Columbia University’s American Language Program lists $11,064 in tuition for Fall 2026 in New York. The University of Illinois Chicago lists $7,038 for a full-time non-resident semester in the same term.
This guide compares published language course prices in New York, Chicago, San Diego, Austin, Miami and San Francisco, covering tuition, mandatory fees, course length, living costs and 2025 enrollment data.
Cost Of Language Courses Across Major US Cities
Which US City Charges the Most for an Intensive English Semester?
New York tops this set. Columbia’s American Language Program lists $11,064 for Fall 2026, which runs September 8 to December 11 with 18 hours of instruction per week.
Chicago comes next at $7,038 for UIC Tutorium’s full-time non-resident semester. The Tutorium runs 16-week fall and spring semesters.
| City | Program | Term | Published tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Columbia American Language Program | Fall 2026 | $11,064 |
| Chicago | UIC Tutorium IEP, full-time non-resident | Fall 2026 | $7,038 |
| San Diego | SDSU Intensive English for Communication | Fall 2026 (Aug 13 – Dec 11) | $6,350 |
| Miami (Coral Gables) | University of Miami IEP | 2026-27 full session | $6,100 |
| Austin | UT Austin English Language Center, intensive | Fall 2026, 14 weeks | $5,195 |
| San Diego | UC San Diego Extended Studies, 20 hrs/week | 2026, 4 weeks | $2,095 |
Each row is list tuition only, set by the program itself. Session length and weekly hours differ, so the rows are not like-for-like hours of teaching.
San Diego has two price points in one city. SDSU sells a full term at $6,350, while UC San Diego sells 4-week courses at $2,095 for 20 hours a week.
Students weighing these prices against degree plans can review international student enrollment at US colleges.
Mandatory Fees Push the Cost of Language Courses in Miami Past $9,000
The University of Miami lists $6,100 in tuition for a 2026-27 full session. Seven required fee and insurance lines bring the total to $9,394.
Health Insurance is the largest add-on at $1,772, followed by the $507 IEP Support Fee. Miami says the exact cost of both items may vary.
A mid session costs $3,400 in tuition and $6,123 in total.
Columbia’s Fall 2026 fee sheet
| Item | Fall 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $11,064 |
| Health Insurance | $2,044 |
| Health & Related Services Fee | $759 |
| Textbooks | $150 |
| Activity Fee | $104 |
| Instructional Support Fee | $90 |
| ALP Student Services Fee | $60 |
| Technology Fee | $36 |
| Estimated Living Expenses | $9,800 |
| Estimated Total Cost of Study | $24,107 |
Columbia’s Health Insurance line rises to $3,605 for Spring 2027. That lifts the program’s estimated total cost of study to $25,386.
Application and service fees in other cities
In Chicago, UIC charges a $175 application fee, a $130 UIC International Students Fee and about $170 for a U-Pass.
UC San Diego adds a $225 application fee, a $250 International Student Services fee and $240 in medical insurance per 4-week program in 2026.
SDSU’s IEC application fee is $175. Houston’s Language and Culture Center charges $50 for applications received after the deadline.
Exam registration is a separate cost for students heading to degree study, with TOEFL and IELTS fees in the US broken down by provider.
Cost Of Language Courses Across Major US Cities By Course Length
UT Austin prices its intensive program by session length, from $1,855 for 5 weeks to $5,195 for 14 weeks.
The 7-week Fall I 2026 session costs $2,600. The 9-week Summer I 2027 session costs $3,350.
Weekly billing in San Diego
SDSU bills IEC at $430 a week for 21 hours, with a 4-week minimum. Part-time rates are $340 a week for 15 hours and $310 for 12 hours.
A full Fall 2026 term costs $6,350, which SDSU labels its best value. The Summer 2026 term costs $4,770.
UC San Diego’s hour tiers
| Hours per week | Total hours (4 weeks) | 2026 tuition |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 60 | $1,795 |
| 20 | 80 | $2,095 |
| 25 | 100 | $2,345 |
The same tuition applies to 2027 sessions. The 15-hour option needs no financial verification, while the 20-hour option requires proof of at least $4,897 per 2026 session.
Learners who want something shorter than a 4-week course can compare language app revenue and subscriber data.
What Does a Language Course Cost in a Major US City Once Housing Is Added?
Columbia’s estimated total cost of study runs from $6,874 for a 4-week Summer 2027 course to $25,386 for Spring 2027. Every estimate includes projected New York living expenses.
Fall 2026 comes to $24,107, with $9,800 of that for living costs.
Austin’s estimate by term
| Term | Tuition | Health insurance | Room and board | Books and supplies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall/Spring, 14 weeks | $5,195 | $1,548 | $9,175 | $300 | $16,218 |
| Fall/Spring, 7 weeks | $2,600 | $928 | $5,505 | $300 | $9,333 |
| Summer I, 9 weeks | $3,350 | $934 | $5,505 | $300 | $10,089 |
| Summer II, 5 weeks | $1,855 | $619 | $3,670 | $150 | $6,294 |
Room and board is the largest line in every UT Austin term. Sponsored students also pay $800 in University fees.
Miami asks for $12,236 in living funds per full session. I-20 applicants must submit a bank letter for $43,260, covering two full sessions.
Free and Low-Cost Language Courses in US Cities
City College of San Francisco offers noncredit ESL classes free of tuition for non-native English speakers, at locations across the city.
Residency cuts the price in Chicago. UIC’s full-time resident semester costs $2,346 for Fall 2026, against $7,038 for non-residents.
Students who need an I-20 from UIC do not qualify for resident tuition. UIC also offers a 3-week Vacation English course in July for $1,375.
For local context on free community classes, see home-language data by US state.
How Many Students Enroll in US Intensive English Programs?
66,033 international students studied at 325 US intensive English programs in 2025, according to IIE Open Doors. That was a 5% decrease after three years of growth.
The 2024 count was 69,386 students at 347 programs.
Students logged 709,705 student-weeks in 2025 and stayed 11 weeks on average.
| State | International IEP students, 2025 |
|---|---|
| New York | More than 10,000 |
| California | More than 10,000 |
| Florida | More than 6,000 |
| Massachusetts | More than 6,000 |
| Hawaii | More than 3,000 |
Japan led places of origin with more than 8,000 students, or 13%, for the fifth year running. France followed at 10% and Italy at 8%, while China and Brazil each made up about 7%.
Length of stay varied by region. Students from Europe averaged about 6 weeks, and those from Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa averaged 16 to 17 weeks.
IEP students planning degree study can compare TOEFL score cutoffs at top US universities.
FAQs
How much does an English course cost in the USA?
Published tuition in this comparison runs from $1,795 for a 4-week, 15-hour course at UC San Diego to $11,064 for Columbia’s Fall 2026 semester in New York. Fees, insurance and housing cost extra.
Can you take English classes for free in the US?
Yes, in some cities. City College of San Francisco offers noncredit ESL classes free of tuition for non-native English speakers at locations across San Francisco.
How much does it cost to study English in New York?
Columbia’s American Language Program charges $11,064 in tuition for Fall 2026. With fees, insurance, textbooks and $9,800 in estimated living costs, Columbia puts the total cost of study at $24,107.
Why do Reddit threads quote such different prices for US English courses?
Tuition and mandatory fees are set by each program. The University of Miami lists $6,100 tuition for a 2026-27 full session, but $9,394 once fees and health insurance are added.
How long do students stay in US intensive English programs?
Eleven weeks on average in 2025, per IIE Open Doors. Students from Europe averaged about 6 weeks, while those from Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa averaged 16 to 17 weeks.
Sources
https://opendoorsdata.org/annual-release/intensive-english-programs/
https://iep.dcie.miami.edu/dates-costs/costs/index.html
https://www.lingobright.com/statistics/ielts-test-taker-statistics-worldwide-and-by-country/
