International College

What International College does

International College (IC) is an American-chartered, non-sectarian international school operating under Section 501(c)(3) and chartered by the State of Massachusetts. Founded in 1891 in Turkey and later relocated to Lebanon, IC serves approximately 3,600 students from early childhood through Grade 12 across two campuses in Ras Beirut (Hamra) and Ain Aar, with a representative office in New York supporting alumni and advancement activities. The institution is led by President Tobin Wait and governed by a 27-member Board of Trustees.

IC offers four academic pathways under a single roof: the Lebanese Baccalaureate, French Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate Diploma, and American High School Program. Trilingual instruction in English, French, and Arabic is delivered through an EdTech-integrated curriculum using Pronote, ManageBac, Toddle, Atlas Rubicon, MagicSchool AI, Follett Destiny, Google Workspace, and Zoom. The academic core is supported by the STEAM Innovation Center (funded by USAID ASHA, inaugurated 2021), six libraries holding 115,000+ titles, the new Whish Fitness Center (2026), the Ali Ghandour Center for Leadership, Diversity, and Civic Engagement, and over 130 clubs plus 14 athletic disciplines.

The business model is tuition-driven, with fees billed in three trimesters, supplemented by a $199 non-refundable application fee, one-time capital development fees for new students, sibling discounts, deferred payment plans, and philanthropic giving through the Alumni and Advancement Office. The student body is drawn from two primary segments: expatriate families in Lebanon and local Lebanese families seeking globally recognized credentials. Admissions operate through a multi-phase formal process with entry points at Pre-K, Grade 6, and Grade 10, and IC holds quadruple accreditation from NEASC, CIS, IBO, and AEFE, supporting a near-100% college acceptance rate and 95%+ placement at top universities worldwide.

Name

International College

Legal name

International College

Website

https://ic.edu.lb

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

International College is a Massachusetts-chartered, 501(c)(3) non-profit international school in Beirut serving 3,600 students across two campuses, offering Lebanese, French, IB, and American curricula with quadruple accreditation and near-100% university placement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 International Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

International Curriculum Early Learning Academies (e.g., IB Early Years) (EDACADAK)

Keywords

• K-12 education
• International Baccalaureate programs
• College preparatory education
• Bilingual instruction
• STEAM education

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments collected in three trimesters. Fee schedules are posted annually around April. Parents can pay at specified banks or through deferred payment plans for second and third trimester fees.
2. Capital Development Fees: One-time capital development fees charged to new students for facility improvements and infrastructure.
3. Application Fees: Non-refundable application fee of $199 charged during the admissions process for Qualified Submitted Applicants.
4. Philanthropic Giving/Annual Fund: As a non-profit institution, IC relies on charitable contributions from alumni and families through its Alumni and Advancement Office. The Annual Giving campaign supports school programs and financial assistance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

International College provides Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 education to approximately 3,600 students in Beirut, Lebanon, offering four parallel secondary academic pathways (Lebanese Baccalaureate, French Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate, and an American high school diploma). The school combines academic instruction with a STEAM Innovation Center, college counseling, athletics, co-curricular clubs, the Whish Fitness Center, the Ali Ghandour Center, and library services delivered on a single campus.

Product overview

International College is an American-chartered international school in Beirut, Lebanon, offering a comprehensive educational program from pre-K to grade 12 across two campuses (Ain Aar and Ras Beirut). The institution provides four distinct academic pathways: the Lebanese Baccalaureate, French Baccalaureate (including International French Baccalaureate), International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, and American High School Program. Supporting the core academic offerings are specialized facilities including the STEAM Innovation Center (funded by USAID ASHA) and the newly launched Whish Fitness Center, along with extensive co-curricular programs featuring over 130 clubs, comprehensive athletics, and college counseling services. The school integrates IB Primary Years Programme across early childhood and elementary levels, and operates six libraries with digital research resources. The institution serves approximately 3,600 students and maintains accreditations from NEASC, CIS, IBO, and AEFE.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ali Ghandour Center for Leadership, Diversity, and Civic Engagement (AGC): A center that offers programs and opportunities that nurture leadership skills, celebrate diversity, and inspire students to become proactive citizens dedicated to positive change.
• STEAM Innovation Center
• IC Cougars

Quantifiable outcome

• Near-100% acceptance rate to top Lebanese universities (AUB, LAU, USJ)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration18 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Near Eastern Schools Athletic Conference (NESAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIC is a full member of NESAC alongside ACS (Lebanon), AISK and ASK (Kuwait), GAA and AISA (UAE), and ASD (KSA). Over 300 IC student-athletes participate in NESAC tournaments annually. IC also hosts NESAC events at its facilities.
• Lebanese American University (LAU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAU organizes the Jr. NBA youth basketball tournament for U-14 boys and girls. IC participates in this tournament which features an NBA-style draft format with Eastern and Western conferences.
• American Community School (ACS) LebanonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIC and ACS are the two NESAC full member schools from Lebanon, competing together in regional athletic conferences.
• Power of ZerominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal initiative partnership empowering children to navigate digital world with kindness and empathy. IC implements anti-bullying curriculum and provides resources to parents and educators.
• US Embassy LebanonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS Ambassador Dorothy Shea inaugurated the STEAM Innovation Center on November 12, 2021, representing continued diplomatic support for American educational institutions in Lebanon.
• International Schools (Teacher Exchange Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIC maintains a teacher exchange program with nearly 30 international schools worldwide. Teachers visit partner schools for one-week exchanges, covering travel costs while hosts provide accommodation. The program includes cultural excursions and professional collaboration.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Community School (ACS), Beirut: ACS Lebanon is the closest direct peer — an American-curriculum international school in Beirut serving expat and local Lebanese families with NEASC accreditation and a similar college-preparatory positioning, frequently competing head-to-head with IC in admissions and athletics (NESAC).
• Lycée Français de Beyrouth: Lycée Français de Beyrouth is a Beirut-based AEFE-accredited French school offering the French Baccalaureate, overlapping with IC's French track and competing for the same multilingual, internationally-minded families in Lebanon.
• International School of Beirut (ISB): ISB is another Beirut-based international school offering IB programs, competing directly with IC for expatriate and Lebanese families seeking international credentials and IB pathways.

Broad incumbents

• American International School of Kuwait (AIS Kuwait): AIS Kuwait is a large American-curriculum international school and NESAC member, comparable to IC in scale and structure, serving a similar expatriate demographic in the broader Gulf region and overlapping for cross-border relocating families.
• American School of Dubai (ASD): ASD is a large NEASC-accredited American international school in Dubai with a college-prep focus and broad co-curricular offering, serving a comparable expatriate and local affluent demographic at greater scale than IC.
• American School of Kuwait (ASK): ASK is a Kuwait-based American international school with a comparable K-12 college-prep structure, NESAC membership, and similar positioning for families seeking American credentials in the Gulf.

Regional players

• Brummana High School: Brummana High School is a historic Lebanon-based boarding and day school offering international curricula, competing with IC for secondary-school-aged students and overlapping on college-preparatory outcomes.
• College Louise Wegmann: College Louise Wegmann is a French-curriculum school in Beirut (AEFE network), directly comparable to IC's French Baccalaureate track and serving a similar francophone expatriate segment in Lebanon.

Emerging players

• International School of Paris: International School of Paris is a European-based IB and American-track international school serving mobile expat families, comparable to IC's multiple-curriculum approach and globally mobile student profile.

Others

• Wells International School: Wells International School offers American and IB programs in the region with a similar college-prep focus, providing a comparable mobile-expat international-school model though at smaller scale than IC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/InternationalCollegeLB
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/internationalcollegelb
• Xx.com/IC_Lebanon

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about International College