American University School of International Service

What American University School of International Service does

The School of International Service (SIS) is a constituent school of American University, a private non-profit research university chartered by an Act of Congress in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1957 (per firmographic data), SIS offers undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and dual-degree programs in international affairs, international relations, international development, peace and conflict resolution, global environmental policy, and foreign policy. It serves students seeking careers in government (28% of graduates), nonprofit organizations (40%), and the for-profit sector (31%), with a documented 91% placement rate (employment, graduate school, or both) within six months of graduation and a global alumni network exceeding 25,000 members.

SIS generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees, including a per-credit-hour rate of $2,163 for on-campus and most online graduate programs (2026-2027 academic year) and a mandatory SIS Master's Program Fee of $750 per semester for full-time graduate students. A secondary revenue stream comes from external research grants and contracts supporting faculty research and graduate student opportunities, including partnerships with the United Nations enabling practicums at UN institutions in Vienna and New York. The school distributes programs through on-campus delivery in Washington D.C., online graduate programs accessible globally, and international dual-degree partnerships with Korea University, Ritsumeikan University (Japan), and University for Peace (Costa Rica).

The school's go-to-market is sales-led, relying on dedicated admissions processes, recruitment events, campus visits, virtual information sessions, and centralized application infrastructure through American University. SIS is differentiated by top-10 Foreign Policy Magazine rankings across graduate (#8), undergraduate (#8), and PhD (#11) levels, a #1 Model UN team ranking (2024-25), and over a decade of Top-3 Peace Corps volunteer-producing rankings among medium-sized universities. No SIS-specific revenue figures are publicly disclosed; financials are consolidated within American University's institutional reporting.

Name

American University School of International Service

Legal name

American University

Website

https://american.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1893

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The School of International Service at American University is a top-10 ranked international affairs school offering undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and dual-degree programs to students pursuing careers in government, nonprofit, and business sectors globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - International Affairs

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Higher Education SIS & Campus Management Systems (EDAFAEAB)

Keywords

• International affairs education
• Graduate degree programs
• International relations studies
• Higher education services
• Global policy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition for undergraduate and graduate programs, including per-credit hour charges and flat-rate tuition for full-time students. Additional mandatory fees include the SIS Master's Program Fee charged to all SIS graduate students.
2. Research Grants and Contracts: External funding from grants and research partnerships supporting faculty research and graduate student opportunities at international institutions and organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

American University School of International Service (SIS) is a private, nonprofit graduate and undergraduate school offering degree and certificate programs in international affairs, international relations, international development, peace and conflict resolution, and global policy. It delivers BA, MA, PhD, dual degree, and fully online programs grounded in a required Washington D.C. practicum/internship experience, with concentration areas such as global environmental policy, U.S. foreign policy, and strategic security. The school is part of American University, chartered by an Act of Congress in 1893, and operates in Washington, D.C.

Product overview

The School of International Service (SIS) is a top-ranked academic school within American University offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic degree programs. The school provides undergraduate (BA in International Studies), doctoral (PhD in International Relations), and multiple master's degree programs covering areas such as development management, ethics and peace, environmental policy, global governance, intercultural communication, international affairs, peace and conflict resolution, and foreign policy. The school also offers dual degree options (BA/MA, JD/MA, MBA/MA) and online graduate programs. SIS is ranked in the top 10 for both graduate and undergraduate programs in international relations by Foreign Policy magazine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Arts in International Studies
• Master of Arts in International Affairs
• Online Master of Arts in International Affairs Fully online MA in International Affairs for working professionals, taught with the same curriculum as the on-campus program and priced at $2,068 per credit.
• PhD in International Relations Doctoral research degree program in international relations, intended for candidates pursuing academic or research careers in international affairs.
• Graduate Certificate Programs Certificate programs for current and prospective students, including the online Graduate Certificate in International Affairs; structured as a 12-credit-hour program.
• Dual Degree Programs (International) Dual degree programs offered in partnership with Korea University, Ritsumeikan University, the University for Peace, and Wesley Theological Seminary, allowing students to earn credentials from two institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of graduates employed or in grad school within 6 months
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Korea UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational dual degree partnership allowing students to earn degrees from both AU SIS and Korea University, providing global learning experiences and expanded career opportunities in Asia-Pacific region.
• Ritsumeikan University (Japan)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational dual degree partnership providing students opportunity to study at both institutions, gaining expertise in international affairs with Asian regional focus.
• University for Peace (Costa Rica)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual degree partnership focused on peace and conflict resolution studies, leveraging Costa Rica's reputation as a neutral nation and center for peace studies.
• Wesley Theological SeminaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCombined MTS/MA degree programs allowing students to integrate theological studies with international peace and conflict resolution or international development.
• United NationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnerships providing SIS graduate students opportunities to work on UN projects and present recommendations at UN institutions in Vienna and New York.
• Malala FundminorOthersAlumni partnership network - SIS alumna Dhanya Rao (BA '21) works as Individual Giving Officer at Malala Fund, demonstrating career pathways for SIS graduates in global philanthropy.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs: Located in the heart of D.C., the Elliott School offers undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs in international affairs. It is a direct D.C.-based competitor with comparable policy-access advantages and similar program mix.
• Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS): Premier graduate school focused on international relations, economics, and policy with campuses in Washington, D.C., Bologna, and Nanjing. Directly competes with SIS for master's-level applicants targeting careers in foreign policy and international economics.
• Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA): Princeton's policy and international affairs school offering undergraduate and master's programs with strong quantitative training. It competes with SIS for top-tier policy-oriented applicants and produces graduates entering similar career paths.
• Georgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Service: Georgetown's flagship school for international affairs offering undergraduate and graduate programs in international politics, security, and development. It is the most direct competitor to AU SIS in the D.C. area and competes for the same applicant pool.
• Tufts University Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy: The oldest exclusively graduate school of international affairs in the U.S., offering master's and PhD programs. It competes head-to-head with AU SIS for applicants interested in diplomacy, international security, and development.
• Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA): Columbia's graduate school combining international and public policy with strong quantitative and economic training. Competes with AU SIS for top applicants in international affairs, especially those targeting policy and multilateral organization careers.
• University of Denver Josef Korbel School of Global Studies: Graduate school focused on international studies, global finance, trade, and humanitarian assistance. A peer in the international affairs category competing for master's-level applicants with similar policy and development concentrations.
• Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs: Yale's newer global affairs school offering master's and undergraduate programs focused on international affairs, development, and security. It is a high-end peer competing with SIS for applicants targeting multilateral and policy careers.

Broad incumbents

• Harvard Kennedy School: A broader public policy school with substantial international affairs offerings, well-established global brand. It overlaps with SIS on policy and global governance but casts a wider net across public policy, leadership, and economics.
• Stanford Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies: Stanford's international research and policy institute that supports interdisciplinary international affairs work across the university. It is a broader, research-oriented counterpart rather than a degree-granting school in the same model as SIS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/AU_SIS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCYDdO2qph5XSBC8r6jDyo7Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/SISatAU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-university-school-of-international-service
• Instagraminstagram.com/au_sis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American University School of International Service