$6,350total2026
English courses in California for international students
English courses in California for international students: locations, I-20 records and costs
For english courses in california for international students, this directory records the following market snapshot. California's 48 programs are spread across 16 cities, with San Diego carrying the most at 11. No single city holds a majority of these listings.
28 of 48 listings have confirmed SEVP matches. CEA accreditation, EnglishUSA membership and SEVP certification are separate checks. Confirm the specific school and campus in the DHS school search and ask its designated school official about Form I-20 eligibility.
English courses in California for international students at a glance
- Programs
- 48
- Cities
- 16
- University or college
- 5
- SEVP matches
- 28
- Publish a price
- 10
$125national range$660
- California, $125–$570
- Median $220
- National median $318
7 of the 48 publish both a price and a session length, so a weekly rate can be worked out: $125 to $570 a week, median $220 , below the $318 median across all 43 programs we have priced. For the remaining listings, a comparable weekly rate is not confirmed here. Check the current fee schedule or ask the school.
- University or college (5)
- Private language school (26)
- Not on record (17)
These are the affiliations recorded in our directory. Confirm each course's start dates, minimum enrollment and campus access directly; school type alone does not establish them.
If your city has one program
10 cities on this list have exactly one program. Our directory may not include every local option. Ask about availability and alternatives before committing to housing or travel.
National operators here
EC English, EF International, ELS Language Centers, Kaplan International, POLY Languages. Compare actual course conditions and sourced tuition using the comparison guide to prepare questions for each school.
Compare on price
The 10 programs in California that publish their figures
Every figure was read off the school's own page. 7 publish a session length too, so a weekly rate can be worked out and compared; the other 3 publish a total with no length attached, and that column stays empty rather than dividing by a number nobody published. Prices for the remaining 38 are not confirmed here. The letter template helps you request current tuition and fees.
| Program | City | What the school publishes | Works out at | Go to the school |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campus English Academy | Irvine | $500 over 4 weeks | $125/wk | |
| American Academy of English | San Francisco | $595 over 4 weeks | $136/wk | |
| POLY Languages Institute Los Angeles | Irvine | $880 over 4 weeks | $220/wk | |
| POLY Languages Institute, Irvine | Irvine | $880 over 4 weeks | $220/wk | |
| POLY Languages Institute, Los Angeles | Los Angeles | $880 over 4 weeks | $220/wk | |
| ELS La Verne | La Verne | $570 per week | $570/wk | |
| ELS San Rafael | San Rafael | $570 per week | $570/wk | |
| American Language Institute, San Diego State University | San Diego | $6,350, IEC full-time, Fall 2026 full term | · | |
| California Language School | Los Angeles | $500, Per month, on a three-month contract | · | |
| International Education Center at Orange Coast College | Costa Mesa | $3,400, One session | · |
The full directory
Our 48 English-language listings in California, by city
English programs in San Diego11
2 university-run. National operators here: EF International.
College of English Language San Diego
Converse International School of Languages - San Diego
EF International Language Center, San Diego
English Language Academy, University of San Diego
English Language Institute, UC San Diego
International Academy of English (IAE) - San Diego
INX Academy San Diego
INX Academy San Diego - Camino Del Rio N
USA English Language Center Rancho Santa Fe, Auxiliary of USA English Language Center - San Diego
English programs in Los Angeles9
1 university-run. National operators here: Kaplan International, POLY Languages.
$500/month (3-month contract)
English as a Foreign Language Program and TOEFL iBT Program, Learnet Academy
English as a Second Language Program, Los Angeles Pacific College
Internexus Los Angeles
Just English - Los Angeles
Kaplan International, Westwood
Language Systems International (LSI) - Downtown Los Angeles
POLY Languages Institute, Los Angeles
$220/wk
USC International Academy
English programs in Irvine5
National operators here: POLY Languages.
American English Language School - Irvine
$125/wk
International Academy of English (IAE) - Irvine
POLY Languages Institute Los Angeles
$220/wk
$220/wk
English programs in Long Beach2
1 university-run.
English programs in San Francisco2
National operators here: EC English.
$136/wk
EC San Francisco
English programs in Santa Barbara2
National operators here: EF International, Kaplan International.
English programs in Berkeley1
National operators here: Kaplan International.
English programs in Costa Mesa1
$3,400total2027
English programs in La Jolla1
National operators here: EC English.
English programs in La Verne1
National operators here: ELS Language Centers.
English programs in Pasadena1
English programs in Placentia1
English programs in Pomona1
1 university-run.
English programs in Riverside1
English programs in San Rafael1
National operators here: ELS Language Centers.
English programs in Santa Monica1
National operators here: EC English.
Elsewhere in California7
11 of these carry a full profile with confirmed costs. The rest link straight to the program, here is what to ask them.
Do you need a student visa to study in California?
The threshold that decides it is federal, not state-level, so it is the same in California as everywhere else. The rule, and what it turns on.
Common questions
How many english courses in california for international students are listed?
48 programs are listed in California; 31 have CEA records and 28 have confirmed SEVP matches. CEA accreditation, EnglishUSA membership and SEVP certification are separate checks. Confirm the specific school and campus in the DHS school search and ask its designated school official about Form I-20 eligibility.
Which city in California has the most English programs?
San Diego, with 11 of the state's 48, 23 percent. 10 cities on this list have exactly one program. Our directory may not include every local option. Ask about availability and alternatives before committing to housing or travel.
What does an English-language program in California cost?
7 programs publish a weekly rate we could read off the school's own page, and the median of those is $220 a week. Every figure is dated and links to the page it came from, and tuition is only part of the cost, proof-of-funds requirements and your actual budget have different purposes. Confirm the required amount and coverage period, then budget for your own expenses.