International House
International House is a NYC-based nonprofit founded in 1924 that houses approximately 700 graduate students, interns, and visiting scholars from nearly 100 countries annually, running a two-building ~700-bed residence at 500 Riverside Drive alongside fellowship programs and institutional group-accommodation services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1924
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What International House does
International House (I-House) is a New York City-based nonprofit residential community founded in 1924 that provides housing and a cross-cultural living experience for approximately 700 graduate students, young professionals, visiting scholars, and interns each academic year, drawn from nearly 100 countries. Operations are anchored at a two-building historic campus at 500 Riverside Drive in Upper Manhattan, comprising a South building with roughly 500 single-occupancy rooms (with varying bathroom configurations) and a North building with 200 apartment-style units (studios, one-bedrooms, and shared suites). The organization applies a minimum 30-day length of stay and runs an academic-year and summer term cycle via a StarRez admissions portal, with a dedicated Admissions Office reviewing applications, assigning rooms, and administering financial aid.
The business model rests on resident room fees paid per semester or duration of stay, supplemented by a $70 non-refundable one-time application fee, refundable one-month security deposits, and a separate B2B group-accommodation channel that books blocks of up to ~50 rooms for institutional partners including Columbia University, CUNY, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, New York Life, DZ Bank, the International Peace Institute, and the Asian Cultural Council. Beyond housing, the organization operates a layered programmatic portfolio — the Obama Scholars Program, the Götz Mäuser '91 Global Entrepreneurship Fellowship, Davis Projects for Peace ($10,000 grants), and the Women's International Leadership Program — funded in part by a Development Office and individual/institutional donations, and supported by an active multi-city alumni network across nine global chapters.
The entity is a private 501(c)-style nonprofit governed by a Board of Trustees (currently chaired on an interim basis by William D. Rueckert, with Shobhna Mohn '95 elected in October 2024) and led by President & CEO Sebastian Fries, PhD, since May 2021. The organization is an active member of International Houses Worldwide, an affiliation of 15 sister residences across continents, and celebrated its centennial in September 2024 with more than 450 alumni returning from 35 countries. Room rates are not publicly disclosed; the operating model combines fee-for-service housing with philanthropy, and the institution does not raise venture or growth equity.
International House firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- International House
- Legal name
- International House
- Website
- https://ihouse-nyc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1924
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- International House is a NYC-based nonprofit founded in 1924 that houses approximately 700 graduate students, interns, and visiting scholars from nearly 100 countries annually, running a two-building ~700-bed residence at 500 Riverside Drive alongside fellowship programs and institutional group-accommodation services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
International House industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student Housing & Residential Community
- NAICS
- Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (72131)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Student Residence Halls & Dormitory Management (On-/Near-Campus) (EDAIALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- University Dorms & Affiliated Summer Housing (THAMAGAA)
Keywords
Where International House is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
International House business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Residency/Housing Fees: International House generates revenue through room fees charged to residents for housing accommodations. Residents pay one semester's room fees or fees for the duration of their stay upon arrival. Room types include South building rooms (with/without sink, private/semi-private bathrooms) and North building apartments (studios, one-bedroom, shared suites).
- Application Fees: A non-refundable $70 one-time application fee is charged per resident applicant.
- Security Deposits: A refundable security deposit equivalent to one month's room fees is collected based on the assigned room type.
- Group Accommodation Fees: Organizations partnering with I-House can cover room fees for their students or interns. Organizations pay one semester's fees or duration fees prior to group arrival.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | South Building Without Sink - Single occupancy room with communal bathroom facilities |
| Subscription | Annual | South Building With Sink - Single occupancy room with sink, communal bathroom facilities |
| Subscription | Annual | South Building Private Bathroom - Single occupancy room with private bathroom |
| Subscription | Annual | South Building Semi-Private Bathroom - Single occupancy room with semi-private bathroom |
| Subscription | Annual | North Building Studio Apartment - Single occupancy apartment-style unit |
| Subscription | Annual | North Building One-Bedroom Apartment - Single occupancy one-bedroom unit |
| Subscription | Annual | North Building Shared Apartment Suite - Multiple residents share kitchen/dining/living |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
International House product offering
Product offeringCore offering
International House is a nonprofit residential community at 500 Riverside Drive in New York City that provides furnished single-occupancy housing in its South building (approximately 500 rooms) and North building (approximately 200 apartment-style units) to graduate students, young professionals, interns, and visiting scholars. It supplements housing with cross-cultural programming, fellowship and leadership programs (Obama Scholars, Götz Mäuser '91 Global Entrepreneurship Fellowship, Davis Projects for Peace, Women's International Leadership Program), and group accommodation services for institutional partners.
Product overview
International House operates as a residential community and fellowship program for graduate students, young professionals, and scholars from around the world. The organization offers housing accommodations through its South and North buildings at 500 Riverside Drive, NYC, with approximately 700 residents from nearly 100 countries. Its programmatic offerings include the Obama Scholars Program, Götz Mäuser '91 Global Entrepreneurship Fellowship, Davis Projects for Peace awards, and the Women's International Leadership Program. Group Accommodation Services are available for partner organizations including universities, museums, and corporations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- International House Residency Program A residential program providing housing accommodations in New York City for graduate students, young professionals, visiting scholars, and interns, with a community of approximately 700 residents from nearly 100 countries.
- I-House South Building Housing South building with approximately 500 single-occupancy rooms featuring communal bathrooms, shared floor lounges, and a communal kitchen; offered in configurations with or without in-room sinks and with private or semi-private bathrooms.
Quantifiable outcome
- 700 residents from nearly 100 countries annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use International House
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
International House technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
International House partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- New York LifeminorNew York Life is a current partner organization that hosts groups at International House during their time studying or working in New York City. Employees or program participants receive accommodation at I-House.
- CUNYminorCUNY (City University of New York) partners with I-House to provide housing for their students or visiting scholars during NYC programs.
- The American Museum of Natural HistoryminorThe American Museum of Natural History partners with I-House to host groups at the House during their time in New York City.
- The Asian Cultural CouncilminorThe Asian Cultural Council sends cultural exchange participants who stay at I-House as part of their programs in New York.
- SIBDS at Columbia UniversityminorSIBDS (a program at Columbia University) partners with I-House to provide accommodation for their research program participants.
- DZ BankminorDZ Bank sends groups of trainees or professionals to stay at I-House during their programs in New York City.
- The International Peace InstituteminorThe International Peace Institute partners with I-House to host scholars and visiting fellows during their work in New York.
- Middle Tennessee State UniversityminorMiddle Tennessee State University partners with I-House to provide housing for their students during NYC programs.
- The Metropolitan Museum of ArtminorThe Met sends staff members and visiting professionals to stay at I-House during their programs in New York.
- International Houses WorldwidecoreI-House is an active member of International Houses Worldwide, an affiliation of 15 International Houses across continents united by the mission to provide students of different nationalities and cultures the opportunity to live and learn together in mutual respect and international friendship.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
International House competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- International House Berkeley: Direct peer — fellow member of International Houses Worldwide serving graduate students at UC Berkeley with a cross-cultural residential mission, nearly identical operating model to NYC I-House.
- Educational Housing Services: NYC-based nonprofit providing temporary and group housing for students, interns, and scholars — directly competes in the same Manhattan market for international student and group accommodation demand.
- International House Philadelphia: Another International Houses Worldwide member serving graduate students and interns in Philadelphia with a comparable cross-cultural residency program model.
- International House of Japan: Original International House (founded 1912 in Tokyo) and a direct sister-house network member; operates a dormitory and programming model for international graduate residents similar to NYC I-House.
- Oxford House (London): UK-based residential community for graduate students and visiting scholars with a culturally diverse, mission-driven program — analogous student housing model across the Atlantic.
- International Students House (London): London-based residential community for international students and young professionals with a closely aligned cross-cultural mission and operating model to International House NYC.
Broad incumbents
- Columbia University Housing: University-operated graduate and student housing in Morningside Heights adjacent to I-House; a broader incumbent that competes for the same Columbia-affiliated graduate student demand pool.
- NYU Graduate Housing: Large NYC university operator offering housing to NYU graduate students; competes for the international graduate segment that I-House also targets across NYC.
Regional players
- Quatrefoil House / St. George's House (NYC): MNYC-based residential programming organization for international graduate students and young professionals; smaller in scale but addresses overlapping audience in the same geography.
Emerging players
- Intern Group Housing (The Intern Group): Provider of housing and programming for NYC interns and trainees — emerging competitor in the same cohort of young professionals and interns that I-House serves through group accommodation.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
International House social profiles
Digital presenceInternational House financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
International House leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
International House funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
International House M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about International House
What does International House do?
International House is a nonprofit residential community at 500 Riverside Drive in New York City that provides furnished single-occupancy housing in its South building (approximately 500 rooms) and North building (approximately 200 apartment-style units) to graduate students, young professionals, interns, and visiting scholars. It supplements housing with cross-cultural programming, fellowship and leadership programs (Obama Scholars, Götz Mäuser '91 Global Entrepreneurship Fellowship, Davis Projects for Peace, Women's International Leadership Program), and group accommodation services for institutional partners.
Is International House a public or private company?
International House is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was International House founded?
International House was founded in 1924. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is International House based?
International House is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does International House make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Residency/Housing Fees are the primary driver. The others are application Fees, security Deposits and group Accommodation Fees.
Who are International House's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are International House Berkeley, Educational Housing Services, International House Philadelphia, International House of Japan, Oxford House (London) and International Students House (London). Broad incumbents are Columbia University Housing and NYU Graduate Housing. Quatrefoil House / St. George's House (NYC) is listed as a regional player. Intern Group Housing (The Intern Group) is listed as an emerging player.
Does International House have an API?
No public API is recorded for International House.
What industry is International House in?
International House's product category is Student Housing & Residential Community. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIALAB, Student Residence Halls & Dormitory Management (On-/Near-Campus), with a secondary code of THAMAGAA, University Dorms & Affiliated Summer Housing. Its NAICS code is 72131 and its SIC code is 7000.