What International Studies Abroad does

International Studies Abroad (operating as WorldStrides Higher Ed) is a private education abroad provider headquartered in Austin, Texas, founded in 1980 (with firmographic records indicating 1987) and operating as a division of WorldStrides, Inc. The company delivers semester, summer, J-term, and short-term study abroad programs through a network of 100+ international university partnerships across 50+ cities and 120+ countries, serving primarily undergraduate and graduate students seeking academic credit, alongside internship, community engagement, research, full-degree, and faculty-led custom programs. Its proprietary sub-brand, WorldStrides Global Campus, operates company-branded academic locations in Cusco (Peru), Meknes (Morocco), and Seville (Spain).

The company runs a hybrid GTM motion combining direct-to-consumer sales (online application portal, student portal, one-on-one advising sessions) with enterprise field sales targeting universities and academic institutions through dedicated partner resources, advisor portals, and faculty-led custom program development. Pricing is unit-based, with semester programs starting at $11,995-$18,450, summer programs at $5,150-$8,950, and J-term programs at $4,995, supplemented by financial aid, scholarships, and early-registration discounts. The technology platform consists of a Student Portal, Advisor Portal, and the WorldStrides Connections mobile app, alongside integrated services for credit transfer, transcripts, embedded insurance, travel restriction monitoring (WorldWide Alerts), and digital badges.

Revenue is generated almost entirely from per-student program fees under a one-time payment model, with support revenue from university partners through faculty-led custom programs. The company holds B Corp certification, supports the Global Ambassador alumni program and a student Content Creator program for peer marketing, and has launched multiple new programs in 2024 spanning Japan (Yamanashi Gakuin University), Peru (Cusco sustainability), and Argentina (Medical Spanish immersion in Buenos Aires). No disclosed revenue, funding history, M&A activity, or management team roster is available in the source material.

Name

International Studies Abroad

Legal name

WorldStrides, Inc.

Website

https://studiesabroad.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

International Studies Abroad (WorldStrides Higher Ed) is a private Austin-based provider of study abroad, internship, research, and faculty-led custom programs for university students, operating 100+ international university partnerships across 50+ cities and 120+ countries with proprietary Global Campus locations in Cusco, Meknes, and Seville.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Abroad Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Hybrid, Multi-Location & Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faculty-Led & Custom Group Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAA), Short-Term & Summer/Winter Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAF), International Branch Campus & Offshore Program Partnerships (EDAIABAI), Direct Enrollment & Third-Party University Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAB), Experiential & Field-Based Study Abroad (Research, Field Schools, Practicums) (EDAIAAAD), Study Abroad Program Management & Administration (for Institutions) (EDAIAAAJ)

Keywords

• Study abroad programs
• Education abroad
• International internships
• Faculty-led programs
• University partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Study Abroad Program Fees: Students pay program fees for semester, summer, J-term, and short-term study abroad experiences. Fees vary by program duration, destination, and included services (housing, excursions, academic credit). Programs range from $4,995 (J-Term) to $18,450 (semester programs).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

International Studies Abroad sells education abroad experiences to university students and the institutions that send them, including semester, summer, J-term, and short-term study abroad programs, international internship placements, community engagement, research, and full-degree programs, plus customized faculty-led cohort programs. Programs are delivered through 100+ international university partnerships and proprietary WorldStrides Global Campus sites in Cusco, Meknes, and Seville, and include on-the-ground in-country support, housing, excursions, and academic credit coordination.

Product overview

WorldStrides Higher Ed operates as a comprehensive education abroad platform offering study abroad, internships, research, and community engagement programs across 100+ university partnerships in more than 50 cities worldwide. The core portfolio includes traditional study abroad semesters and summers, professional internship placements, custom faculty-led programs, and proprietary WorldStrides Global Campus locations in Cusco, Meknes, and Seville. Students access programs through web portals (Student Portal, Advisor Portal) and a mobile application (WorldStrides Connections), with support spanning from pre-departure advising through alumni career resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WorldStrides Global Campus: Company-operated campuses in international locations offering semester programs (e.g., Cusco, Meknes, Seville) with local teams and academic infrastructure.

Products and services

• Study Abroad Programs Semester, summer, and short-term study abroad programs for university students at international partner universities across more than 50 cities.
• Internship Programs Professional internship placements abroad for university students in global industries including health, sports, technology, and more.
• Community Engagement Programs Programs combining academic study with community service and cultural immersion in various international destinations for university students.
• Research Programs Research-focused study abroad opportunities allowing university students to conduct academic research in international field settings.
• Full Degree Programs Complete degree programs at international partner universities for students seeking full academic immersion.
• Custom Faculty-Led Programs Customized short-term global programs designed by faculty for specific academic cohorts, from undergraduate to executive learners.
• WorldStrides Global Campus Proprietary branded campus locations offering semester programs in destinations like Cusco (Peru), Meknes (Morocco), and Seville (Spain) with integrated academics and cultural activities.
• Study + Internship Programs Hybrid programs combining study abroad coursework with international internship placements for enhanced experiential learning.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45+ years of transformational experience delivery
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• International Universities (100+ partnerships)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 100 partnerships with international universities in more than 50 cities worldwide. These partnerships provide local teams and support infrastructure for semester, short-term, and custom programs. Universities serve as host institutions for study abroad students.
• Yamanashi Gakuin UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese university partnership for semester study abroad programs in Kofu, Japan. Students can spend a semester immersed in Japanese culture and academics at this partner institution.
• Charles University (Prague)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric Czech university (one of the oldest in the world) serving as host institution for semester and academic year study abroad programs in Prague.
• Juntendo University (Tokyo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese university partnership for summer health studies programs with hands-on fieldwork in urban and rural Japanese communities.
• Murdoch University (Perth)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian university partnership for summer tropical marine biology programs with hands-on experience exploring Australia's stunning coastline.
• J.F. Oberlin University (Tokyo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese university partnership for summer and Maymester Japanese language and culture programs located in Shinjuku ward, Tokyo.
• Universidad Politécnica de ValenciacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish university partnership for semester and academic year STEM programs with Spanish language instruction in Valencia.
• Universidad de Belgrano (Buenos Aires)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArgentine university partnership for medical Spanish immersion summer programs with hands-on clinical experience.
• Maynooth University (Ireland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrish university partnership for J-term programs focused on artistic and cultural heritage immersion.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: Global education company offering language training, cultural exchange, and study abroad as part of a much broader portfolio including K-12, corporate, and university programs. Overlaps ISA on higher-ed study abroad but operates at vastly larger scale across many verticals.

Direct peers

• CIS Abroad: Mid-sized US-based study abroad and internship provider offering programs across multiple continents. Comparable on student portal, faculty-led custom programs, and direct-to-consumer motion targeting US undergraduates.
• USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium): University consortium-based study abroad provider offering semester and summer programs across 50+ locations. Comparable on multi-country catalog, university partnership model, and serving academic advisors as primary distribution channel.
• CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Study abroad provider offering semester, summer, and internship programs across multiple countries with embedded local support teams. Mirrors ISA's value proposition on health/safety infrastructure, internship add-ons, and credit-transfer services for US sending institutions.
• Arcadia Abroad: Provider of study abroad programs at partner universities across the UK, Europe, Australia, and beyond, with strong US university partnership network. Directly comparable on direct-enrollment model and faculty-led custom program offerings.
• IES Abroad: Not-for-profit study abroad provider operating semester and custom programs across 30+ locations with strong US university partnerships. Closely comparable to ISA on program structure, credit-bearing semester model, and serving academic advisors and faculty as primary buyer personas.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): One of the largest US-headquartered study abroad providers, offering semester, summer, and custom programs across dozens of countries with deep university partnerships. Directly comparable to ISA in target customer (US university students), program mix, and institutional sales motion.
• Semester at Sea: Multi-country semester study abroad program operating ship-based global semesters visiting 10+ countries. Comparable in multi-country/multi-discipline positioning and university credit partnerships, though differentiated by ship-based delivery model.
• API (Academic Programs International): US-based study abroad provider offering semester, summer, and short-term programs across Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Directly comparable on direct-enrollment model at partner universities, faculty-led custom programs, and US university partnership GTM.
• SIT Study Abroad (World Learning): Experiential, field-based study abroad provider with strong focus on sustainability, development, and research programs. Comparable to ISA on thematic study abroad verticals, research-focused offerings, and global immersion model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubebit.ly/wsabroad-youtube
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-studies-abroad-isa
• Instagrambit.ly/wsabroad-instagram
• TikToktiktok.com/@worldstridesstudyabroad
• Xx.com/isaabroad

Compliance1 record

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 International Studies Abroad