The USA is one of the world's most popular destinations for international students. In 2020, more than 1.1 million international students moved to the U.S. to study.
The United States is a great place to get higher education: there are TOP universities that open up excellent prospects for employment and scientific work. More than 2,000 colleges and universities offer four-year undergraduate programs — more than 1.3 million people a year for a year. Earning a bachelor's degree usually consists of 120-128 semester credit hours.
Four years of university education form a broad educational basis open up employment opportunities in any country of the world, allow you to learn English, make acquaintances in the professional sphere.
Advantages of studying for a bachelor's degree in the USA
Study in the best educational institutions in the world
Prestigious US universities are one of the main factors that encourage young people to study here.
The QS World University Rankings includes 352 universities, half of the top 10 of the QS World University Rankings 2021 are occupied by American universities:
A huge number of universities and colleges in the United States allows you to choose the location of the university, courses, living conditions, size, teaching staff, composition of students, tuition fees, sports programs, opportunities.
Prestigious high schools in the United States offer hundreds of programs on a variety of topics. You will be able to study innovative disciplines, learn from famous researchers in your chosen field.
American higher education institutions allow you to combine various subjects, adapt programs to their interests, career aspirations.
Bright student life
Universities in the United States are known for their exciting social life: sports teams, clubs, fraternities, women's clubs.
Improving English proficiency
If you are an international student studying English, studying in the USA is a good way to improve your English skills. The study of English-speaking culture will expand the vocabulary, daily communicating with native speakers, deepen knowledge of academic English.
Friends from all over the world
During your studies, you will meet a variety of people from different countries, establish business ties, professional contacts. You will be able to travel to neighboring cities, US states, get a lot of vivid impressions.
International experience for CV
U.S. universities are well known for the quality of education. Studying allows you to develop universal skills, undergo an internship, especially if your university is located in a big city.
The diversity of America's educational institutions is a great preparation for work internationally, as you will be dealing with colleagues from all walks of life and cultures.
Support for international students
U.S. universities have many ways to help students from abroad feel comfortable. In addition to the orientation of freshmen, the appointment of a mentor, there are offices of assistance to foreigners: assistance in obtaining visas, part-time employment, financial assistance.
Studying in the United States will expand your view of the world - you will grow professionally, personally, be able to get out of your comfort zone, expand your horizons.
Types of U.S. Undergraduate Programs
American colleges and universities focus on studying special professional fields - fine arts, pharmaceuticals, engineering, business, agriculture.
Obtaining a qualification in law, medicine involves professional preparation after obtaining a bachelor's degree. Neither law nor medical schools require a specific undergraduate specialty, although medical schools do have pre-med courses.
Higher education institutions in America offer two types of Bachelor's degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts – Arts, Social Sciences, Humanities, Fine Arts.
- Bachelor of Science – Natura sciences, physical, mathematical sciences.
Specialized bachelor's degrees include:
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
- Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)
- Bachelor of Science in Public Relations (BSPA)
- Bachelor of Nursing (BSN)
- Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil.)
- Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.)
- Bachelor of Design (B.Des.).
Programs in business, engineering, natural sciences are more rigidly structured than courses in the humanities or social sciences.
4 factors to consider while choosing an American university
The interests of the applicant should play a key role in choosing a course, but take into account the cost, return on investment, employment prospects.
- Interests, abilities – consider your strengths. Identifying talents will help you choose a specialty that matches academic ability. Having made a list of strengths and weaknesses, choose the most interesting specialty.
- The cost of the program – for example, medicine and law will require significant financial costs.
- Future employment – Explore employment trends in selected areas. Some degrees – for example, communication, business – are armed with in-demand skills and knowledge that can be applied in many industries. Other, highly specialized courses allow you to occupy one specific niche.
- Potential income. Is salary an important factor? Artistic degrees, for example, usually do not provide high earnings, but the fascination outweighs the modest prospects. Explore the median salaries of different specialties, professions by country.
TOP-10 most popular undergraduate courses in the United States
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), U.S. colleges and universities award 2 million bachelor's degrees annually. More than half of them belong to 5 areas of study.
Job opportunities and high salaries at the start make certain areas of study more attractive. For example, diplomas in business and medicine account for almost a third of all undergraduate degrees, which is facilitated by a significant increase in employment, high pay, prospects for promotion among managers, doctors.
- Business degrees are one of the most popular undergraduate programs awarded by American higher education institutions. Job prospects, salaries for managers are growing: the average annual salary for business and financial specialists is $ 69,820, which is about $ 30,000 more than the average salary for specialists in other fields. Business programs explore fundamental business principles, practices that allow companies to operate more efficiently. Students study interdisciplinary concepts, develop strong communication skills, leadership qualities, critical thinking skills. The business sphere includes many specializations and career opportunities: accounting, marketing, entrepreneurship.
- Yale University – from $ 27 000.
- Medicine – the demand for healthcare professionals continues to grow: BLS predicts that employment in all areas of healthcare will grow by 15% from 2019 to 2029, adding about 2.4 million jobs. Medical workers usually receive high salaries already at the initial stage of their career, the average annual income is $ 68,190. Studying medicine requires high time, financial, labor costs.
- Harvard University – from $ 50 654.
- Social Sciences, History – Employment among graduates of social science programs is projected to grow by 5% from 2019 to 2029, adding about 68,200 new jobs. Bachelor's degree programs in social sciences use an interdisciplinary approach based on economics, sociology, history; they develop students' analytical, communicative, leadership skills, prepare for many potential career paths.
- Stanford University – from $ 53 000.
- Engineering. The market of renewable and alternative energy sources continues to grow, which means that there will be demand for engineers! Chartered engineers boast some of the highest entry-level salaries = an average of $81,440. Future specialists develop project management skills, graphic thinking, problem solving, learn to solve engineering problems using mathematical models, design solutions, quantitative methods.
- Berkeley University of California – from $ 28,000.
- Biological, biomedical sciences. The popularity of biological sciences has increased dramatically since 2005-06 Biochemistry, biophysicists receive an average annual salary of $ 94,490. According to forecasts, until 2029, the employment of biochemists, biophysicists will grow by 4%. Bachelor's programs in biology study a wide range of subjects: ecology, cell biology, genetics.
- Johns Hopkins University – from $ 50 410.
- Psychology – the total employment of psychologists will grow by 3% until 2029. Psychologists receive an average annual salary of $80,370, which is about twice the average salary. A career as a clinical psychologist usually requires a doctoral degree, but already a bachelor's degree in psychology gives graduates the right to engage in business, education. Psychology programs develop an understanding of human behavior, graduates find successful careers in areas such as marketing, advertising, sales.
- Princeton University – from $ 51 870.
- Communications, journalism. According to the BLS, media and communications workers earn an average annual income of $59,230. Students improve the skills of reportage, writing, critical thinking, study various media subjects, including the philosophy of modern journalism, media law, ethics, storytelling.
- Columbia University – from $ 12,500.
- Visual, performing arts - the earning potential is somewhat lower, the financial burden of obtaining creative education is considered as the main drawback. The average annual salary is $48,130. For many graduates, a career in art is not so much a financial benefit as an internal reward, the realization of oneself.
- Pratt Institute – from $ 27 955.
- Education – over the next decade, 441,000 new jobs will be added in the field of education, vocational courses, library professions. This increase is due to an increase in the number of students, which will require additional teachers. The salary of teachers depends on the level at which they teach: college professors receive an average annual salary of $ 79,540, secondary school teachers - $ 59,660.
- University of California Los Angeles UCLA – from 29 754 $.
- Computer, information sciences – technologies are becoming more common, organizations are looking for qualified computer specialists to solve technical problems, improve work efficiency. Undergraduate programs in computer science cover topics such as information theory, basic programming, data structures, and the basics of operating systems. Computer scientists often work with several programming languages, solve complex coding problems.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – from $ 55,510.
Applying to U.S. Universities
International students should take enough time to thoroughly examine the institution and program that best suits their academic and professional goals. The application process, preparing an essay, asking for recommendations from teachers, even if you are applying online through a common application, requires a lot of time and effort, especially in high schools with competitive admission. It is better to start preparation in 1-1.5 years.
Standardized tests
Most U.S. colleges and universities require you to pass one or more standard entrance tests before enrolling in their programs — this will allow you to demonstrate knowledge, level of English proficiency as part of the admission process using standard tests. These tests are valuable as a general measure of assessing the skills and abilities of candidates with different backgrounds. Points play a crucial role in admission to the chosen school.
Most undergraduate and graduate programs will require all international students to pass the TOEFL exam to make sure they have a sufficient level of English proficiency to succeed in U.S. colleges.
Mandatory standard tests include:
- Assessment Test (SAT)
- English as a Foreign Language Test (TOEFL)
- American College (ACT) Testing.
Materials for self-learning are presented in the form of books, electronic and online materials. Courses usually include a book, practice tests, and classroom activities. Testing program materials are available for purchase from testing companies during registration on websites, bookstores, USIS offices. Many educational institutions, American English-speaking schools offer exam preparation courses.
Testing fees
Each testing company charges a fee for passing a standardized test. Paying a fee often allows you to send test results to a limited number of schools, for an additional fee you can get additional copies of reports sent to other institutions.
The cost of testing depends on the program - usually from $ 22.5 to $ 160, but can change every year.
What is Credential Evaluation?
The United States is one of the largest educational markets in the world, accepting a huge influx of international students. The diversity of applicants, their educational systems requires a common basis for assessing educational status.
To evaluate the documents of a foreign student, leading American universities involve Credential Evaluation. "Appraisers of certificates" work according to a clearly formulated ethical standard, "serve" people who have completed part or all of their education outside the country.
Scholarships for international students wishing to enroll in the U.S.
U.S. universities and scholarship funds offer assistance to international students, but they are significantly less than undergraduates and students from the United States.
Resources for international students, where you can find scholarships for different groups of applicants (by country, field of study):
- IEFA.org, International Education Financial Aid (IEFA) provides financial aid, scholarships for colleges, grant information for international students wishing to study abroad. Their search function allows users to find scholarships around the world.
- InternationalScholarships.com provide a comprehensive list of grants, scholarships, loan programs, and other information to help college and university students start studying abroad.
- International organizations – there are several international organizations, such as Fulbright, that provide assistance to students around the world. Other organizations that provide assistance to students: United Nations, AMIDEAST, World Council of Churches, Soros Foundation, World Health Organization. Many of them require you to be in your home country when applying, so plan to apply in advance – competition for scholarships is high.
- U.S. colleges and universities offer limited financial aid to foreigners through their financial aid offices.
Student Visas in the United States
International students planning to study in the States receive one of the following three types of visas for international students: F1 Visa,J1 Visa or M1 Visa. F1 and J1 visas provide employment opportunities, but do not guarantee it. The M1 visa does not give the right to work.
Types of international student visas:
| Visa type | Destination | Features |
| F1 Visa | Academic research | F1 is issued to students who attend an academic program or English language courses. This is the most common form of international student visa in the United States. F1 students must maintain a minimum load on the course to obtain the status of a part-time student. F1 status allows you to work part-time on campus (less than 20 hours per week): students can work in an optional internship (OPT) for up to one year after completing the academic program. Students are expected to complete their studies before the deadline specified on Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status). |
| J-1 Visa | The J-1 visa in the United States is for people who want to participate in work- and study-based exchange programs and guest programs in the United States. | These programs are sponsored by an educational or other nonprofit institution that must be accredited through a Visitor Exchange Program designated by the U.S. Department of State. J-1 visa recipients are taught or studied. The J1 visa is intended for students who require practical preparation that is not available to them in their home country, and studying must be directly related to the existing specialty. |
| M1 Visa | M visa is intended for non-academic or vocational programs | Holders of an M-1 visa for technical, vocational education programs are not allowed to work while studying. Applicants for an M-1 student visa must have sufficient funds to pay for all tuition and accommodation expenses. |
How long can international students stay in the U.S. after graduation?
International students are allowed to stay for 60 days after graduation or after the end date of the program to complete their business and travel. If they are going to undergo additional preparation, they can stay for another year, and in STEM areas for another three years.
Insurance for international students
Unlike many other countries, the United States does not provide social health care. The American health care system is one of the best (but also the most expensive) in the world. Medical care for a serious accident or illness can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, so most Americans have health insurance to minimize costs.
Most college and university campuses offer some type of general health care. Services range from basic first aid, treatment of mild ailments to sophisticated multidisciplinary primary health care centers offering X-rays, laboratory tests, prescription medications, and access to specialists. The cost of medical services on campus is usually not very high.
