English Language Center

What English Language Center does

English Language Center (ELC) is a Boston-headquartered, privately held for-profit education company founded in 1978 by Ellyn Levine, operating residential English language programs for international students at three U.S. university campuses: UCLA (Los Angeles), Boston University, and UCSB (Santa Barbara). The company serves two primary customer segments — international teens aged 11-17 through Summer Junior Programs, and adults aged 17+ through the Adult Summer Campus Program at UCLA — drawing students from over 50 countries annually. The instructional core is a 20-lesson-per-week Semi-Intensive English Course delivered by native English-speaking instructors with university degrees and TEFL training, supplemented by electives (Entrepreneurship, Film, TOEFL Preparation) and differentiated by a 12-level placement system and small class sizes averaging 9-10 students.

ELC's revenue model is tuition-based, with per-week pricing that scales with length of stay and selected add-ons (dormitory, meals, individual instruction, airport transfers, Surf Explorer at UCSB). Pricing ranges from approximately $1,215/week (UCSB Day Program) to $2,865/week (UCLA Junior full program with dormitory), with adult programs at $465-$480/week and accommodation add-ons of $870-$1,360/week. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the company website, supported by content marketing (blog, student testimonials, social media across Facebook, YouTube, X, and multiple Instagram accounts) and downloadable program brochures. Operational capacity is leveraged through strategic campus partnerships with UCLA, Boston University, and UCSB, where ELC accesses dormitories, classrooms, dining, and recreational facilities during the summer operating window.

The business is fundamentally seasonal — programs run primarily June through August — and is founder-led, with Jennifer McEleney serving as Senior Vice President. ELC employs 101-250 people and has not disclosed revenue, funding, or ownership changes. No AI, software platform, or technology-product layer is part of the offering; the company is a services business whose intellectual property is its curriculum, brand longevity (45+ years), and university campus access.

Name

English Language Center

Legal name

English Language Center

Website

https://elc.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

English Language Center (ELC) is a Boston-based private education company operating residential English language programs for international teen and adult students at three U.S. university campuses: UCLA, Boston University, and UCSB, serving learners from over 50 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Education Services

NAICS

Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

English Language Schools (ESL/EFL) (EDAIAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Overseas Summer School Programs (Secondary) (EDAIAHAC), General ESL Programs (Multi-level Adult ESL) (EDAAACAA), Short-Term Student Housing (Summer/Intensive Programs) (EDAIALAF)

Keywords

• English language education
• ESL summer programs
• Junior study abroad
• Adult language immersion
• Campus-based ESL

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Junior Summer Programs: Tuition-based programs for students aged 11-17 offering English courses with optional dormitory accommodation and activities. Priced per week with discounts for longer enrollments. Includes Semi-Intensive English Course and Entrepreneurship Course options.
2. Adult Summer Campus Programs: Semi-Intensive 20 course at UCLA for adults (minimum 17 years), priced per week with rates decreasing for 5-8 week enrollments. Optional Individual Instruction add-ons available.
3. Accommodation Services: Dormitory accommodation at partner universities (UCLA, Boston University, UCSB) offered as part of full program packages. Single room supplements available at additional cost.
4. Transportation and Airport Transfers: Airport transfer services included in program fees for standard arrival/departure windows. Out-of-window transfers and unaccompanied minor services available for additional fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

English Language Center operates residential and day ESL programs for international students at three U.S. university campuses: UCLA (Los Angeles), Boston University, and UCSB (Santa Barbara). Core offerings include Summer Junior Programs for ages 11-17 and an Adult Summer Campus Program for ages 17+, delivered through a 20-lesson-per-week Semi-Intensive English Course, optional Entrepreneurship Course, and supplementary electives, with on-campus dormitory accommodation, meals, activities, and excursions available as full packages.

Product overview

English Language Center (ELC) operates a portfolio of English language education programs primarily serving international students through campus-based residential and day programs. The core product offerings consist of Summer Junior Programs for teens (ages 11-17) at three U.S. university campuses (UCLA, Boston University, and UCSB) and an Adult Summer Campus Program at UCLA. The main instructional product is the Semi-Intensive English Course (20 lessons per week), supplemented by the Entrepreneurship Course for advanced students, and specialized electives including Film and TOEFL Preparation. Programs are offered as either Full Program (with dormitory accommodation, meals, and activities) or Day Program (classes and activities only). Afternoon activity modules include the Classic Program and Surf Explorer Program (at UCSB). All programs include English instruction, afternoon activities, Sunday excursions, and optional evening/Saturday activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Junior Programs Residential and day English language programs for international teens aged 11-17 held during summer at UCLA, Boston University, and UCSB. Programs include morning English classes, afternoon activities, full-day Sunday excursions, and optional evening/Saturday activities. Students choose Full Program (with dormitory, meals, activities, excursions, and airport transfers) or Day Program (classes and activities only).
• UCLA Junior Program Summer Junior English program at University of California Los Angeles campus (June 29 – August 7, 2026). Students live in UCLA dormitories (Hedrick Hall, Dykstra Hall, or Sproul Hall) and attend classes in UCLA facilities, with ELC staff residing on campus for student support.
• Boston Junior Program Summer Junior English program at Boston University campus (June 29 – July 24, 2026). Students live in Boston University dormitory and study English in campus facilities with access to BU facilities including FitRec, Sargent Gym, Nickerson Field, Track and Tennis Center. Ages 11-13 and 14-17 accepted. ELC notes it is not affiliated with Boston University.
• UCSB Junior Program Summer Junior English program at University of California Santa Barbara campus (June 29 – July 24, 2026). Students live in Santa Catalina Dormitory and study English on campus with beach access for activities, and access to UCSB library, bookstore, tennis courts, basketball court, and pool.
• Adult Summer Campus Program Residential English program for international adults (minimum 17 years old) living on UCLA campus during summer. Combines General English courses (Semi-Intensive 20, 20 lessons per week) with optional dormitory accommodation, half-board meals, and access to university facilities.
• UCLA Adult Summer Campus Program Adult Summer Campus Program at UCLA (June 29 – August 7, 2026). Students live on UCLA campus in Dykstra Residence Hall with half-board meals and study English through the Semi-Intensive 20 course. Designed for international adults aged 17+ seeking an authentic American university campus experience.
• Semi-Intensive English Course Core 20-lesson-per-week English course covering grammar, listening comprehension, conversation, pronunciation, and vocabulary using communicative teaching methods. Delivered by native American English-speaking ESL instructors as the foundational instructional product across ELC's Junior and Adult programs, with optional specialized electives including Film and TOEFL Preparation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average class size of 9-10 students provides optimal learning environment
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerELC operates Summer Junior Programs and Adult Summer Campus Programs on the UCLA campus. Students live in UCLA dormitories (Hedrick Hall, Dykstra Hall, Sproul Hall) and attend classes in UCLA facilities. ELC staff live on campus to support students. Programs offered during July and August.
• Boston UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerELC operates Summer Junior Programs in Boston University dormitories. Students have access to BU facilities including FitRec, Sargent Gym, Nickerson Field, Track and Tennis Center. Programs offered during July and August. Note: ELC is not affiliated with Boston University.
• University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerELC operates Summer Junior Programs at UCSB with students living in Santa Catalina Dorm. Students have access to UCSB library, bookstore, tennis courts, basketball court, pool, and beach facilities. Programs offered during June and July.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• ELS Educational Services: ELS is the largest US-based network of intensive English language programs, operating on more than 30 university campuses across the US. Direct overlap with ELC in the ESL-on-university-campus model, target customer (international students), and pricing tier.
• Kaplan International Languages: Kaplan International operates English language schools in the US, UK, and beyond, including US university campus-based programs. Comparable in target market (international ESL learners), product mix (intensive English plus electives), and pathway-university partnerships.
• EC English Language Centres: EC operates English language schools across multiple countries with campus-based immersion programs for juniors and adults. Closely aligned with ELC on customer profile (international teens and adults), product structure (classroom + activities + accommodation bundles), and channel approach (DTC + agents).
• LAL Language Schools: LAL operates English language schools in the US (and abroad) targeting international students with immersion programs and activity bundles. Similar business model to ELC — tuition-based residential and day programs with cultural activity components.
• St Giles International: St Giles runs English language schools in the US (New York, Miami, San Francisco) and the UK, serving international students with junior and adult programs. Directly comparable customer base and product structure to ELC.
• Converse International School of Languages: CISL operates intensive English programs in California and San Diego, including university pathway partnerships. Comparable geographic footprint in California and similar ESL-plus-pathway product mix to ELC's UCLA programs.
• Oxford International Education Group: Oxford International runs junior and adult English language programs in the US, UK, and Canada, often on university campuses. Closely aligned with ELC's university-residential junior model and adult pathway product.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: EF is a global education company offering language travel, academic year programs, and university preparation. Comparable on broad language-immersion category, but much larger and more diversified — covering K-12, higher education, and corporate training beyond ELC's narrow ESL-on-campus niche.
• Berlitz Corporation: Berlitz is an established global language instruction provider serving adults and corporations. Overlapping in ESL/product category but focused more on adult learners, corporate clients, and private tutoring rather than the junior summer-campus model.

Others

• Languages Abroad: Languages Abroad is an international study-abroad agency that aggregates ESL programs across providers — including US-based schools — and channels demand. Functions as an indirect distribution counterpart to ELC's DTC model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/elc_edu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ELCMedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/elc.englishlanguagecenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/elc_bostoncampus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/english-language-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 English Language Center