The United States boasts the largest international student population in the world, with over 1,000,000 students choosing to expand their education and life experience in the United States.
Nearly 5% of all students enrolled in higher education in the United States are international students, and the number is constantly growing. By the mid-50s, foreign students barely reached 35,000, international education in the United States has come a long way.
How do I start studying in the United States?
As a prospective international student, there are four basic steps you need to complete to study at a US university. The first step is to decide which universities to apply to.
If you have no idea how to orient your choice, you may want to consider contacting the nearest academic counseling center sponsored by your government or the U.S. government.
After deciding which schools interest you, the next step is to contact the Admissions Office and apply for an application for admission for graduate studies. In the meantime, it’s a good idea to take the TOEFL, an exam that measures the language skills of students who are not native English speakers, and any other exams that will be required by most colleges.
The third step is to send applications and registration fees according to the procedure provided by each university.
The final step requires a little patience. You have to wait for universities to make their admission decisions. When you are accepted, you will be sent a form called I-20, which is the document you will need to obtain a student visa.
To apply for the student visa (called an F-1 visa) you must go to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate closest to you with the following documents:
- college Form I-20;
- passport;
- proof of income (bank statements, scholarships, etc.).
Once approved, your visa will be stamped in your passport. At this point you are ready to embark on your academic path in the United States!
How much does it cost to study in American universities?
The United States is home to some of the most prestigious universities in the world, just think of Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton or Columbia, but the list is much more substantial.
Tuition fees can range from $5,000 to $50,000 per year, depending on whether you choose a public or private school. Most college degrees last four years, so, on average, students graduate with a debt of $132,860.
All states in the U.S. differentiate tuition between resident and foreign students: while a typical four-year public college may charge an American student $10,230 a year, a non-American resident student can pay up to $26,290.
Often accommodation costs must also be considered, which are not included in the fee. In general, college towns in the Midwest region of the United States have a lower cost of living, while the East and Northeast are more expensive. The average apartment starts at $500 a month in a suburban area, up to $3,500 in the city.
On-campus accommodation is typically in dorms, with two or three people per room. Residents share bathrooms, toilets and showers.
Campus dorms in the U.S. average $5,300 to $8,160 including all utilities and housing-related costs. The lowest prices will be found in two-year public colleges and the highest in private four-year institutions.
For most families, choosing a four-year college is one of the most challenging and expensive decisions they can make.