ELS Language Centers, English school in St Petersburg, Florida
ELS has taught English on US university campuses since 1961. Here is who they are, how they teach, what sets them apart, and the centre we offer, in St Petersburg, Florida.
Who is ELS?
ELS Language Centers is a network of English centres located on university and college campuses in the United States. On its official website, the group states it was founded in 1961 and has welcomed 1.2 million students from 143 countries.
We offer the St Petersburg centre, hosted by Eckerd College, on the Gulf coast of Florida.
How they teach
ELS chooses immersion on a real campus: students study in a university environment, with access to campus facilities and opportunities to practise English with American students.
Programmes range from intensive group study to one-to-one lessons. In St Petersburg, the average class has 12 to 15 students, 18 at most, according to the official website.
ELS levels are numbered: per the official website, level 112 of Intensive English meets the language requirement for conditional admission to Eckerd College and some partner schools, and levels 109 or 112 meet the entry requirements of more than 600 universities and colleges.
What sets ELS apart
- A centre on a university campus. Eckerd College’s library, fitness centre and computer lab are free for ELS students.
- A waterfront setting. The campus is on the water; activities listed for the school include sailing, kayaking and windsurfing, and St Petersburg is nicknamed “The Sunshine City”.
- A path to further study. ELS offers programmes for continuing at university (per its website: “2 + 2”, “College Year”). They are not in our catalogue.
Programmes, and who they are for
Our catalogue has three General English courses for adults: Intensive English (30 lessons per week), Semi-Intensive English (20 lessons per week) and American Explorer (15 lessons per week). Course names are those of the catalogue.
Our catalogue allows entry from age 16, with a start possible every Monday on flexible-entry courses, from beginner to upper-advanced level. The group’s official website also lists English for Executives, Super Intensive English (one-to-one) and youth programmes for ages 10 to 17; these are not in our catalogue.
Prices, school by school
2027 rates from the Synergee price engine, for the Semi-Intensive English course (20 lessons per week), starting January 4, 2027. The “from” price is the lowest weekly rate among the durations quoted by the engine; every duration is in the expandable table below. Your exact quote depends on your dates, duration and accommodation.
- St Petersburg, United States : from 480 USD per week (12-week course, excluding fees and accommodation)
See all 2027 prices
| Centre | Reference course | Lessons / wk | 2 weeks | 4 weeks | 12 weeks | Registration fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Petersburg, United States | Semi-Intensive English | 20 | 1,040 USD | 2,080 USD | 5,760 USD | 200 USD |
Course price only, excluding accommodation. Registration fee is added. Each country uses its own currency.
Accommodation
Two options in our catalogue: homestay and the Eckerd College campus residence. The price shown is the engine’s reference homestay (single room), per week, for a 4-week stay. The campus residence (double room, minimum 4 weeks) and its rates appear in the centre’s quote.
See accommodation prices
| Centre | Homestay, per week (4 weeks) | Residences in the catalogue |
|---|---|---|
| St Petersburg | 440 USD | 1 |
The centre in detail
ELS Language Centers — St Petersburg
United States · 3 courses in the catalogue
On the waterfront campus of Eckerd College, at 4200 54th Avenue South. Library, fitness centre and computer lab free to use; conversation practice with Eckerd College students. Classes average 12 to 15 students (18 at most). Accommodation: homestay or campus residence.
Sources: ELS Language Centers official website (els.edu), read on 7 November 2026; prices: Synergee engine.