SIT Graduate Institute

What SIT Graduate Institute does

SIT Graduate Institute is a private, nonprofit accredited graduate school and the sole U.S.-accredited institution of higher education affiliated with an international NGO (World Learning Inc.). Founded in 1964 in Brattleboro, Vermont, the institute offers master's degrees, online doctoral programs, and certificate programs in international education, climate change and sustainability, humanitarian assistance and crisis management, international relations, sustainable development practice, and TESOL. It serves working professionals and recent graduates pursuing careers in diplomacy, development, peacebuilding, and social impact, with programs structured around critical global issues and delivered via a global campus of nearly 40 learning centers across 29 countries.

The institute's pedagogical model is built on experiential learning that combines theory with international residencies, fieldwork, internships, cultural immersion, and reflection. Online delivery uses the Canvas LMS, with doctoral programs structured as 3-4 year, 60-64 credit offerings and master's programs as 1-year, 34-36 credit global formats spanning multiple countries. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees for degree and certificate programs, supplemented by donations and fundraising (gift tiers from $75 to $43,500 for full scholarships). Financial aid is universal, with 100% of students having received scholarships or partner awards in the last five years.

SIT recruits students through a multi-channel admissions motion that includes graduate ambassadors, admissions counselors, information sessions, webinars, and an online application portal, with strategic partnership pipelines through the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, the National Peace Corps Association, Idealist, and USJETAA. The institute maintains deep programmatic ties to UN agencies (UNHCR, UNRWA, WHO, UNICEF) and humanitarian organizations for practicum and learning placements. Its alumni network of more than 9,800 spans 45 countries and includes a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, senior diplomats, judges, and heads of international NGOs.

Name

SIT Graduate Institute

Legal name

School for International Training

Website

https://graduate.sit.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SIT Graduate Institute is a nonprofit accredited graduate school offering master's, doctoral, and certificate programs in international affairs, sustainability, and humanitarian issues, delivered across a global campus of 40 learning centers in 29 countries for working professionals pursuing global-impact careers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Global Research Universities (Multi-Campus/International Footprint) (EDAHABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Branch Campus & Offshore Program Partnerships (EDAIABAI), Online Graduate Schools (Master’s & Doctoral Programs) (EDAHALAD), University-Sponsored International Internships & Co-op Placements (EDAIAFAB)

Keywords

• Graduate education programs
• Doctoral degree programs
• Experiential learning
• International higher education
• TESOL certificate programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brattleboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Degree Programs: Revenue generated from tuition fees for doctoral degrees (60-64 credits, 3-4 years), master's degrees (34-36 credits, 1 year), and certificate programs. Financial aid and scholarships are offered.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from alumni and supporters funding program innovations, operations, and scholarships. Gift tiers range from $75 to $43,500 for full scholarships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SIT Graduate Institute provides accredited master's degrees, doctoral programs, and certificate programs focused on international affairs, sustainability, climate change, humanitarian assistance, global education, and sustainable development. Programs are delivered through a global campus of nearly 40 learning centers across 29 countries, combining online coursework with international residencies, fieldwork, internships, and cultural immersion. The institution serves professionals seeking careers in international education, diplomacy, humanitarian assistance, sustainable development, peacebuilding, and policy advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MA in Climate Change & Global Sustainability

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of students have received financial support in the last five years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

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

• Peace CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical partnership dating to early 1960s when SIT served as original training center for Peace Corps volunteers. SIT was established at the call of Sargent Shriver, first director of Peace Corps. Scholarship benefits available for Peace Corps volunteers.
• AmeriCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIT Graduate Institute is designated as AmeriCorps School of National Service, providing scholarship benefits for AmeriCorps members pursuing graduate education.
• National Peace Corps Association (NPCA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional affiliation providing scholarship benefits for NPCA members.
• IdealistminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional affiliation with Idealist for recruitment and alumni networking.
• USJETAAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional affiliation with USJETAA (US Japan Exchange Teaching Assistant Alumni Association).
• World LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIT is part of World Learning Inc., an international NGO. SIT is the only U.S.-accredited university tied to an international NGO.
• UN Agencies and International OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with UN agencies including UNHCR, UNRWA, WHO, UNICEF for student learning experiences and practicum opportunities in humanitarian programs.
• Turkish Red CrescentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian organizations engaged in relief, protection, and advocacy work for student learning in humanitarian assistance programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Middlebury Institute of International Studies: Middlebury Institute offers graduate programs in international policy, translation, and TESOL with a strong experiential and language-immersion emphasis. Highly comparable to SIT as a small, mission-driven U.S. graduate school focused on global professions and TESOL credentials.
• The Fletcher School (Tufts University): Fletcher is a graduate-only school of international affairs offering master's and doctoral programs. Comparable in graduate-only structure, international focus, and mid-sized institutional scale.
• University for Peace (UPEACE): UPEACE is a UN-mandated graduate institution offering master's and doctoral programs in peace, conflict, sustainability, and international law. Highly comparable to SIT in subject matter, international residency model, and NGO-affiliated mission.
• School of Advanced International Studies (Johns Hopkins SAIS): SAIS is a top-tier international affairs graduate school with multi-city global campuses (DC, Bologna, Nanjing). Comparable to SIT's global multi-country model but at a higher price tier and broader scope.
• Elliott School of International Affairs (George Washington University): The Elliott School is a leading graduate school of international affairs offering master's and doctoral degrees in international relations, sustainability, and humanitarian policy. Direct comparability on academic subject mix and policy-oriented student base.
• School of International Service (American University): American University's SIS is a dedicated graduate school for international affairs with master's and doctoral programs in international relations, peace, and global environmental policy. Direct overlap with SIT's core subjects and target student profile.

Broad incumbents

• SOAS University of London: SOAS specializes in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East with graduate programs in development, politics, and area studies. Comparable to SIT's regional/cultural immersion pedagogy and developing-world thematic focus.
• School of International and Public Affairs (Columbia SIPA): Columbia SIPA is a top-tier international and public affairs graduate school. Overlaps with SIT in core subjects (sustainability, humanitarian, international relations) but at a substantially larger and more elite scale.
• School of Foreign Service (Georgetown University): Georgetown SFS is a large, established international affairs program at a top-tier R1 university. Overlaps with SIT in subject matter but operates at a much larger scale and broader scope, anchored in a major university.

Others

• World Learning (parent organization context): World Learning Inc. is the parent nonprofit of SIT Graduate Institute, also running The Experiment in International Living and other exchange programs. Provides shared services, brand synergy, and the international NGO affiliation that defines SIT's positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SITGrad
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/SITGraduateInstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/SITGraduateInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/sit-graduate-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/sitgrad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SIT Graduate Institute