About English Institute

Location
Columbia, Maryland – a suburban community centrally located within 30 miles of Baltimore & Washington, D.C. Columbia is regularly ranked a “Best Place to Live” from reputable sources including Money magazine.

Main Campus Address: 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Maryland 21044
EI Phone Number: 443-518-1681

• Area Map and Directions
• Take a Virtual Tour
• Campus Map
• Building Maps

EI by the Numbers

• Founded in 2001
• Student to faculty ratio of 15: 1
• Average class size: 15
• 7 full-time employees
• Age range for EI students: 19–54 years old
• 9 student activities held on campus each semester
• 20 different countries represented by the student body in fiscal year 2021

Degrees & Certificates at HCC

• Associate of arts: two years, transfers to four-year program
• Associate in applied science: two years, leads to employment
• Associate of arts in teaching: two years, transfers to four-year program
• Associate of science in engineering: two years, transfers to four-year program
• Certificate of proficiency: one year, leads to employment
• Letter of recognition: set of courses to enhance skills

See a detailed list of degree and certificate programs at HCC.

Number of Nearby Four-Year Colleges & Universities in the Area
14 public, 22 private

Intercollegiate Athletics Teams (HCC Dragons)

• Cross Country
• Men’s & Women’s Soccer
• Women’s Volleyball
• Men’s & Women’s Basketball
• Men’s & Women’s Lacrosse
• Track & Field

• Experienced faculty: 80% have master’s degrees or Ph.Ds.
• Friendly advising team to answer your questions and assist with your transition to life in the USA
• Exciting activities, including trips to New York City and Washington, D.C.
• Certificates offered for completion of level, completion of program, and business and professional program
• Bridge classes
• Scholarships available
• Exchanges: The EI hosts exchange students from AFS-USA and the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program
• Awards
  • Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA), The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, 2019.
  • Best Community College of Maryland, The Daily Record, 2019.
  • Best Two-Year Colleges for Adult Learners, Washington Monthly, 2018, 2017, 2016.
  • Digital Community Colleges National Survey Winner, Center for Digital Education, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007.
  • National Exemplary Program Award, National Council for Continued Education & Training.
  • NAFSA Internationalizing the Campus Award.
  • Outstanding Program in English, Two-Year College Association.

International Residency Estimated Cost for One Semester

Tuition and fees for international students for each Spring and Fall is $3,440. Tuition and fees for international students for Summer is $3,200 for new students (returning students pay In-County or Out-of-County tuition rates for Summer classes because they are not required to enroll in classes during the Summer term).

Further explanation of costs: Each EI class is assigned a number of units based on classroom contact hours. Most classes are three units each. EI students enroll in a minimum of 12 units in a semester (normally four classes). The cost per unit is $275 (for Spring and Fall), so tuition and fees may exceed $3,440 if a student chooses to enroll in more than 12 units.

In-County and Out-of-County Residency Estimated Cost for One Semester (Spring or Fall)

Out-of-county residents pay an additional $10 fee per class.

• Spring (15 weeks; late January – early May)
• Summer (10 weeks; early May – early August)
• Fall (15 weeks; late August – mid-December)

• Five levels: beginning (level 1) to advanced (level 5)
• ESL courses include: grammar, pronunciation, reading, speaking, spelling, TOEFL preparation, vocabulary, writing, and specialized skills like English for business purposes