Council on International Educational Exchange

What Council on International Educational Exchange does

CIEE is a U.S.-based nonprofit founded in 1947 that operates study abroad, work-and-travel, internship, and intercultural exchange programs across 49 cities and roughly 590 program offerings on six continents. The organization serves three primary customer cohorts: college and university students (the largest revenue base, accessing semester, summer, quarter, and internship programs), high school students (semester, summer, gap year, and first-year-abroad tracks), and international exchange visitors participating in BridgeUSA programs (sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs) that include Work & Travel USA, internships, training, camp counselor placements, and high school exchange.

The product portfolio is service- and logistics-heavy rather than technology-centric. Core platforms include CIEE Open Campus Block (flexible 6-week blocks across 35 locations), CIEE Quarter In (12-week terms earning 18-21 quarter credits, 35 locations), CIEE Business + Culture (38 locations through AACSB/EQUIS-accredited partner institutions), and CIEE College First Year Abroad (13 locations). Course delivery combines in-person instruction at local partner universities with online coursework provided through Arizona State University. The MyCIEE portal handles applications and participant management. No proprietary technology stack, AI/ML systems, patents, or software products are disclosed in available materials; the value proposition rests on program design, in-country operational staff, partner university relationships, and government sponsorship for BridgeUSA.

Revenue mechanics combine participant-paid program fees (the principal income stream), employer-paid fees for hosting international interns and seasonal workers, institutional partnership revenue with universities, and philanthropic contributions supporting a scholarship endowment that disburses more than $8M annually to over 1,000 recipients. CIEE runs a hybrid go-to-market: direct-to-consumer acquisition through ciee.org and social channels, plus enterprise partnerships via an Institutional Relations team, an employer partner network for BridgeUSA, and a host family network for housing exchange participants. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by program, location, and duration.

Name

Council on International Educational Exchange

Legal name

CIEE, Inc.

Website

https://ciee.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CIEE is a U.S. nonprofit founded in 1947 that runs study abroad, internship, work-and-travel, and cultural exchange programs across 49 cities for college students, high school students, and international exchange visitors, funded primarily through program fees and institutional partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Study Abroad and Intercultural Exchange Programs

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Other Schools and Instruction (6116)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Direct Enrollment & Third-Party University Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Service Learning Program Design, Accreditation & Evaluation (EDAIAGAL), Integrated Language + Academic Skills (EAP) Bridging Programs (EDAIAJAF), Engineering & Technical Professions (PE, Engineering CPD) (EDAAALAF), Educational/Student Retail Travel Agencies (THAKABAK)

Keywords

• Study abroad programs
• International exchange
• Work and travel
• Cultural immersion
• Intercultural exchange

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Study Abroad Program Fees: Revenue generated from program fees paid by students participating in study abroad, exchange, and internship programs across CIEE's global network of locations.
2. Work and Travel USA Program Fees: Fees from international students participating in BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel program, facilitating cultural exchange through work opportunities in the United States.
3. Scholarship and Endowment Management: CIEE administers scholarship programs and endowments including the 80th Anniversary Fund ($5M goal with matching), Farther Foundation Scholarship Fund (~$2M endowment), and various named scholarships.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CIEE is a nonprofit that organizes and delivers study abroad, internship, work and travel, and teach abroad programs for college students, high school students, graduates, and international exchange visitors. Programs are operated through 49 staffed CIEE centers across 35+ countries, offering approximately 590 distinct program options in partnership with host universities, Arizona State University, and U.S. employers. CIEE also serves as a designated sponsor of the U.S. Department of State's BridgeUSA cultural exchange programs.

Product overview

CIEE operates as a nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization offering a comprehensive platform with multiple program types across 49 cities and approximately 590 programs. The core offerings include College Study Abroad (semester, summer, and short-term programs), College Intern Abroad (global professional internships), and High School Study Abroad (semester, summer, and gap year programs). The platform also supports Work & Travel USA and related BridgeUSA exchange programs. Key modular products include CIEE Open Campus Block (flexible 6-week blocks in 35 locations), CIEE Quarter In (12-week quarter programs in 35 locations), CIEE Business + Culture (38 locations with AACSB/EQUIS accredited partners), and CIEE College First Year Abroad (13 locations). Additional offerings encompass TEFL certification, Custom Programs for institutions and employers, travel protection via iNext, and the annual CIEE Global Internship Conference. CIEE also manages scholarship programs including the Rick A. Ruth BridgeUSA Scholarship, Douglass-O'Connell Global Internship, and is expanding with four new centers (Brussels, Osaka, Vienna, Bangkok) launching in 2027.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CIEE Global Education Conference: Annual international education conference bringing together university leaders, business executives, policymakers, and community activists
• BridgeUSA
• CIEE Business + Culture
• CIEE Open Campus Block
• CIEE Quarter In
• CIEE Community Impact Initiative

Products and services

• College Study Abroad

Quantifiable outcome

• Currently only 2% of U.S. high school students and 6% of college students participate in global education programs each year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Arizona State UniversitycoreTechnology or Integration · 21 April 2026Partnership for online coursework integration across CIEE's global programs. ASU provides online academic content complementing CIEE's in-person courses across 38+ locations for Business + Culture, Open Campus Block, and Quarter In programs. CIEE and ASU show online learning expands access to study abroad.
• Host Institution Partners (Various)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026CIEE partners with 38+ AACSB and EQUIS accredited business schools and universities globally including Charles University (Prague), Dublin City University, Edinburgh Napier University, Monash University (Melbourne), University of Sydney, Hanyang University (Seoul), and others for hosting study abroad students in their respective programs.
• America250coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2026CIEE became a supporting partner of America250, the national organization leading America's 250th anniversary (Semiquincentennial) celebrations in 2026. CIEE will spotlight America250 events and participate in America Gives initiative encouraging volunteering and community service, aligning with CIEE's Community Impact Initiative integrating service components into study abroad programs.
• Farther FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026CIEE assumed stewardship of Farther Foundation's assets and mission starting September 1, 2026. Combined endowment of approximately $2 million dedicated to supporting low-income Chicago-area high school students' participation in study abroad programs. Farther Foundation, founded in Chicago in 2008, had awarded up to $100,000 annually in scholarships to students from historically marginalized communities.
• Scan Design FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2025Joint program for environmental sustainability interns in Denmark. The 2026 Scan Design Foundation Environmental Sustainability Interns program selects eight students for fully funded internships in Copenhagen, aiming to deepen understanding of environmental sustainability and develop skills in sustainable business practices and cross-cultural communication.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves1 record

Direct peers

• USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium): Nonprofit study abroad consortium affiliated with US universities, offering programs in 50+ locations globally with a similar model to CIEE targeting university partners and individual students.
• IES Abroad: Nonprofit study abroad organization offering semester and summer programs across multiple global cities, directly competing with CIEE's college study abroad portfolio for university partnerships and student enrollment.
• CEA Study Abroad: Provider of study abroad and internship programs with locations across Europe, Latin America, and Asia, competing directly with CIEE in the college study abroad and global internship segments.
• API (Academic Programs International): Study abroad provider offering programs across Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa, directly comparable to CIEE's college study abroad portfolio with similar university partnership model.
• International Studies Abroad (ISA): Study abroad provider offering university-level programs across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific, directly competing for the same student demographic and institutional partnerships as CIEE.
• Institute of International Education (IIE): Nonprofit organization administering the Fulbright Program and other major international exchange initiatives, operating in the same international education exchange space as CIEE with significant government program partnerships.
• Arcadia University - College of Global Studies: University-based study abroad provider offering programs across multiple countries, competing with CIEE for institutional partnerships and student applicants in the global education market.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: Global education company offering language training, academic programs, and cultural exchanges across 50+ countries, competing with CIEE in study abroad and exchange programs at scale.
• WorldStrides: Large-scale educational travel provider for K-12 and university students offering performance-based and educational trips, serving as a broader incumbent in educational travel adjacent to CIEE's high school programs.

Emerging players

• Go Overseas: Online marketplace and review platform for study abroad, volunteer, and teach abroad programs, serving as an emerging digital channel that competes for student attention and program discovery alongside CIEE's direct offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CIEEstudyabroad
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CIEEStudyAbroad
• Facebookfacebook.com/ciee
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ciee
• Instagraminstagram.com/cieestudyabroad
• TikToktiktok.com/@cieestudyabroad

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 Council on International Educational Exchange