ASU Global Launch

What ASU Global Launch does

ASU Global Launch is the English language learning unit of Arizona State University, founded in 1974 and accredited by the American Association of Intensive English Programs (AAIEP). It operates intensive English language programs delivered through three primary modalities — Campus Immersion at the ASU Tempe campus, Online Immersion via live Zoom classes, and the ASU-USA Pathways program offering conditional admission with up to 26 undergraduate credits. Supporting offerings include English + ASU Credit (concurrent English and university coursework), English for Admission and Achievement, Self-paced English, and specialized courses such as English for the Semiconductor Industry. The unit employs over 35 full-time Global Educators, each holding a master's degree in TESOL, with collective experience in 45+ countries and fluency in 35 languages, and reports serving more than 2.5 million learners historically.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-session tuition ($2,950 base, $3,985–$12,260 packaged) from individual international students, supplemented by enterprise and government contracts for customized English, teacher training, and faculty development programs (50+ engagements since 2015 across universities, corporates, and agencies including the U.S. Department of State, Uber, Coursera, Hiroshima Shudo University, and SEV Foundation). Distribution combines direct online enrollment via a Salesforce application portal, agent-led recruitment through Kaplan International, and partnerships including Coursera (65,000+ annual learners). Technology infrastructure spans Canvas LMS, H5P/iSpring/Playposit for interactive content, Dreamscape Learn VR for immersive practice, and a piloted ELSA speech recognition integration for pronunciation training. Differentiators include direct ASU degree pathway integration enabling TOEFL waiver, brand association with the #1 U.S. public university for international students, and AAIEP-accredited curriculum developed over 50 years.

Name

ASU Global Launch

Legal name

Arizona State University - Global Launch

Website

https://globallaunch.asu.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

English Language Education

NAICS

Language Schools (611630), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online-to-Offline Hybrid Language Immersion Programs (EDAIAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

University/College Language Pathway & Pre-Sessional Programs (EDAIAEAE), Cultural Immersion Add-Ons (Culture + Language) (EDAIAEAL), Virtual/Hybrid International Short-Term Academic Programs (EDAIAIAL)

Keywords

• English language learning
• Intensive English programs
• TESOL certification
• University pathway programs
• Teacher training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tempe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. English Language Program Tuition: Tuition-based intensive English language programs delivered on-campus (Campus Immersion) or online (Online Immersion). Programs run in 8-week sessions at six levels from Basic to Advanced.
2. English + ASU Credit Program: Combined English language program with ASU undergraduate credit courses. Students pay Global Launch tuition plus ASU course fees separately. Total costs of $3,985 for one session or $12,260 for two sessions including housing and insurance.
3. English for Admission and Achievement: 8-week online courses for advanced English learners to achieve proficiency requirement. Study approximately 10 hours per week with instructor feedback.
4. ASU-USA Pathways Program: University preparation program where qualifying students earn up to 26 credits toward an undergraduate degree at ASU or other American universities.
5. Teacher Training Programs: TESOL and TEFL certification programs, International Teaching Assistant (ITA) course, and customized teacher development programs for K-12 teachers and university professors.
6. Group and Custom Programs: Customized English and training programs for partner organizations, businesses, and government agencies delivered on-site or online.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ASU Global Launch delivers intensive English language instruction through Campus Immersion (in-person at ASU Tempe) and Online Immersion (live virtual classes), structured in 8-week sessions across six proficiency levels. It also offers teacher training and certifications including TESOL, TEFL, and the International Teaching Assistant course, alongside pathway programs that grant ASU credit and conditional undergraduate admission.

Product overview

ASU Global Launch is the English language learning unit at Arizona State University, offering a unified educational services platform comprising intensive English programs and teacher training. The core English Language Program (with Campus Immersion, Online Immersion, and English for Admission and Achievement variants) provides language instruction from basic to advanced levels, with completion satisfying ASU's English proficiency requirement. Supporting pathways include ASU-USA Pathways (conditional university admission with up to 26 credits) and English + ASU Credit (concurrent English and university coursework). Teacher training offerings span TESOL and TEFL certifications, the International Teaching Assistant course, ELL Success, Ready Set Train!, and customized programs for institutions. Specialized offerings include Self-paced English, English for the Semiconductor Industry, and Quick Launch group programs. The organization serves individual learners and institutional partners (universities, businesses, government agencies), delivering training in Arizona, on-site internationally, or online since 1974, having served over 2.5 million learners with 35+ full-time Global Educators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• English Language Program Intensive English language program since 1974 for learners at any proficiency level (basic through advanced), delivered through Campus Immersion or Online Immersion. Completing the Advanced 2 level with 80%+ satisfies ASU's English proficiency requirement.
• Campus Immersion

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Kaplan InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArizona State University partners with Kaplan International for all agent-led recruitment of international students globally. Miles Campos serves as contact for Kaplan colleagues.
• U.S. Department of StateflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPart of the Online Professional English Network (OPEN) Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding from the U.S. government, administered by FHI 360. Supports English language learning for international participants.
• Hiroshima Shudo UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese university partnership facilitating student exchange experiences. Over 650 learners have participated since the partnership began, with students traveling to ASU for immersive English learning.
• CourseracoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Coursera reaching more than 65,000 annual online learners with Global Launch's expertise in English language learning and teaching through ASU's presence on the platform.
• UberminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Uber and EdPlus to develop and facilitate online English language courses for Uber drivers and their dependents, providing professional English skills for the gig economy workforce.
• Chicanos Por La CausaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership expanding access for students including Afghan refugees in Arizona to build English, technology and life skills through live classes (Campus and Online Immersion, Quick Launch), cultural activities and tutoring.
• Health and Education Foundation (SEV)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurkish and Myanmar foundation partnership providing Quick Launch group English and training program faculty training through hybrid course delivery. Both higher ed and K-12 educators participated in 3 hours of synchronous classes each week.
• National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTaiwanese university collaboration offering customized EMI (English as Medium of Instruction) overseas upskilling program for teachers at NSYSU and regional partner schools in Taiwan.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Columbia University American Language Program: University-based intensive English program at an Ivy League institution serving international learners with pathway admission. Comparable to ASU Global Launch in operating model, multi-level curriculum, and target market of academically ambitious international students.
• ELS Educational Services: One of the largest operators of university-based intensive English programs in the U.S., running on-campus IEPs for many universities. Directly comparable to ASU Global Launch in target market (international students seeking U.S. university admission), curriculum structure (multi-level intensive English), and pathway-to-degree model.
• Kaplan International: Operates intensive English programs in the U.S. and globally, including Kaplan Pathways programs embedded at U.S. universities. Directly comparable to ASU Global Launch as both a competitor for international students and a partner for university-based English pathways; notably also Global Launch's recruitment channel partner.
• USC American Language Institute: University-based intensive English program at a major U.S. research university, serving international students seeking pathway admission. Comparable to ASU Global Launch in mission, customer profile, and integrated pathway-to-degree model.
• UC Davis English Language Program: University-based intensive English program at a top U.S. public research university, offering multi-level ESL with conditional admission pathways to UC Davis. Closely comparable in target customer, public-university branding, and pathway-to-degree integration.
• EC English Language Centres: Global chain of English language schools offering intensive English, exam preparation, and pathway programs across multiple countries. Comparable to ASU Global Launch on product structure (intensive ESL, exam prep, university pathways), though operates as a private commercial chain rather than a university unit.

Others

• Coursera: Online learning platform that distributes ASU Global Launch's English-language courses to 65,000+ learners annually. Listed as an ecosystem/distribution peer given its role as both a channel for Global Launch content and a potential competitor via third-party ESL specializations.

Broad incumbents

• Babbel: Subscription-based consumer language learning platform used by individuals for self-study across many languages including English. Comparable to ASU Global Launch on learner outcome (English proficiency) but competes in a fundamentally different (self-paced, consumer app) segment.
• EF Education First: One of the world's largest private language education companies, offering intensive English programs, university pathway products, and online learning. Comparable to ASU Global Launch in target customer and intensive English product, but at materially larger global scale and broader product portfolio.

Emerging players

• Duolingo: Consumer-focused language learning platform with the Duolingo English Test used for university admissions. Comparable to ASU Global Launch on the English-proficiency outcome sought by learners, but competes primarily on accessibility, price, and self-study format rather than immersive instruction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ASUGlobalLaunch
• Instagraminstagram.com/asugloballaunch
• TikToktiktok.com/@asugloballaunch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asugloballaunch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 ASU Global Launch