What Carpe Diem Education does

Carpe Diem Education is a Portland, Oregon-based experiential education company founded in 2007 by Ethan Knight, operating in the gap year and study abroad segment for students aged 17-22 and, more recently, adult learners. The company delivers group semester programs across seven regional destinations — South Pacific, South America, Southeast Asia, Central America, India & Nepal, Italy & Greece, and Hawai'i — and a flagship Latitudes Year program that combines a group semester with an independent Focused Volunteer Placement (FVP) in one of more than 20 partner countries. Group sizes are capped at 13 students with 2 Overseas Educators, and programs integrate community engagement, cultural immersion, service learning, language study, homestays, outdoor adventure, and a climate-forward curriculum. Latitudes Year participants can earn up to 36 college credits across the year.

The business runs on a direct-to-consumer model with one-time tuition fees ranging from roughly $9,900 for a standalone semester to $25,800-$29,800 for a full Latitudes Year, supplemented by scholarships administered through nonprofit sister Carpe Mundi and 529 College Savings Plan eligibility. Technology is functional rather than differentiated: a web-based platform with a student portal, online application intake, and admissions workflows supported by content marketing across Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, and conference speaking. The company is privately held, founder-owned, has no disclosed institutional funding, and reports a 47-person headcount including both HQ staff and seasonal field educators shared with sister organization Global Routes. It holds B Corp certification, Gap Year Association (GYA) accreditation, and Transformational Travel Council Ally status, with third-party ratings of 97.8% on Go Overseas and 9.7/10 on Go Abroad.

Name

Carpe Diem Education

Legal name

Carpe Diem Education, Inc.

Website

https://carpediemeducation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Carpe Diem Education is a Portland-based experiential education company founded in 2007 that delivers group gap semesters, a year-long Latitudes program with Focused Volunteer Placements, and adult/executive programs across 18 countries for students aged 17-22 and adult learners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Experiential Education / Gap Year Programs

NAICS

Educational Services (61), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Structured Gap Year Programs (Multi-Sector & Rotational) (EDAIAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gap Year + Study Abroad Hybrid Programs (EDAIAAAG), Hybrid, Multi-Location & Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAE)

Keywords

• Experiential education programs
• Gap year programs
• Study abroad semesters
• International volunteer placements
• Cultural immersion programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Program Tuition: One-time fees per program enrollment. Tuition covers food, accommodations, scheduled program activities, and international travel insurance. International airfare and spending money are additional. Programs range from 5-week summers to full-year Latitudes programs. Multiple pricing tiers based on program duration and destination region.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Carpe Diem Education designs and delivers experiential international gap year and semester programs for students aged 17-22, with small groups (up to 13 students with 2 Overseas Educators) traveling across 18 countries on 5 continents. Offerings include Group Semester Programs, the year-long Latitudes Year (combining a group semester with a Focused Volunteer Placement), Custom Programs for schools and groups, and Adult & Executive Programs, all integrating cultural immersion, service learning, homestays, outdoor adventure, and climate-focused curriculum.

Product overview

Carpe Diem Education offers experiential gap year programs primarily for students aged 17-22. The core product portfolio includes Group Semester Programs (7 regional destinations across 5 continents with themes like Environmental Conservation, Spanish Immersion, and Cultural Leadership), the Latitudes Year (a year-long program combining group semester + Focused Volunteer Placement), Custom Programs for schools and groups, and Adult & Executive Programs. Add-on services include College Credit (up to 36 credits for full-year participants) and Scholarships/Financial Aid. All programs incorporate community engagement, cultural immersion, service learning, homestays, and outdoor adventure components.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Latitudes Year: Year-long gap year program combining group semester and Focused Volunteer Placement (FVP) for independent travel experience
• Global Routes

Products and services

• Group Semester Programs Experiential gap semester programs for students aged 17-22, traveling in small groups (up to 13 students with 2 Overseas Educators) to regions including South Pacific, South America, Southeast Asia, Central America, India & Nepal, Italy & Greece, and Hawai'i. Programs include community engagement, cultural immersion, service learning, language study, homestays, outdoor adventure, and reflection components.
• Latitudes Year A full-year gap program combining a group travel semester with a Focused Volunteer Placement (FVP) in one of 20+ countries. Students first complete a group semester, then transition to an independent multi-month volunteer placement with a partner organization aligned to their interests. Pricing ranges from $25,800 to $29,800 depending on region.
• Custom Programs Tailored gap year and experiential programs designed for schools, families, and groups seeking personalized international education experiences.
• Adult & Executive Programs Experiential travel and education programs designed specifically for adult learners and professionals seeking meaningful international experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97.8% approval rating on Go Overseas
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Carpe MundicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarpe Diem's nonprofit sister organization focused on making gap year experiences accessible to more students and families. Carpe Mundi provides scholarships and financial support for students who need assistance. Both organizations are committed to contributing meaningfully to host communities.
• Cornerstone Safety GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndustry-leading group providing health, safety, and risk management services and consulting for travel and experiential education industries. Provides Chief Risk Management Advisor (Dave Dennis), Chief Medical Advisor (Dr. Josh Dubansky), Chief Mental Health Advisor (Maureen MacConnell), Risk Management Advisor (Mike Armstrong), and Medical Advisor (Michael Habicht, MD). Margaret Kelso also serves as advisor through Cornerstone.
• Global RoutescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarpe Diem Education and Global Routes hire together as sister organizations. Both provide experiential education programs and share administrative and field staff. Global Routes offers similar programs with overlapping destinations. Adam Aronovitz has led for 11 seasons with Global Routes.
• The Cookbook ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization co-founded by Adam Aronovitz (Director of Partnerships & Purpose at Carpe Diem) focused on solving world's greatest health and environmental problems through food education.
• Whenua Iti OutdoorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutdoor education organization in New Zealand's South Island where Latitudes Year students complete Focused Volunteer Placements. Students have worked on marketing, outdoor programs, and cultural immersion activities with this partner.
• Pupu Rangi Nature SanctuaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation sanctuary on New Zealand's North Island where students participate in Kiwi bird conservation, rodent monitoring, and forest preservation efforts working with Department of Conservation.
• WildtracksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimal conservation organization in Sarteneja, Belize specializing in primate and manatee rehabilitation. Latitudes Year students work with howler monkeys and other wildlife.
• Gaia Ashram EcovillageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPermaculture and regenerative living ecovillage in Udon Thani, Thailand. Students intern and learn about sustainable agriculture, vermicomposting, agroforestry, and water harvesting practices.
• Long Way Home (Guatemala)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction NGO in Comalapa, Guatemala building schools and homes using sustainable/ recycled materials (ecobricks, cob, tires, glass bottles). Latitudes Year students participate in green building projects.
• Conscious Impact (Nepal)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization in Nepal where students participate in community building, homestays, and sustainable development projects in the Takure region.
• Re-Green Permaculture SanctuaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPermaculture farm and sanctuary in Greece where students learn about sustainable farming, community living, organic gardening, and natural building techniques including maloka construction.
• Sadhana ForestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForest regeneration and sustainable living community near Auroville, India. Students participate in tree-house living, water conservation, and environmental restoration work.
• Trek to Teach (Nepal)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational organization in Nepal facilitating teaching placements in villages like Ghandruk. Students assist with teaching and participate in treks including Poon Hill and Annapurna.
• Dreamcatcher (South Africa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPoverty alleviation organization run by Anthea Rossouw in Melkhoutfontein township. Focuses on community development and social programs.
• Mirror Foundation (Thailand)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO in Thailand working on stateless children's education and community development. Students have built schools and participated in construction projects.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Rustic Pathways: Direct competitor offering community service-based travel and gap year programs for high school and college-aged students, with overlapping destinations in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
• Where There Be Dragons: Experiential gap year and study abroad provider focused on cultural immersion and service learning in similar geographies (Asia, Latin America, Africa), targeting a comparable student demographic.
• Thinking Beyond Borders: Semester and year-long gap year programs for high school graduates with experiential, service-learning curricula in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
• Global Citizen Year: Year-long gap year program combining immersive group experience with an independent internship abroad, directly comparable to Carpe Diem's Latitudes Year product.
• LEAP Year / LEAPNOW: Gap year provider offering semester and year-long transformational programs combining group travel with independent internships, closely analogous to Carpe Diem's Latitudes Year structure.
• World Leadership School: Experiential education provider offering school-based and gap-style programs focused on global citizenship, service learning, and intercultural competence in similar destinations.
• Global Routes: Carpe Diem's sister organization that shares hiring and field staff and offers overlapping experiential gap year and study abroad programs with similar destinations and pedagogies.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: Global education company offering language immersion and study abroad programs at scale, including gap year-style semesters and summer programs for high school students.
• Outward Bound: Long-established experiential education provider offering outdoor and service-oriented programs for teens and young adults, overlapping in outdoor adventure and personal development components.
• CIEE (The Experiment in International Living): Established, larger-scale study abroad organization offering gap semester and summer programs globally with similar experiential components and college credit partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CarpeGapYear
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCEwro8MPPU6EYyhr_F71_xg
• Facebookfacebook.com/carpediemeducation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carpe-diem-education
• Instagraminstagram.com/carpegapyear
• Pinterestpinterest.com/carpegapyear

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Carpe Diem Education