Ayusa

What Ayusa does

Ayusa is a non-profit high school exchange organization founded in 1981 in San Francisco and operating under the legal name Ayusa International. Its core function is placing international high school students with vetted U.S. volunteer host families under a U.S. Department of State BridgeUSA designation that authorizes J-1 visa sponsorship. In parallel, Ayusa administers federal exchange programs for the U.S. Department of State — including YES (Youth Exchange and Study), FLEX, CBYX, YA, and BFTF — and operates outbound study abroad programs for U.S. students in Japan and Germany via wholly-owned subsidiaries in Tokyo and Berlin. The organization also acts as the high school exchange arm of the Intrax family, a global education and work-program operator active in 100+ countries.

The product portfolio spans inbound exchange programs (academic year, semester, trimester, summer), outbound study abroad in Japan and Germany, the YES scholarship pathway for students from countries with significant Muslim populations, host family recruitment and support services, and a school partnership program. Pricing for Japan programs is publicly disclosed between $4,300 (summer, three-week) and $9,510 USD (full academic year). Operations are coordinated through a Salesforce-based program management and student-host family matching platform, supported by a nationwide U.S. field network of Community Representatives organized across at least seven regional territories, plus an operations and compliance function at headquarters. With 501–1,000 employees, Ayusa is BBB-accredited, a CSIET founding member since 1984, and a continuous CSIET-listed sponsor since inception of that standard.

Name

Ayusa

Legal name

Ayusa International

Website

https://ayusa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Ayusa is a non-profit high school exchange organization that places international students with vetted U.S. host families, administers U.S. Department of State programs (YES, FLEX, CBYX), and runs outbound study abroad programs in Japan and Germany under the Intrax family.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Exchange Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117), Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Short-Term Secondary Immersion & Cultural Exchange Trips (EDAIAHAD), One-to-One Immersion & Homestay Language Programs (EDAIAEAH), Language Immersion & Cultural Exchange Programs (THAKAGAE)

Keywords

• International high school exchange
• Student cultural immersion
• Host family matching
• Study abroad programs
• Government sponsored exchanges

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Student Program Fees: International students pay program fees for exchange programs including academic year, semester, trimester, and summer options. Fees range from $4,300 USD (summer) to $9,510 USD (academic year) for Japan programs. These fees cover program coordination, host family support, visa sponsorship, and local representative services.
2. U.S. Department of State Program Administration: Ayusa administers government-funded exchange programs including YES (Youth Exchange and Study), FLEX, CBYX, and other State Department initiatives, receiving grants to sponsor eligible students from designated countries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ayusa is a nonprofit organization that facilitates international high school student exchange programs, placing inbound foreign students with vetted American host families and coordinating outbound immersion experiences for U.S. students in Japan and Germany. The organization also administers U.S. government-sponsored scholarship exchange programs (YES, FLEX, and CBYX) under its designation by the U.S. Department of State BridgeUSA. Program delivery is supported through a national community representative network and international offices in Tokyo, Belgrade, and Berlin.

Product overview

Ayusa is a non-profit high school exchange organization offering a portfolio of cultural exchange programs centered on its core inbound High School Exchange Program, which places international students with American host families. The company also provides outbound Study Abroad Programs enabling American students to study in Germany and Japan, including dedicated products like Ayusa Japan High School Abroad, the Summer Cultural Exploration in Japan, the Ayusa Germany Abroad Academic Program, and the Ayusa Berlin Language Camp. Additional offerings include the Kennedy-Lugar YES grant program, Host Family Services with Community Representative support, and school partnership services. All programs operate under U.S. Department of State BridgeUSA designation and CSIET standards, with support coordinated through headquarters in San Francisco and regional offices in Tokyo and Berlin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YES Grant: Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program - a grant program awarding scholarships to high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations.

Products and services

• Inbound High School Exchange Program Semester or academic-year program that places international high school students with vetted American host families while they attend a U.S. high school under Ayusa's BridgeUSA sponsor designation.
• YES (Youth Exchange and Study) Program U.S. Department of State-funded scholarship program administered by Ayusa that places high school students from eligible countries with vetted American host families for an academic year.
• FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) Program U.S. Department of State-funded scholarship program administered by Ayusa that places high school students from eligible countries with vetted American host families for an academic year.
• CBYX (Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange) Program Binational youth exchange program administered by Ayusa in cooperation with U.S. and German governmental partners that places U.S. and German high school students with vetted host families in the counterpart country for an academic year.
• Ayusa Outbound Japan Program Semester or academic-year program that sends U.S. high school students to Japan to live with vetted Japanese host families and attend local high school, supported by Ayusa's Tokyo office.
• Ayusa Outbound Germany Program Semester or academic-year program that sends U.S. high school students to Germany to live with vetted German host families and attend local high school, supported by Ayusa's Berlin office.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40+ years of exchange program experience
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Department of StatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAyusa partners with the U.S. Department of State on BridgeUSA programs including FLEX, YES, CBYX, YA, and BFTF. As a designated State Department Exchange Visitor Program sponsor since 1982, Ayusa administers government-funded high school exchange programs.
• IntraxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAyusa is a part of the Intrax family, a globally-oriented company providing educational and work programs. Intrax has operations in more than 100 countries worldwide. Sister companies include Intrax Work Travel, Intrax Global Internships, AuPairCare, AmeriCamp, and FurtherTravel.
• Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAyusa is a founding member of CSIET and has been approved for listing since 1984. CSIET sets standards for international youth exchange programs.
• Intrax JapancoreTechnology or IntegrationIntrax Japan operates the Ayusa Japan programs, including summer camps, winter camps, and academic year programs in Japan. Provides local on-ground support for Japanese study abroad programs.
• Ayusa GermanycoreTechnology or IntegrationAyusa Germany office (originally Stuttgart, now Berlin) manages German exchange programs including Berlin Language Camp and academic programs. Contact: [email protected]
• Better Business Bureau (BBB)minorOthersAyusa holds BBB accreditation (BBB of Greater San Francisco, Business Review #206332), demonstrating commitment to ethical business practices.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is one of the largest U.S.-based nonprofit international exchange organizations, running high school study abroad, work & travel, and exchange visitor programs with State Department designations — directly comparable to Ayusa's core BridgeUSA secondary school student program.
• AFS Intercultural Programs: AFS is a long-standing, CSIET-listed nonprofit that runs secondary school exchange, host family matching, and intercultural programs in 100+ countries — serving the same international high school student and host family segments as Ayusa.
• Program of Academic Exchange (PAX): PAX is a CSIET-listed exchange organization that places international high school students with U.S. host families, offers a Community Representative-style field model, and is also a State Department BridgeUSA-designated sponsor — directly overlapping with Ayusa's program portfolio.
• Greenheart Exchange: Greenheart Exchange is a CSIET-listed BridgeUSA sponsor operating high school inbound and outbound exchange programs, au pair programs, and short-term cultural immersion — directly competing with Ayusa in secondary school student exchange.
• International Student Exchange (ISE): ISE is a nonprofit CSIET-listed organization offering high school exchange programs for inbound international students, with a similar U.S. host family recruitment and community-based local support structure to Ayusa.
• ASSE International Student Exchange Programs: ASSE is a CSIET-listed, State Department-designated high school exchange sponsor offering both inbound (to the U.S.) and outbound exchange programs, directly competing with Ayusa for international students and host families.
• Nacel Open Door: Nacel Open Door is a CSIET-listed exchange organization that places international high school students with U.S. host families, with programs and a community representative model that closely mirror Ayusa's core offering.
• STS Foundation (Student Travel Schools): STS Foundation runs CSIET-listed high school exchange programs placing international students in U.S. and other host countries, operating on a similar model to Ayusa with host family placement and academic year/semester programs.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: EF is a large, established global education company offering study abroad, language schools, and cultural exchange programs. While broader in scope than Ayusa, it competes in adjacent spaces such as Japan summer programs, language immersion, and homestay-based study abroad.

Others

• AuPairCare: AuPairCare is a sister company within the Intrax family, placing au pairs with American host families under the State Department Au Pair program. It is not a direct exchange competitor but operates on the same regulatory BridgeUSA framework and shares back-office and distribution assets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ayusa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/AYUSAInternational
• Facebookfacebook.com/263314093299
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ayusa
• Instagraminstagram.com/teamayusa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 Ayusa