International House

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.

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

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

• Student housing
• Residency community
• Cultural exchange programs
• Graduate student accommodation
• Fellowship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. 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).
2. Application Fees: A non-refundable $70 one-time application fee is charged per resident applicant.
3. Security Deposits: A refundable security deposit equivalent to one month's room fees is collected based on the assigned room type.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• New York LifeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew 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.
• CUNYminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCUNY (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 HistoryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe 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 CouncilminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Asian Cultural Council sends cultural exchange participants who stay at I-House as part of their programs in New York.
• SIBDS at Columbia UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSIBDS (a program at Columbia University) partners with I-House to provide accommodation for their research program participants.
• DZ BankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDZ Bank sends groups of trainees or professionals to stay at I-House during their programs in New York City.
• The International Peace InstituteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe International Peace Institute partners with I-House to host scholars and visiting fellows during their work in New York.
• Middle Tennessee State UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMiddle Tennessee State University partners with I-House to provide housing for their students during NYC programs.
• The Metropolitan Museum of ArtminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Met sends staff members and visiting professionals to stay at I-House during their programs in New York.
• International Houses WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerI-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

Direct 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

• Instagraminstagram.com/ihousenyc
• Xx.com/ihousenyc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-house

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 International House