What Program Of Academic Exchange, P.a.x. does

PAX - Program of Academic Exchange is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization founded in 1990 and headquartered in New Rochelle, New York, with additional offices in Seattle and Tokyo. The organization designs and operates international high school exchange programs, placing nearly 1,000 foreign students per year from more than 70 countries with volunteer U.S. host families and accredited high schools. Following its 2015 merger with Laurasian Institution, the combined entity operates as PAX Laurasian Exchange, extending its scope to include outbound programs sending American students abroad to countries such as Brazil, China, Ecuador, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, and Spain.

The organization's product portfolio centers on the inbound High School Exchange Program and the outbound PAX Abroad program, supplemented by two flagship U.S. Department of State-sponsored scholarship programs — the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX, administered since 1996) and the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES, administered since 2003). Underlying program operations are managed through "The Hub," a proprietary web-based platform used for admissions, placement matching, compliance tracking, and coordination across students, host families, Community Coordinators, and international partners. Supporting infrastructure includes the PAX Training Portal for annual coordinator training and the PAX Volunteers Portal for student volunteer-hour logging.

PAX generates revenue through program fees from private-pay international students, government contracts for FLEX and YES administration, outbound PAX Abroad fees (offered "at cost"), and tax-deductible donations and grants supporting scholarship and operational needs. The organization distributes through a hybrid channel model combining 70+ international partner organizations for student recruitment, a nationwide network of Community Coordinators for U.S. placement and support, and direct-to-consumer website inquiries for both students and prospective host families.

Name

Program Of Academic Exchange, P.a.x.

Legal name

PAX Laurasian Exchange

Website

https://pax.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PAX - Program of Academic Exchange is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that operates inbound and outbound high school exchange programs, placing nearly 1,000 students annually from 70+ countries with U.S. host families and administering the U.S. Department of State-sponsored FLEX and YES scholarship programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International High School Student Exchange Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Secondary School Exchange Programs (Academic Year/Semester) (EDAIAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Short-Term Secondary Immersion & Cultural Exchange Trips (EDAIAHAD), On-Ground Orientation, Travel, Transfers & Logistics Support (EDAIAHAL), Short-Term Exchange & Visiting Student Programs (EDAIABAG)

Keywords

• High school exchange programs
• Student exchange services
• International education programs
• Host family programs
• J-1 visa sponsorship

Headquarters

HQ city

New Rochelle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Exchange Program Fees: International students pay fees to participate in the PAX exchange program. The program places students with volunteer U.S. host families for semester or academic year exchanges.
2. U.S. Government Program Administration: PAX administers U.S. Department of State-sponsored FLEX and YES programs. These government-funded scholarship programs provide scholarships for high school students from specified countries to study in the United States.
3. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, PAX accepts tax-deductible donations to support scholarship programs (PAX Means Peace Scholars), PAX Abroad programs for American teens, and general organizational operations.
4. PAX Abroad Programs: Outbound programs for U.S. high school students to study abroad in countries including Brazil, China, Ecuador, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, and Spain. Programs are offered 'at cost' to make them affordable for American families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PAX operates a high school foreign exchange program that places nearly 1,000 international students ages 15-18 from 70+ countries with volunteer U.S. host families for semester or academic year stays. The organization serves as a U.S. Department of State-designated J-1 visa sponsor and administers the flagship FLEX and YES scholarship programs. Complementary outbound PAX Abroad programs send U.S. teens to study abroad in countries including Brazil, China, Ecuador, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, and Spain.

Product overview

PAX Laurasian Exchange operates a portfolio of academic exchange programs centered on its core high school foreign exchange offering. The primary product is the inbound High School Exchange Program bringing international students (ages 15-18) to the U.S. for semester or academic year stays with host families, complemented by the outbound PAX Abroad program sending American students abroad. Two major sub-branded scholarship programs—FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) and YES (Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study)—are U.S. Department of State programs that PAX administers, representing students from Europe, Eurasia, the Balkans, and countries of strategic importance. Support infrastructure includes a network of Community Coordinators, an internal Hub platform for program management, training and volunteer portals, and the PAX Press newspaper. The organization also facilitates partnerships with international exchange organizations worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• High School Exchange Program (Inbound) Core inbound exchange program placing nearly 1,000 international high school students ages 15-18 from 70+ countries with volunteer U.S. host families for semester or academic year stays, including school enrollment, English proficiency testing, health insurance, and ongoing Community Coordinator support.
• PAX Abroad (Outbound Programs) Study abroad programs for U.S. high school students to live with host families in Asia, Europe, and South America. Includes semester, academic year, and multi-week summer language programs in countries including Brazil, China, Ecuador, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, and Spain, offered at cost to American families.
• Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program U.S. Department of State scholarship program providing academic year exchanges for high school students from Europe, Eurasia, the Balkans, Central/Eastern Europe, and Mongolia. Administered by PAX since 1996, with a rigorous merit-based selection process accepting approximately 1 in 40 applicants.
• Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program U.S. Department of State scholarship program for high school students from countries of strategic importance, particularly those with significant Muslim populations. PAX has administered YES since 2003, with students serving as youth ambassadors for their home countries.
• Host Family Program Program connecting international exchange students with volunteer U.S. host families who provide room, board, transportation, and cultural immersion experiences for 6 weeks to 10 months. Includes Community Coordinator support and 24/7 emergency assistance.
• International Partner Program Partnership program for international educational exchange organizations outside the U.S. to collaborate with PAX for student placements, leveraging PAX's Hub system, support infrastructure, and J-1 visa sponsorship capabilities.
• Student of the Month Program Recognition program for FLEX and YES scholars to highlight their contributions and share their stories; PAX selects candidates monthly for nomination to the U.S. Department of State.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 1,000 students per year participate in PAX programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• Laurasian InstitutioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015After collaborating for more than eight years, PAX merged with Laurasian Institution in 2015. Laurasian, also founded in 1990, specializes in programs to Japan, China, and Korea. The combined organization, PAX Laurasian Exchange, offers expertise in inbound and outbound, short and long-term programs, J-1 and F-1 visas, and elementary school through university student exchanges.
• U.S. Department of State - YES ProgramflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2002The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program was established by Congress in October 2002 in response to September 11, 2001 events. PAX is one of the few organizations chosen to administer this scholarship program for high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations. Students live with host families, attend American high schools, and learn about U.S. society while serving as youth ambassadors.
• U.S. Department of State - FLEX ProgramflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1992The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program was established in 1992 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union to provide scholarships for high school students from Europe and Eurasia. PAX has been selected annually since 1996 to administer FLEX, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding from the U.S. Government.
• Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSIET sets standards for and evaluates U.S.-based youth exchange programs. PAX received full listing in the CSIET Advisory List, certifying compliance with international educational travel standards.
• Alliance for International ExchangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alliance for International Exchange (formerly Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange) is an association of 90 nongovernmental organizations comprising the international educational and cultural exchange community in the United States. PAX is a proud member.
• Mobility International USA (MIUSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIUSA is a disability-led non-profit organization working to advance the rights of people with disabilities globally. Each year, PAX works with MIUSA to provide orientation and support to FLEX and YES exchange students with disabilities.
• U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ECA's mission is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries through educational and cultural exchange. PAX is designated as an official Exchange Visitor Program sponsor by ECA, empowering PAX to enable foreign high school students to secure J-1 exchange visitor visas.
• International Exchange AlumniminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn interactive online global community launched by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Provides alumni a place to network and discover grants and funding opportunities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: Large global education company operating study abroad, language schools, and exchange programs at much greater scale than PAX. Overlaps with PAX Abroad on the outbound side and competes for American student demand, though it is a for-profit, broader-portfolio incumbent rather than a niche specialist.

Direct peers

• Greenheart Exchange: Designated J-1 visa sponsor offering high school and adult exchange programs with a similar volunteer host family and local coordinator structure. Directly comparable in business model, regulatory standing, and target audience.
• Aspect Foundation: U.S. Department of State-designated J-1 Visa sponsor operating inbound high school exchange programs with volunteer host families. Closely matches PAX's core inbound product, regulatory designation, and Community Coordinator-style local support model.
• AFS Intercultural Programs: Long-standing nonprofit operating high school exchange programs with a comparable international partner network and volunteer host family model. Directly competes with PAX for both outbound and inbound students and shares a similar nonprofit, mission-driven orientation.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): One of the largest U.S.-designated J-1 visa sponsors operating high school and college exchange programs. Directly comparable to PAX as a USDOS Exchange Visitor Program sponsor running high school foreign exchange, study abroad, and scholarship programs at similar scale and regulatory positioning.
• Nacel Open Door: U.S.-based nonprofit operating high school foreign exchange programs with USDOS designation. Competes head-to-head with PAX for inbound international high school students and host family recruitment.
• CET Academic Travel: J-1 visa sponsor running high school and college-level exchange and language immersion programs. Comparable to PAX in regulatory standing and in operating semester, academic-year, and short-term cultural immersion products.
• World Learning (Experiment in International Living): Long-established nonprofit running high school and college-level exchange programs with USDOS sponsorship ties. Overlaps with PAX on inbound high school exchange and operates similar scholarship-program administrations.
• International Student Exchange (ISE): Designated J-1 visa sponsor focused on high school foreign exchange with host family placement. Directly comparable to PAX in product offering, regulatory positioning, and nonprofit operating model.
• AYUSA International: Historical J-1 sponsor running inbound high school exchange programs with host family placement. Closely comparable product offering, though historically affiliated with a larger corporate parent (now operating independently).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCg32RNlvfDlBuGvOmkpbufA
• Facebookfacebook.com/PAXAcademicExchange
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pax-program-for-academic-exchange
• Instagraminstagram.com/paxdotorg

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Program Of Academic Exchange, P.a.x.