Semester At Sea

What Semester At Sea does

Semester at Sea, operated by the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit study-abroad organization founded in 1963 and headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado. The program's core product is a 100+ day multi-country comparative study abroad experience delivered aboard a single floating-campus vessel, the MV World Odyssey (built 1998, capacity for approximately 600 program participants plus 180 crew). Each voyage visits 10+ countries across 3-4 continents and covers 20,000+ nautical miles, enrolling up to 550 undergraduate, gap-year, and recent-graduate students from 270+ colleges and universities. Students earn 12-15 transferable credits from Colorado State University, which serves as the academic sponsor, across more than 70 courses in 20-25 fields. Shipboard technology includes nine classrooms, an academic library and success center, satellite-based shared internet, wireless connectivity, and a learning management system supporting coursework, file sharing, and discussion.

The business model combines programmatic enrollment revenue with philanthropic support. Program fees bundle tuition, travel, housing, meals, academic field classes, internet, and travel health insurance through CISI; a $1,000 refundable deposit secures a spot with rolling admissions up to roughly one month before departure. Lifelong Learners (adults 30+) purchase full or partial (Spotlight) voyages, including a $500 loyalty award for returning alumni, broadening the paying customer base. Roughly 20% of operating expenses are covered by philanthropic donations, which totaled $4.7M in FY22 from alumni, parents, foundations, and corporate sponsors, supporting the Global Access Inclusion Grant Program and donor-funded scholarships (60% of students receive aid; $2.7M disbursed in the most recent year).

Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the website and student portal, augmented by partnerships with Colorado State University (academic sponsorship), the Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (maritime crew and operations), the University of San Diego (announced 2026 as a future academic partner), Reach The World (K-12 curriculum extension), and 270+ home institutions via credit-transfer consortium agreements. Go-to-market relies on study-abroad fairs, college advisor networks, alumni referrals, content marketing, social media (LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook), and email. Recognition includes a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency and Charity Navigator top-nonprofit status; the organization employs 101-250 staff and is privately funded with no venture capital or institutional ownership identified.

Name

Semester At Sea

Legal name

Institute for Shipboard Education

Website

https://semesteratsea.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Semester at Sea, operated by the nonprofit Institute for Shipboard Education, runs multi-country comparative study-abroad voyages aboard the MV World Odyssey, serving undergraduate, gap-year, recent-graduate, and adult Lifelong Learner students with Colorado State University credit.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Study Abroad / Educational Travel

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Educational Cruises & Shipboard Learning Programs (THAKAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hybrid, Multi-Location & Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAE), University-Led Summer/Winter Schools (Credit/Non-Credit) (EDAIAIAA), Faculty-Led Study Tours & Embedded Short Programs (Home Institution-Led) (EDAIAIAJ)

Keywords

• Study abroad programs
• Shipboard education
• Comparative global education
• Floating campus voyages
• Field-based experiential learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Collins

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Tuition and Fees: Tuition and fees for undergraduate students participating in the semester-long voyages. Includes tuition, travel, housing, meals, academic field classes, internet, and travel health insurance. Students earn 12-15 credits from Colorado State University.
2. Lifelong Learner Voyages: Adult learners (30+) pay for full or partial (Spotlight) voyages including accommodation, meals, amenities, academic course access, and travel. Includes $500 loyalty award for returning alumni.
3. Philanthropic Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SAS relies on donations from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, Lifelong Learners, friends, foundations, and corporations. Donations support scholarships, the Annual Fund, and Field Programs. Revenue was $4.7M in FY22.
4. Field Programs and Optional Add-ons: Optional in-country field programs, independent travel arrangements, and additional amenities (spa, salon) generate additional revenue beyond base program costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Semester at Sea delivers 100+ day multi-country study abroad voyages aboard the MV World Odyssey, where undergraduate and gap year students earn 12-15 transferable credits from Colorado State University while visiting 10+ countries. The all-inclusive program bundles tuition, travel, housing, meals, academic field classes, internet, and travel health insurance into a single shipboard community experience. Adult Lifelong Learners (30+) can also join full or partial Spotlight voyages alongside the student cohort.

Product overview

Semester at Sea is a multi-country comparative study abroad program operated by the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE), offering a single unified floating campus experience aboard the MV World Odyssey. The core program combines undergraduate academic coursework (earning 12-15 Colorado State University credits), experiential Field Programs in visited countries, and shipboard community living over 100+ day voyages visiting 10+ countries. The product portfolio includes the Lifelong Learners Program for adults 30+, specialized Learning Cohorts (Chapman Impact and Engineering), and Professional Certificates like Dialogue Facilitation. Supporting services include credit transfer, financial aid with scholarships, and the Student Portal for enrolled participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lifelong Learners Program: Adult educational travel program for participants 30 years of age or older who join SAS academic community as retirees, professionals on leave, or adventurous travelers
• Chapman Impact Cohort
• Engineering Cohort

Products and services

• Semester at Sea Study Abroad Program A multi-country comparative study abroad program where college students travel aboard the MV World Odyssey floating campus visiting 10+ countries across multiple continents over 100+ days, earning 12-15 transferable credits from Colorado State University through integrated coursework, Field Programs, and shipboard community life.
• Lifelong Learners Program An adult educational travel program for individuals 30 years of age or older, allowing adults to join SAS voyages as full or partial Spotlight participants alongside undergraduate students, with access to academic courses, Field Programs, shipboard amenities, and an Extended Family mentoring program.
• Field Programs Co-curricular in-country experiences built on relationships with local partners, offering day-long, multi-day, or full port-stay programs that include transportation, accommodations, and most meals, focused on environmental stewardship, community engagement, social equity, and cultural understanding in each visited country.
• Academic Courses Three-credit undergraduate courses across disciplines including Business, Communication, Political Science, Engineering, Arts, Psychology, and more, accredited through Colorado State University. Students enroll in four courses earning 12 credits per voyage, taught both on the ship and through organized fieldwork in visited countries.
• Chapman Impact Cohort A learning cohort focused on social impact within the Semester at Sea experience where participating students complete specialized coursework and field experiences aligned with social impact themes during their voyage.
• Engineering Cohort A learning cohort designed for engineering majors to participate in specialized programming and coursework tailored to engineering disciplines during their Semester at Sea voyage.
• Dialogue Facilitation Certification A professional certificate program offered during SAS voyages that distinguishes participants as uniquely well-prepared for professional roles in global businesses and nonprofits involving dialogue facilitation and community building.
• Credit Transfer Program A service enabling students to transfer earned Semester at Sea credits back to their home institutions, with support for consortium agreements with various colleges and universities and assistance navigating individual institution transfer policies.
• Parent and Family Travel Program Travel opportunities for parents and family members to join voyages and experience destinations alongside their student voyagers, with structured trip options and parent-focused programming.
• Global Access Inclusion Grant Program A financial aid program designed to support diversity and inclusion by providing grants to help students from underrepresented backgrounds participate in Semester at Sea voyages.
• MV World Odyssey Voyage Vessel The purpose-built passenger ship serving as the floating college campus, with 10 decks, three dining rooms, a large auditorium, outdoor spaces, 9 classrooms, library, pool, spa, salon, and capacity for approximately 600 program participants plus 180 multi-national crew members.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of voyagers say SAS was their most significant college experience
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The Institute for Shipboard Education selected the University of San Diego as its next university partner. This partnership will provide additional academic pathways for students and expand the network of institutions recognizing Semester at Sea credits.
• Reach The WorldminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Semester at Sea partners with Reach The World to bring global experiences to K-12 classrooms, extending the program's educational impact to younger students through virtual connections with voyagers.
• Colorado State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado State University serves as the academic sponsor of Semester at Sea. Credits earned on voyages are accredited through CSU, and the university provides administrative support including financial aid processing. Semester at Sea is proud to be sponsored by CSU, one of the nation's most prestigious institutions of higher education. SAS alumni are eligible for 10% tuition benefit on CSU College of Business online MBA programs.
• Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM)coreTechnology or IntegrationISE contracts with Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) as the service provider to hire the officers and crew to manage the program's vessel, the MV World Odyssey. BSM provides maritime management services including ship operations, crew hiring, and voyage execution support.
• Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI)coreTechnology or IntegrationAll Semester at Sea participants are automatically enrolled in comprehensive travel health insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI), providing access to the shipboard medical clinic, mental health center, and in-port emergencies.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SIT Study Abroad (World Learning): Nonprofit provider of credit-bearing study abroad programs with an experiential, field-based learning model. Comparable in academic-credit delivery, nonprofit status, and emphasis on immersive multi-country education.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): Large nonprofit study abroad provider offering multi-country and single-country programs to college students. Closely comparable to SAS in target customer (undergraduates), credit-bearing academic model, and nonprofit structure, though without the ship-based delivery.
• IES Abroad: Nonprofit study abroad organization offering semester and short-term programs across 30+ locations. Comparable in academic sponsorship model, credit transfer support, and concentration on the undergraduate study abroad market.
• API (Academic Programs International): Study abroad provider offering multi-country comparative and single-location programs to undergraduates with credit-transfer support. Directly comparable in academic-product positioning and credit-transfer mechanics.
• Road Scholar: Not-for-profit educational travel organization focused on adult learners, including shipboard and land-based learning adventures. Closely comparable to SAS's Lifelong Learners Program in both customer demographic and ship-based learning format.

Emerging players

• Where There Be Dragons: Experiential education provider running multi-country, field-based study abroad and gap year programs. Comparable in target customer (gap year / undergrad) and emphasis on comparative cross-cultural immersion, though without a floating campus.
• Global Citizen Year: Nonprofit gap year fellowship placing recent high school graduates in immersive international experiences. Comparable to SAS's Gap Year segment in customer profile and nonprofit delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• UnCruise Adventures: Small-ship adventure cruise operator offering experiential voyages with onboard educational programming. Comparable in vessel-based delivery of curated experiential experiences, though commercial rather than nonprofit.
• National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions: Expedition cruise operator combining vessel-based travel with onboard naturalists and educational content. Comparable as a vessel-borne experiential learning brand, though focused on wildlife/cultural tourism rather than credit-bearing academics.

Others

• CFAR (Center for Global Programs & Services partner providers): Adjacent ecosystem participant supporting international student travel, re-entry, and document services for study abroad providers. Comparable in supporting infrastructure around study abroad, though not a direct program competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/semesteratsea
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SemesteratSeaChannel
• Facebookfacebook.com/semesteratseastudyabroad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/semester-at-sea-ise
• Instagraminstagram.com/semesteratsea
• TikToktiktok.com/@semesteratsea?lang=en

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Semester At Sea