Academic Year in America

What Academic Year in America does

Academic Year in America (AYA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) high school cultural exchange program founded in 1981 and headquartered at 1 High Ridge Park, Stamford, CT. It is sponsored by the AIFS Foundation (established 1967). AYA places international students aged 15-18 from 30+ countries with screened U.S. host families for one-semester (5-month) or full academic-year (10-month) stays on J-1 exchange visas. Cumulative placements exceed 35,000 students. The organization additionally serves as a designated placement organization for two federally sponsored programs: FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange, funded by Congress via the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs) and YES (Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study).

AYA operates through a three-tiered distribution architecture rather than proprietary technology. (1) Overseas partner organizations in 30+ countries recruit, screen, and prepare student applicants — verifying English proficiency, submitting documentation, and providing predeparture orientation. (2) A network of community-based Local Coordinators (part-time, compensated per placement, typically serving within 60 miles of host families) recruits host families, conducts in-person screening, places students, and provides year-round supervision. (3) A core national team at the Stamford headquarters manages placements, compliance, CSIET standards, and 24/7 support. Supporting technology consists of a Coordinator web portal, host family and student portal logins, and standard marketing/analytics integrations (HubSpot, Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, LivePerson, Cloudflare) — no proprietary AI, matching engine, or platform IP is disclosed. Two-screen host family vetting (by Local Coordinators, then by a National Compliance Team) and a National Orientation including NYC Experience are operational differentiators.

Revenue mechanics are limited to (a) exchange student program fees paid through overseas partners (not publicly disclosed), (b) grants and scholarships funded through the AIFS Foundation (including the $1,000 Tony Cook Memorial Grant for schools), and (c) zero host family payment — host families are volunteers under U.S. Department of State regulation (CFR 62.25), though they may claim a $50/month tax deduction. Primary customer segments are U.S. host families (volunteers), international exchange students, U.S. high schools, and overseas partner organizations. Annual placement volume is in the low hundreds, consistent with AYA's stated "boutique" positioning.

Name

Academic Year in America

Legal name

Academic Year in America

Website

https://academicyear.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Academic Year in America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1981 that places international high school students (ages 15-18) from 30+ countries with screened U.S. host families for semester or academic-year J-1 exchange, operating through overseas partner organizations, a nationwide Local Coordinator network, and designated federal FLEX/YES program sponsorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Exchange Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Secondary School Exchange Programs (Academic Year/Semester) (EDAIAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Language Immersion & Cultural Exchange Programs (THAKAGAE)

Keywords

• High school exchange
• Cultural exchange program
• International student hosting
• J-1 visa programs
• Host family placement

Headquarters

HQ city

Stamford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Exchange Student Program Fees: International exchange students pay program fees through AYA's overseas partner organizations. These fees cover the cost of recruitment, screening, visa processing, insurance, orientation programs (including the National Orientation and NYC Experience), and ongoing support throughout the exchange year. The exact fee structure is determined by individual partner organizations in each country.
2. Host Family Tax Deduction: While host families are volunteer positions and do not receive direct payment, they qualify for a tax deduction of $50 per month for each full month an exchange student resides with them, as permitted under U.S. Department of State regulations.
3. Grants and Charitable Support: AYA is sponsored by the AIFS Foundation, a nonprofit established in 1967. The Foundation provides organizational stability, credibility, access to high school grants (such as the $1,000 Tony Cook Memorial Grant), and funding for scholarships and cultural exchange initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Academic Year in America operates a non-profit, boutique high school cultural exchange program that places international students aged 15–18 from 30+ countries with vetted U.S. host families for either a single semester or a full academic year on J-1 exchange visitor visas. The program is designated by the U.S. Department of State, CSIET-accredited, and supported through a three-tier model consisting of overseas partner agencies, community-based Local Coordinators, and a national staff team, with sponsorship from the AIFS Foundation.

Product overview

Academic Year in America (AYA) operates as a boutique cultural exchange organization offering a unified high school exchange program platform. The core product is the High School Exchange Program, which connects international students ages 15-18 with American host families for semester or full-year stays on J-1 visas. This core is enhanced by two specialized sub-programs: the FLEX Program (Future Leaders Exchange) funded by Congress, and the YES Program (Youth Exchange and Study) focused on countries with significant Muslim populations. AYA provides配套 support through Local Coordinator services, Host Family Recruiter programs, and an Overseas Partner network for international student recruitment. Additional offerings include the Host Family Referral Program ($100 per referral) and the Tony Cook Memorial Grant ($1,000 annual award for partner schools).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FLEX Program: Future Leaders Exchange Program - a designated placement organization funded by Congress and administered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
• YES Program

Products and services

• Academic Year Program

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• AIFS FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1967The AIFS Foundation is AYA's sponsoring nonprofit organization, established in 1967 to support programs that build intercultural understanding. The Foundation provides organizational stability, credibility, access to grants for high schools, and a nonprofit focus that ensures AYA's mission of cultural exchange is protected. Both AYA and the AIFS Foundation have a special relationship with American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), a charity-owned organization whose profits fund scholarships and grants through the Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation.
• FLEX Program (Future Leaders Exchange)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAYA is a designated placement organization for the FLEX Program, funded by Congress and administered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. FLEX students come primarily from Europe and Asia to live with American host families, attend high school, and engage with their communities as future ambassadors between the U.S. and their home countries.
• YES Program (Youth Exchange and Study)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAYA is a designated placement organization for the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. YES promotes mutual understanding between the U.S. and countries with significant Muslim populations. YES students are selected for leadership potential and commitment to intercultural exchange.
• Overseas Partner OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAYA partners with organizations in 30+ countries to recruit, screen, and prepare high school exchange students for U.S. programs. Partners verify English proficiency through approved assessments, submit student applications and documentation, provide predeparture orientation, and liaise with AYA's national office to ensure seamless support and communication.
• Local CoordinatorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal Coordinators are community-based representatives who recruit host families, screen and interview families, place exchange students with vetted host families, liaise with high schools, and provide ongoing support and supervision throughout the exchange year. They are compensated per placement and supervised by Regional Directors.
• U.S. High SchoolsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAccredited public and private high schools across the U.S. host AYA exchange students, providing academic instruction, extracurricular opportunities, and community integration. Schools receive support with enrollment forms, policy alignment, and ongoing communication about student progress.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nacel Open Door: Nacel Open Door is a J-1 secondary school exchange sponsor with programs in the U.S. and abroad, competing with AYA on academic year and semester placements.
• STS Foundation (Student Travel Schools): STS Foundation operates a CSIET-listed J-1 high school exchange program placing international students with American families - a directly comparable secondary school exchange offering to AYA.
• IEX (International Exchange of Students): IEX is a designated J-1 secondary school exchange program sponsor, competing directly with AYA on the host-family/inbound-student matching model and government-regulated exchange framework.
• ASSE International Student Exchange Programs: ASSE is a CSIET-listed J-1 high school exchange sponsor that places international secondary students with U.S. host families. It directly overlaps AYA on regulation, target market (host families and inbound students), and product.
• Youth For Understanding (YFU): YFU is one of the largest U.S. J-1 high school exchange program sponsors, placing international students with American host families on semester/year programs. It competes directly with AYA for both host families and inbound exchange students under the same CSIET and State Department framework.
• Greenheart Exchange: Greenheart Exchange runs a CSIET-listed J-1 high school exchange program placing international students with U.S. host families. It is a direct competitor in the same secondary school exchange category as AYA.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE operates a designated J-1 secondary school exchange program alongside its broader study abroad portfolio, matching international high school students with vetted U.S. host families. It is a like-for-like competitor to AYA in the high school exchange placement market.
• Pax (Program of Academic Exchange): Pax is a J-1 secondary school exchange program sponsor competing with AYA for both inbound international students and U.S. host family placements, operating under the same CSIET framework and State Department designation.
• International Cultural Exchange Services (ICES): ICES is a designated J-1 visa secondary school exchange organization operating in the same regulatory and product category as AYA, matching international students with U.S. host families.

Broad incumbents

• AFS Intercultural Programs: AFS is a large, established international exchange organization with a global network operating secondary school year/semester exchanges among many other intercultural programs. It is a broader incumbent that overlaps with AYA in the U.S. high school exchange category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AcademicYearInAmerica
• Instagramurlgeni.us/instagram/AYA-weblink
• TikToktiktok.com/@academicyearinamerica
• Xx.com/ayaexchange
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/academic-year-in-america

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 Academic Year in America