broad incumbent with significantly larger scale and brand recognition than CIS Abroad but operates in the same product category.
• EF Education First (EF College Study Abroad): EF Education First is a global education company offering language, cultural exchange, and academic programs. Its college study abroad division competes with CIS Abroad for the same US student base while leveraging EF's much larger global brand and operational footprint.

Regional players

• Semester at Sea (Institute for Shipboard Education): Semester at Sea is a multi-country study abroad program that takes students to multiple ports over a single semester. It is comparable in offering multi-country, multi-discipline programs to US college students but differs in delivery model (ship-based) and is therefore a thematic rather than head-to-head competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cisabroad
• Facebookfacebook.com/CISstudyabroad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cisabroad
• Instagraminstagram.com/cisabroad
• TikToktiktok.com/@cisabroad
• Xx.com/cisabroad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 CIS Abroad