EnglishUSA members expect enrollments to increase through 2023

EnglishUSA received 101 initial responses to the survey, of which 75 per cent of respondents were university, college and community college programs and the remainder were private language providers.

Enrolment trends:

With responses from an additional 20 members for this question, 46 per cent of respondents said that student enrolments had increased for Spring 2023 compared with Spring 2022, while a further 25 per cent said they had remained the same.

Looking ahead, 30 per cent expected Summer 2023 to be better than the previous year, while 36 per cent said it would remain the same and only around 14 per cent expected a decline (the remainder were not sure).

There was more optimism for Fall 2023 enrolment, with 52 per cent anticipating an increase, and a further 21 per cent predicting steady enrolments. Only around six per cent expect to have fewer students in Fall 2023.

Reasons cited for growth in student enrolments included increased marketing efforts, greater student mobility as Covid anxiety lessens, more non-F-1 students travelling, fewer visa denials, and the restoration of exchange partnerships with institutions overseas.

Those that expect a fall in students indicated a decrease in marketing efforts at their institution, visa denials and competition from other destinations.

Markets:

EnglishUSA found that the top student nationalities as of the spring this year were Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Colombia.

Compared with the Institute of International Education (IIE) Open Doors data on IEPs in 2021, this would suggest that the Korean market has recovered and the Colombian has grown in importance.

Several English language teaching destinations recorded a large increase in Colombian students in 2022, including Australia, the UK, Malta and Ireland.

Range of courses:

Almost all of the members responding to the survey offered an Intensive English Program year round (96.9), while 63.3 also offered short-term English courses. The next most common offerings were undergraduate pathways (36.7), ESL support sources (27.5), and graduate pathways (22.5). Smaller percentages offer junior courses and ‘boot camp’ pre-degree English.

Around two-thirds of the schools surveyed offer English courses at five levels or more. Half said that they accept students on B tourist visas, and a further quarter said that they did, but only if the student was already in the USA. B visas are generally used for short courses and those with less than 18 hours tuition per week.

EnglishUSA also surveyed members on the accreditations that they hold, and found that 41 per cent had Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), 35 per cent had both CHEA and CEA Commission on English Language Program Accreditation , 15 per cent had ACCET  accreditation, and a further nine per cent had CEA alone.

Priorities:

EnglishUSA asked members what their current priorities were, and responses included lobbying on visa denials and perceived bias against students applying for F-1 visas for language study, hiring qualified teachers, retooling curricula and rethinking business models.

Members called for EnglishUSA to support recruitment and enrolment management, update on industry news, to continue virtual events for members, professional development, and continued advocacy with government.

EnglishUSA currently represents around 240 English language providers, and is a member of Gaela – Global Alliance of Education & Language Associations .

As recently reported, EnglishUSA is hosting a special ‘Connect with Agents’ webinar for partner agencies on June 22nd, and through backing from the Department of Commerce is offering a discount on membership for new partner agencies.