SIT Study Abroad

What SIT Study Abroad does

SIT Study Abroad is the field-based undergraduate study abroad division of World Learning Inc., a US non-profit operating in more than 150 countries. Founded as the School for International Training in 1964 and tracing its lineage to The Experiment in International Living (1932), SIT delivers immersive, credit-bearing study abroad programs organized around a Critical Global Issues framework spanning climate, development, education, geopolitics, global health, identity, and peace and justice. The portfolio includes 80+ programs on all seven continents, comprising semester programs, six-to-seven-week summer programs, multi-country International Honors Program (IHP) comparative tracks, for-credit internships in approximately 40 locations, Choose Your Track customizable programs, and an SIT First Year track for early undergraduates.

SIT's underlying delivery model combines classroom instruction with field-based experiential learning, including homestays with local families and an Independent Study Project (ISP) capstone. Program delivery uses Canvas as the learning management system and WebEx for virtual orientations and information sessions; no proprietary technology platform is described, and the organization is positioned as an educational provider rather than a technology company. SIT is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), enabling credit transferability to home institutions.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-program tuition, with Spring 2027 semester programs priced at $19,184-$27,537 and Summer 2026 programs starting at approximately $8,059. SIT distributes through a dual GTM motion: sales-led institutional relationships managed by a University Relations team that engages study abroad offices at more than 250 partner colleges and universities, and direct-to-consumer enrollment via the ssa.sit.edu application portal with rolling admissions. Adjacent revenue streams include Custom & Faculty-Led Programs, Partner Programs, and Professional Engagement Programs for faculty and study abroad staff. SIT distributes more than $1.3M in scholarships and grants annually. The company is headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, with a DC office at 1015 15th Street NW.

Name

SIT Study Abroad

Legal name

World Learning Inc.

Website

https://studyabroad.sit.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SIT Study Abroad is a non-profit educational organization offering field-based undergraduate study abroad programs in 40+ countries across all seven continents. It serves undergraduate students from more than 250 partner colleges and universities through semester, summer, multi-country comparative, and internship programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Study Abroad / International Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Hybrid, Multi-Location & Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Experiential & Field-Based Study Abroad (Research, Field Schools, Practicums) (EDAIAAAD), Short-Term & Summer/Winter Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAF), Study Abroad Program Management & Administration (for Institutions) (EDAIAAAJ), Direct Enrollment & Third-Party University Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAB), Thematic & Discipline-Specific Study Abroad Programs (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAAAC)

Keywords

• Study abroad programs
• Field-based experiential learning
• International undergraduate education
• Cultural immersion programs
• Language study abroad

Headquarters

HQ city

Brattleboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Program Tuition Fees: SIT charges tuition fees per program for undergraduate study abroad. Spring 2027 semester programs range from $19,184 to $27,537 depending on program location and complexity. Summer programs are approximately $8,059. Fees include all courses, educational excursions, health insurance, and housing accommodations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SIT Study Abroad delivers accredited, field-based undergraduate study abroad programs across more than 40 countries on all seven continents, including semester, summer, multi-country comparative (IHP), internship, and custom/faculty-led formats. Programs combine classroom instruction with experiential fieldwork, Independent Study Projects, homestays with local families, and language study for college credit.

Product overview

SIT Study Abroad is a leader in immersive, field-based study abroad programs for undergraduates. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of programs including semester programs on all seven continents, summer programs lasting six to seven weeks, and International Honors Program (IHP) comparative multi-country programs. Programs are developed around Critical Global Issues including Climate & Environment, Development & Inequality, Education & Social Change, Geopolitics & Power, Global Health & Well-being, Identity & Human Resilience, and Peace & Justice. Key offerings include for-credit internship programs, custom and faculty-led programs for institutional partners, professional engagement programs for educators, and Choose Your Track programs allowing student customization. The portfolio includes over 80 field-based undergraduate programs in nearly 40 countries, with most programs offering Independent Study Projects (ISPs) as a capstone research experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• International Honors Program (IHP): SIT's multi-country comparative programs that allow students to study in multiple countries and examine critical global issues from comparative perspectives.

Products and services

• SIT Study Abroad Semester Programs Accredited undergraduate semester study abroad programs offered on all seven continents, emphasizing field-based experiential learning, language study, and independent research. Students earn 16-17 credits. Spring 2027 tuition ranges from $19,184 to $27,537.
• SIT Summer Study Abroad Programs Immersive, field-based summer study abroad programs lasting six to seven weeks, addressing critical global issues such as climate change and global health. Students earn 6-9 credits. Summer 2026 tuition starts at approximately $8,059.
• International Honors Program (IHP) Comparative Programs
• SIT Internship Programs
• Multi-Country Programs
• Choose Your Track Programs
• Custom & Faculty-Led Programs
• Partner Programs
• Professional Engagement Programs
• SIT First Year

Quantifiable outcome

• Many students win awards for their Independent Study Projects and go on to continue research through Fulbrights and other prestigious fellowships
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Dickinson CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDickinson College partnered with SIT for a skills-based field seminar in Cameroon focused on 'Decoloniality, Sustainability, and Epistemic Justice' as part of SIT's Professional Engagement Programs for faculty and study abroad professionals.
• University of MinnesotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Minnesota has a partnership with SIT for a Senegal program as part of SIT's Partner Programs initiative, enabling students from the university to participate in custom-designed study abroad experiences.
• 250+ Colleges and UniversitiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSIT partners with over 250 colleges and universities in the US, Canada, and internationally. These institutions send students on SIT programs and may have billing relationships with SIT for their students' tuition.
• Host Academic InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIT maintains partnerships with local universities, NGOs, and community organizations in program countries where students study alongside local peers and conduct research.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CIS Abroad: CIS Abroad provides semester, summer, and internship programs globally and targets similar US undergraduate demographics as SIT, including partnership-driven distribution.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is one of the largest US-based nonprofit study abroad providers, operating semester, summer, and faculty-led programs globally. Direct competitor across SIT's core product categories.
• CEA Study Abroad: CEA offers study abroad and internship programs across Europe, Latin America, and Asia with multi-city formats — comparable to SIT's IHP comparative programs.
• IFSA (Institute for Study Abroad): IFSA provides study abroad programs in 20+ countries with customized academic and cultural immersion offerings, competing head-to-head for partner university referrals.
• School for Field Studies (SFS): SFS specializes in field-based environmental and sustainability study abroad — directly comparable to SIT's field-based experiential model on its Climate & Environment CGI programs.
• API (Academic Programs International): API provides study abroad and internship programs in Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia for US undergraduates, competing for the same institutional partners and student segments as SIT.
• IES Abroad: IES Abroad runs semester and summer study abroad programs in 30+ cities with field-based components and internships — closely overlapping SIT's portfolio, target student base, and institutional channel.
• DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia: DIS offers semester and summer study abroad programs in Copenhagen and Stockholm with strong disciplinary tracks, competing for the same high-engagement US undergraduate students.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: EF is a global education company offering study abroad, language training, and cultural exchange — overlapping with SIT's experiential programs but operating at much larger scale across broader customer segments.
• WorldStrides: WorldStrides is a large, for-profit education travel provider covering study abroad, K-12, and university programs — broader in scope than SIT but competes for institutional outbound programming business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SITStudyAbroad
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/sitstudyabroad
• Facebookfacebook.com/SITStudyAbroad
• Instagraminstagram.com/sitstudyabroad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sit-study-abroad

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 SIT Study Abroad