A.C.E. Language Institute at Seattle Pacific University is located in Seattle, Washington, USA. Seattle Pacific University is a small, private university located in a safe residential neighborhood, just a few minutes north of downtown Seattle. A.C.E. students spend 20 hours a week in intensive English language class and 5 or more hours in optional elective classes. Students may choose to live with a host family or in campus dorms when available. This institute includes Super Intensive and Flex programs, which include tutoring.
The Mission at A.C.E. Language Institute at Seattle Pacific University is to provide students with the language skills, cultural knowledge and experience they need to use English to effectively communicate in academia and the workplace and to provide opportunities for personal growth.
About Seattle
Seattle is located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with views of mountains and water in every direction. The city is at sea level and therefore enjoys a mild climate. Seattle is famous for its high-tech industries, music scene, coffee shops, and shopping districts. Seattle was ranked the most educated city in the United States in 2006, and is also home to famous companies such as Microsoft, Boeing, Amazon and Starbucks. Seattle also has a good bus system, so it's easy to get around.
University Info
Seattle Pacific University is a small, private university. It is known for academic excellence and has professors who are renowned scholars. The university was also ranked as one of the top 5 "Best Values" in the West by U.S. News & World Report. The school has an active campus life and students are involved in many sports and clubs.
You can visit the Seattle Pacific University website here: http://www.spu.edu/
Program Cost
Fees may change without notice. Rates are based per session. One A.C.E. session is 5 weeks, which is equal to half of the SPU quarter.
Intensive English Program Fees Per Session
Intensive Program Tuition (5 weeks)*
$1730
Flex Program Tuition (5 weeks)*
$1992.50
Student Services**
$110
Housing Estimate***
$750 - $1100; varies
Meal Estimate****
$550 - $850; varies
Health Insurance*****
$120
* Fees do not include additional one-time $100 A.C.E. application fee. Tutoring is available for the Intensive program at $425 per session.
** Student Services fee includes campus based services. Express Mailing of I-20 form by courier service is available for additional $65.
*** Housing fees are approximate for 5 week sessions and vary depending on choice of homestay, hostel, or private apartment. Limited homestay options are available through ABODE or Intercultural Homestays. SPU dormitory may be available in June, July and August, but cannot be guaranteed. Fee will be set when and if dormitory is available.
**** Meal budget is approximate and will vary based on use of host family meals, on-campus cafeteria, or self-catering in apartments. Meals are included with homestays.
***** All students are required to have valid health insurance. Students must demonstrate health insurance coverage or purchase health insurance through A.C.E. Fees listed above cover the student during the 5-week session. Students may purchase additional coverage for vacation periods. View our health insurance plan here.
Application Fee
$100 application fee is required at the time of application. It is non-refundable.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
For A.C.E. Language Institutes in the U.S., payment is due on the first day of classes. Students may request a refund of refundable fees before the first day of classes for that session. Students will be refunded 80% of the session fees for cancellation. Students or a representative must complete a Cancellation and Refund Form to request a refund. Please see Terms and Conditions for more details.
Financial Documentation for F-1 Visa Students
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requires that students have sufficient financial resources to meet school and living costs while in the U.S. The student, parents, or a sponsor must provide a current bank statement or an official letter from a bank verifying sufficient funds.
Housing Requests
In Seattle, A.C.E. can refer you to a variety of housing options so you can choose the one that best fits your needs. To arrange your housing, please carefully review the Housing Options page and then apply directly to the provider as early as possible. Housing requests must be made at least 4 weeks before the student's proposed arrival.
Courier Mailing Fee
Students may request to have acceptance materials and I-20 sent by courier mail service. There will be an additional charge of $65 for courier mail service. All applications received less than 30 days before the student's requested start date will be sent by courier mail service.
Other Expenses
Students should expect to buy books at a cost of $50-$150 per session. Students should budget additional money for personal expenses such as travel or entertainment. These expenses will vary.
Payment of Fees
A.C.E. will accept payment by traveler's check, personal check drawn on a U.S. bank, cashier's check, credit card, or wire transfer. To pay by wire transfer you must add a $30 wire transfer fee to the amount invoiced.
Age Requirement
Students aged 17 and older may enroll in an A.C.E. Language Institute. Students younger than 17 should contact A.C.E. for information on youth programs.
Institute Calendar
2013
A.C.E. Application Deadlines*
Winter Session 1
January 3 - February 8
December 3
Winter Session 2
February 7 - March 15
January 7
Spring Session 1
March 21 - April 26
February 21
Spring Session 2
April 25 - May 31
March 25
Summer Session 1
June 6 - July 12
May 6
Summer Session 2
July 11 - August 16
June 11
Summer Session 3
August 15 - September 20
July 15
Fall Session 1
September 26 - November 1
August 26
Fall Session 2
October 31 - December 11
October 1
* Applications after the deadline may be considered individually on a space available basis, as time permits for visa processing.
Flex Start Policy: A.C.E. may accommodate students with special entry date needs.
The A.C.E. Language Institute sessions closely match the schedule of the university location
during the school year. During the summer, there is more variation to the schedules, due to shorter
university summer terms.
Spring Break for A.C.E. SPU is March 18-22. (Please note that new students will still have Testing & Orientation on March 21.) The session will still have 5 weeks of class.
A.C.E. Language Institute Holidays
2013
New Year's Day observed
January 1
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 21
Presidents' Day
February 18
University Holiday
March 29
Memorial Day
May 27
Independence Day
July 4
Labor Day
September 2
Veterans Day
November 11
Thanksgiving
November 28 & 29
Christmas observed
December 24 & 25
Housing
A.C.E. offers you several possible places to stay while you are studying:
Homestay - Homestays can help you practice speaking English in your living environment. The length of time can be flexible and costs are often most reasonable. You can choose from two experienced homestay providers in the Seattle area:
Intercultural Homestays & Services ( information | application )
Please apply sixty days prior to arrival for timely placement, late applications are accepted with no guarantee of placement prior to arrival. Applications received less than 30 days prior to arrival/relocation or start of college quarter are subject to a $150 fee.
ABODE ( information | application )
Please apply sixty days prior to arrival for timely placement. You will receive confirmation that ABODE has received your application within ten working days. Applications will not be processed without the fees. Late applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, and you may have to stay in a hotel (at your own expense) if you apply too late.
Apartment - All A.C.E. Language Institutes have apartments near them that are safe and convenient. Apartments provide the freedom to live independently, but may involve fixed-time commitment leases. Our staff can assist you in finding resources to find an apartment. One resource is CORT apartment searches and furniture rentals for unfurnished apartments.
Dormitory - SPU Dormitories may be available in June, July and August, but cannot be guaranteed. You can choose to live with one or more other students. Since A.C.E. places you, we can help if you have a problem.
Hostel - A.C.E. has a close relationship with the American Hotel in Seattle (www.hiusa.org/seattle), located within a short bus ride from the SPU campus and available year-round. The American Hotel, a historic Seattle building, was newly remodeled and opened under the management of Hostelling International in 2009. This is an excellent and inexpensive dormitory option for students and trainees desiring to be close to the urban experience of Seattle and the International District with easy access to the famous Uwajimaya grocery and gifts store www.uwajimaya.com, the train station, and major attractions like the Mariners baseball stadium and the Seahawks and Sounders football stadium and Pioneer Square.
CORT apartment searches and furniture rentals for unfurnished apartments.
Meet our Staff and Instructors
Sally Thomas, Senior Director
Sally was born in Virginia but has lived most of her life in Alaska and Washington. She has a B.A. in Education and a M.A. in TESOL. She has taught in Russia and as an ESL teacher in Seattle Public Schools. An interesting fact about Sally is that she lived and taught in Guam for two years and Russia for 3 years. Her favorite books are "Brothers Karamosov" and "The Count of Monte Cristo."
Timothy Healy, Director
Tim is originally from Buffalo, New York. He has a B.A. in Russian/ Soviet Studies and a M.A. TESOL. He has been teaching at A.C.E. since 2003. Tim is proficient in Russian. An interesting fact about him is that he lived and worked in Russia for two years.
Kara Schultheiss, Student Services Coordinator
Kara is originally from Portland, Oregon, but has lived in Seattle for over 10 years. She enjoys traveling, cooking, hiking, and many other activities. Kara spent three years teaching English in China, and has completed her M.Ed. in TESOL.
Michelle Soule, Instructor and Group Program Coordinator
Michelle is originally from Camas, Washington. She has a B.A. in Psychology and a M.A. in TESOL. She is also the evening manager of a local bookstore in Ballard. She also loves to read! She loves anything by the author Jane Austen and lots more too!
Emily Van Dyke Morris, Instructor
Emily is originally from San Diego, California. She has a B.A. in English Literature/French and a M.A. in TESOL. She loves listening to music from the 80's-The Smiths, The Cure... and anything that starts with 'The.'
Valerie Giesbrecht, Instructor
Valerie has a B.A. in Music and a M.A. in TESOL. She has taught at the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington, Lithuania International University in Eastern Europe and HUFLIT Language School in Vietnam. She has also worked in the area of refugee resettlement for more than 10 years. Additionally, Valerie has taught music for over 20 years, teaching students a young as 3 and as old as 55 to play the violin.
