Education Abroad Latin America (EALA)

What Education Abroad Latin America (EALA) does

Education Abroad Latin America (EALA) is a Jacksonville, Florida-headquartered international student recruitment and advisory firm founded in 2014 (one source cites 2015) that functions as the off-campus international admissions department for 100+ accredited US universities and community colleges. The company serves Latin American and Spanish high school students (and their families) seeking undergraduate or postgraduate placement in the United States, providing end-to-end services including university selection, application support, scholarship advisory (30-90% tuition coverage reported), F-1 visa preparation, document translation, credential evaluation, pre-travel counseling, and international student health insurance via a partnership with LewerMark. EALA operates bilingual regional offices in Quito and Guayaquil (Ecuador), Bogotá and Medellín (Colombia), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Lima (Perú), Valencia (Spain), and Baja California (Mexico), and conducts in-person recruitment through 850+ high school visits and 200+ university fairs across Latin America.

EALA's business model is commission-based affiliate recruitment: services are free to students, and revenue is earned through placement commissions from partner US universities, supplemented by referral arrangements with test (ETS/TOEFL, Cambridge, Duolingo), financing (MPOWER), evaluation (Spantran, ECE), insurance (LewerMark, ISOA), and exchange (IEE) providers. The product surface includes a 2024 strategic alliance with Citizens High School (Jacksonville, FL) for a US Dual Diploma program accredited by MSACS and DEAC, allowing students to complete a US high school credential alongside their local bachillerato, which then feeds directly into the university's admissions pipeline. Membership in NAFSA and ICEF provides industry-level credibility with university partners.

The company is privately held and founder-operated, with Andrés Artunduaga (MBA, University of Sioux Falls) serving as President and Julio Hinojosa as Chief Recruitment Officer; headcount stands at approximately 7 employees based in the US. To date no external funding rounds, acquisitions, or institutional investment have been disclosed, and the company has not announced any proprietary technology platform beyond its website-based application funnel and a WhatsApp-driven inside-sales workflow. Reported cumulative metrics include 4,000+ students admitted to US universities and over $20M in total scholarship value facilitated across the company's operating history.

Name

Education Abroad Latin America (EALA)

Legal name

Education Abroad Latin America

Website

https://educationabroadla.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Education Abroad Latin America (EALA) is a Jacksonville, Florida-based international student recruitment and advisory firm that places Latin American and Spanish students at 100+ US universities through a commission-based model, operating bilingual recruitment offices across nine countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Student Recruitment Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Application Processing & Admissions Support (Document Prep, SOP/Essay, Credential Review) (EDAIACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Virtual Recruitment Events, Fairs & Webinar Platforms (EDAIACAF), International Student Onboarding & Pre-Departure Orientation Services (EDAIACAG)

Keywords

• International student recruitment
• University admissions advisory
• Study abroad consulting
• F-1 visa assistance
• Scholarship advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Jacksonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. University Commission/Recruitment Fees: EALA provides free advisory services to students and is compensated by US universities for each enrolled international student. Universities pay recruitment fees or commissions for each student admitted through EALA's referral pipeline.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

EALA is the international admissions department for 100+ accredited US universities and community colleges, providing free advisory and placement services to Latin American and Spanish students seeking US university admission. Core services include university selection, application support, scholarship advisory (30–90% tuition coverage), F-1 visa assistance, pre-travel briefings, and a US dual diploma program with Citizens High School. EALA also offers a separate university partner recruitment platform for US institutions to access Latin American student markets.

Product overview

EALA operates as an international education placement and advisory services company, functioning as an admissions department for over 100 U.S. universities. Its core offering is a student recruitment and advisory platform that connects Latin American students with U.S. higher education institutions. The platform's main components include University Admissions Advisory Services (program selection, application, and visa support), Scholarship Application Services (30–90% tuition coverage), F-1 Visa Assistance, Pre-Travel Advisory, and a Dual Diploma Program delivered through an alliance with Citizens High School (accredited by MSACS and DEAC). Supplementary add-on services include international student health insurance (via LewerMark), document translation, athletic scholarship advisory, and loan facilitation. EALA also offers a University Partner Recruitment Services platform for U.S. universities to access Latin American student markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• University Admissions Advisory Services Advisory and placement services guiding Latin American students through the selection, application, and admission process to US universities, including program selection, admissions coordination with university representatives, and visa application support. Free to students; revenue comes from commissions paid by partner universities.
• Scholarship Application Services Advisory on scholarship eligibility and application for US university funding, with scholarship coverage ranging from 30% to 90% of tuition costs, based on English proficiency, academic merit, volunteer work, athletics, and artistic talent.
• F-1 Student Visa Assistance Support services for F-1 student visa application, including documentation preparation, I-20 form processing, DS-160 form completion, SEVIS I-901 fee guidance, financial documentation support, and interview preparation.
• Pre-Travel Advisory Pre-departure briefings covering university orientation, visa requirements, work permits, and arrival logistics in the United States.
• Dual Diploma Program (with Citizens High School) A joint high school diploma program allowing students outside the US to earn both their local secondary school diploma and a US high school diploma simultaneously. Requires completing 18 credits at a local school and 4–6 asynchronous credits through Citizens High School, with accreditation from MSACS and DEAC.
• International Student Health Insurance (LewerMark) Health insurance plans for international students in the US, provided through a partnership with LewerMark Student Insurance Company, offering coverage up to $1 million per student.
• Document Translation Services Translation of official academic documents including secondary school transcripts, GPA equivalency conversions, bank certifications, and academic excellence certificates for US university admissions.
• University Application Services (Outside Network) Admissions advisory and application support for universities outside EALA's partner network, including form completion, document submission, housing orientation, and pre-arrival guidance.
• Athletic Scholarship Advisory Sports scholarship advisory services including athletic profile and video editing assistance for students excelling in sports such as soccer, athletics, baseball, tennis, and golf.
• Student Loan Assistance Facilitation of loan documentation for financial institutions, including acceptance letters, scholarship letters, and official cost documentation for student loan approvals.
• University Partner Recruitment Services A concierge-style recruitment platform for US universities to reach Latin American students, including in-person recruitment at high schools, digital/virtual recruitment events, bilingual recruiter representation, high school/university alliance creation, marketing, and Spanish translation services for university brochures.

Quantifiable outcome

• Scholarship awards range from 30% to 90% of tuition cost for qualifying students
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• US Universities (100+ Partner Institutions)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEALA serves as the international admissions department for over 100 accredited US universities and community colleges, recruiting and placing Latin American students. Partner universities include Florida International University, Snow College, Nova Southeastern University, Northwest Missouri State University, University of Utah, University of Central Missouri, Midwestern State University, University of North Florida, and many others. EALA handles the full recruitment pipeline from initial inquiry through student arrival on campus.
• Citizens High School (CHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEALA maintains a strategic alliance with Citizens High School, a distance/virtual high school based in Jacksonville, Florida — the second-oldest such institution in the US. The partnership enables Latin American students to earn a US Dual Diploma while completing their home-country secondary education, facilitating direct admission and credit transfers to US universities.
• NAFSA: Association of International EducatorsminorOthersEALA is a member of NAFSA, the world's largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange.
• ICEminorOthersEALA is a member of ICEF, an organization dedicated to recruiting international students for English-speaking educational institutions.
• ETS / TOEFLminorOthersEALA is a partner of ETS for TOEFL test promotion and information sharing with prospective students.
• Cambridge EnglishminorOthersEALA is a partner of Cambridge English, promoting Cambridge English language proficiency exams as alternatives for US university admission requirements.
• Duolingo English TestminorOthersEALA is a partner of Duolingo English Test, promoting the online English proficiency exam as a cost-effective and accessible alternative for US university admission.
• MPOWER FinancingminorOthersEALA partners with MPOWER Financing to provide information about student loans for international students pursuing education in the US.
• SpantranminorOthersEALA partners with Spantran to provide transcript translation and evaluation services for students applying to US universities.
• Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)minorOthersEALA partners with ECE for credential evaluation services for international students.
• International Student Exchange (IEE)minorOthersEALA is affiliated with IEE for international student exchange programs.
• Lewer Mark Student Insurance CompanyminorOthersEALA offers international student health insurance plans through a direct partnership with Lewer Mark Student Insurance Company, providing coverage up to $1 million per student.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• IDP Education: Global education services company listed on the ASX that places international students at universities worldwide, including the US. Operates at vastly greater scale than EALA with broader destination coverage and IELTS co-ownership.
• Navitas: Large publicly-listed provider of university pathway programs and international student recruitment. Overlaps with EALA in the partner-university recruitment model but operates globally and at substantially larger scale.

Regional players

• CEA Study Abroad: Provider of study abroad and cultural immersion programs primarily for North American students going abroad — opposite flow to EALA but operating in adjacent international education services with similar partnership-and-support infrastructure.

Direct peers

• EIC Education (Education International Corporation): US-based international student placement and consulting firm focused on Latin American markets. Direct competitor with overlapping source markets, university partnerships, and student demographics.
• ApplyBoard: Tech-enabled marketplace connecting international students with partner universities globally. Competes directly with EALA for university recruitment contracts and student placement, though ApplyBoard operates at much greater scale with digital-first infrastructure.
• Shorelight Education: Partners with US universities to recruit, admit, and support international students through pathway and direct-admit programs. Closest peer to EALA in business model — university-facing recruitment and student support — though Shorelight operates at larger scale and with more capital.
• Study Group: International education provider offering pathway and degree programs at partner universities worldwide. Similar model to EALA — partner universities, student placement, and visa support — but with global rather than LATAM-focused coverage.
• Keystone Education Group: International education services company providing student recruitment, admissions support, and pathway programs to partner institutions. Comparable business model to EALA with multi-country source markets.
• INTO University Partnerships (INTO Global): Global education partner that works with universities to create pathway programs and recruit international students. Comparable to EALA in the university-partner commission model, with overlapping target student demographics.

Others

• MPOWER Financing: Fintech lender providing loans to international students pursuing US education. EALA partner organization; not a competitor but an adjacent ecosystem enabler that monetizes the same international-student pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/education_abroad_la
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/education-abroad-latin-america-eala

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Education Abroad Latin America (EALA)