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Highlights from the 2025 Annual Report on English Language Programs in the USA

Global & U.S. Market Trends

  • Global Recovery: Approximately 1 million students enrolled in English courses across eight major destinations in 2024. This reflects a global recovery to 70–75% of 2019 levels.
  • U.S. Ranking: The United States stood as the 4th most popular destination, hosting 10–15% of all English language learners.
 

U.S. Programs & Student Numbers

  • Program Landscape: 833 active English Language Programs were identified, with 349 participating in the survey. Of these, 57% were EnglishUSA members.
  • Enrollment Figures: Participating programs taught 66,632 students, accounting for 854,443 student weeks. The average course duration was around 12.8 weeks.

Student Profile & Economic Impact

  • Age Distribution: Adults (18+) made up 90% of students; juniors under 18 comprised the remaining 10%.
  • Top Destination by State: California was the most popular host state, attracting 27% of adult and 25% of junior learners.
  • Tuition & Revenue: The average tuition cost was $1,142 weekly, leading to a per-course cost of about $14,615 over 12.8 weeks.
  • Economic Contribution: Participating programs generated $950 million in direct revenues. Factoring in national extrapolation, total student contribution is estimated at over $1.7 billion.

Preferred Programs & Course Types

Most Popular Courses:

  • General/Intensive English: 53%
  • Short‐term summer/winter programs: 17%

Why These Insights Matter

  • Strategic Recruitment: Understanding top student demographics empowers targeted marketing and strategic recruitment efforts.
  • Economic Value: Demonstrating the economic impact helps programs advocate for resources and supportive policies.
  • Program Planning: Awareness of trending course preferences supports better program design.
  • Competitive Positioning: With the USA ranking 4th globally, it’s crucial to stay proactive amid growing competition from countries with streamlined visa policies and attractive work-study options.

Takeaways for StudyFinders.com Audiences

  • Prospective Students: Those planning to study in the U.S. will benefit from the variety of program types and the robust quality of offerings.
  • Program Directors and Recruiters: Leverage these statistics to enhance outreach, justify economic value, and align programs with student demand.
  • Policy Advocates: The economic figures (>$1.7 billion) provide a strong case for advocating visa policy clarity and institutional support.

Access the Full Report

The Executive Summary is free to download; full report access is available via this Link