Recommended · New Orleans, LA · Est. 1976
Loyola University
Small, Jesuit-university English program in New Orleans since 1976, tailored for intermediate/advanced learners with an academic pathway to U.S. university study.
About
Housed within Loyola University New Orleans' Center for International Education, the Loyola Intensive English Program (LIEP) has been quietly running since 1976 on the university's leafy St. Charles Avenue campus. It is an unapologetically academic program, aimed at intermediate and advanced learners who want more than conversational polish, offering a Pathway option that lets qualified students layer credit-bearing university coursework on top of their ESL work.
The LIEP experience leans on Loyola's Jesuit-liberal-arts scale rather than on volume: classes are small, instructors hold advanced degrees, and international students are housed on campus alongside English-speaking roommates, an arrangement the program frames as central to its immersion model. Terms follow the university calendar (full four-month semesters or two-month half-sessions), with tuition running roughly $5,176 for a full-time semester and total estimated cost of living for F-1 candidates in the mid-teens of thousands. Custom summer group programs are also offered on request.
What sets LIEP apart is less flash and more context: New Orleans itself is the marketing pitch, and the program leans into its location and culture as a live classroom. Students looking for large cohorts, TOEFL-prep factories, or beginner-level tracks should look elsewhere; those wanting a modestly sized, university-embedded bridge into U.S. academic life will find LIEP a considered fit.
Programs offered
- Intensive English (Intermediate and Advanced)
- Academic/English Pathway Program
- Pilot Program (hybrid ESL + academic coursework)
- Custom Summer Group Programs
Languages & delivery
Languages taught
- English
Delivery
- 👥 F-1 international students at intermediate or advanced English level who want a small, university-embedded program with a pathway option into U.S. academic coursework
- 📏 Small classes with personal attention (specific ratio not published on website)
Accreditations & certifications
- ✓ EnglishUSA membership
- ✓ SEVP-certified (F-1 issuing)
Pricing
Full-time semester (20 hrs/week, 4 months): $5,176; part-time semester: $2,650; total estimated cost with housing/meals/insurance ~$16,725 for four months
What stands out
- Established in 1976 - nearly 50 years of continuous operation
- Jesuit university setting on historic St. Charles Avenue campus
- On-campus housing with English-speaking roommate model
- Academic Pathway lets students layer university credit courses onto ESL study
- Flexible 4-month or 2-month enrollment
- Small class sizes with faculty holding advanced degrees
- New Orleans location leveraged as a cultural immersion asset
- Multilingual admissions support in 13+ languages
Recent Google reviews
Alot of roads need improved around the area, enjoyed Loyola!
I transferred to Loyola and absolutely loved my experience there for undergrad and graduate school. The school felt safe, was filled with friendly people, and the teachers were very approachable and helpful. The library is really nice as is the rec. The business school could stand to be updated I enjoyed my teachers there. I lived right off campus and could walk or bike to class. I had debated between Tulane and Loyola but what I got from Loyola was incredibly valuable. The academic supports helped me to learn how I best learn and it gave me a lot of confidence that helped my success in life. I am forever grateful for that.
I am currently a graduate nursing student. This has been the profound educational experience I have had in my life. The professors are impeccably knowledgeable and well versed in their areas of expertise. I went back to school to become more marketable in my profession. My impending degree from Loyola will give me the confidence in my career that I am seeking along with speaking volumes to potential employers who welcome an employee with a Loyola degree..
Choosing to attend Loyola University New Orleans was the best decision that I have ever made. Here you will find that there is a true community of compassion for students. Additionally, the faculty is approachable and always willing to go the extra mile for their students. Loyola wants to see its students succeed and because of the care and compassion that we receive here, we do succeed. Thank you Loyola. Best 4 years :)
Based on 84 Google reviews · average 4.4
Location
📍 6363 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118