• Planning Ahead
• Calculating Your Expenses
• Financing Your Education
• Financing Undergraduate Studies
• Financing Graduate Studies
• Other Scholarships & Grants

Planning Ahead

• Start your financial planning at the same time you begin choosing colleges -- at least 12 months before you wish to study in the United States.
• Tuition costs vary from college to college. Private universities charge more than state universities, which in turn charge more than community colleges. Research actual costs very carefully.
• Cost is not an indication of the quality of an institution.
• Living expenses vary depending on location and your lifestyle.
• Many colleges expect you and your family to fund the full cost of your education.
• The main source of possible financial assistance is the college where you are applying; however, funds available for international students are limited, and full funding is very rare.
• Financial assistance can be awarded as scholarships, grants, and, in some instances, through work-study or loans. Aid, if available, is usually based on merit, but sometimes on need.
• Opportunities to work in the United States are limited and cannot be used as official sources of funding.
• Talented athletes may try to obtain sports scholarships (see the next chapter for further details).
• You can reduce the costs of your education in the United States in a number of ways; taking courses at community colleges and accelerated programs are just two examples.

The True Financial Costs of Studying in the United

The United States offers the greatest diversity available of students, campus environments, entry requirements, tuition fees and living costs, making it the premier international destination for higher education. Furthermore, more than USD $7.2 billion in financial support from U.S. sources was granted to international students in 2009-2010, making study in the U.S. affordable for hundreds of thousands of international students.

Current immigration regulations permit international students in F-1 student visa status to work part-time up to 20 hours per week on campus while school is in session, and 40 hours per week during school vacations. After one academic year of study – if work experience is required for your degree (e.g. an internship course) and is authorized by your Des­ignated School Official (DSO) at your institution – you may get up to one year of paid work experience, known as Cur­ricular Practical Training (CPT), in your field of study before you graduate. Additionally, Optional Practical Training (OPT) is available in a student’s field of study that allows up to 12 months of employment to qualified in-status foreign students after completion of coursework for each degree level (Associates, Bachelors, Masters, & Doctoral) at a U.S. college or university. For F-1 students studying certain science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) fields, they can apply for up to a total of 29 months: that’s more than two years of paid training experience per degree level.

When considering your global options for international study, from vocational to post graduate level study, consider the following global comparisons and discover why more international students choose to further their education in the United States each year than the United Kingdom and Australia combined!

For more information on U.S. study and to contact an EducationUSA adviser near you, visit us on the web at www.educationusa.state.gov.

±Approximate number of higher learning institutions such as colleges, universities, and institutes as reported by the Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac, Universities & Colleges Admissions Service, and the Australian Education Network as of May 1, 2011.

+Total international students enrolled full time at institutions of higher learning as reported by Project Atlas at the Institute of International Education as of May 1, 2011.

*Tuition range and living cost in the US are according to the College Board Trends in College Pricing 2010 report.

**Tuition range and living costs in the UK listed by British Council as £3,900 – £18,000 per year and £600 per month respectively. US dollar amount is approximate and based on currency exchange rate as of May 1, 2011.

***Tuition range and living costs in Australia listed by Study in Australia as A$5000 – A$31,500 per year and A $18,000 per year respectively. US dollar amount is approximate and based on currency exchange rate as of May 1, 2011.