Studying abroad is a dream for almost every student, but not everyone can achieve it. The cost is one thing, but the language barrier and an entirely new culture? Well, maybe most will fret from the sound of that, but not all. There are countless Indian students who study abroad through various exchange programs, and today we will have a deep look into all of them.
When it comes to studying in a foreign land, the first thing that comes to mind is the USA, or the United States of America. This power nation is home to some of the biggest Western companies, like Apple, Microsoft, Google, and so on. Making it a hotspot for those who want to join the company of their dreams. So, without any further ado, let's see how to enroll in universities in USA, including the cost of US education, cost of living, and so on.
How to Study in the USA for Indian Students
There are countless universities in USA for international students, in both the public and private sectors. Remember that there won’t be any government. Colleges are there, so it’s a major step to accurately research how things are different in the United States vs. India or any other nation. So, now we will have a look at those exact same things that should make your planning much easier:
Career counselling
Studying abroad is a massive undertaking, so make sure to clarify all your doubts through a long counselling session. If you are confused about where to get one, then don’t worry; we got you covered. Our company offers 5-stage counselling sessions that aim at removing any and every doubt from your head. Giving you the luxury to further decide your majors, job expectations, and career paths for the future.
The Currency Conversion
The USA uses the Dollar as its main, and only, currency. And if you don’t know, it is considered as the strongest currency in the world. For example, one Dollar costs ₹85 as of now. Yes, this means the overall cost will be at least 85 times higher than in India. There are scholarship and exchange programs out there that can help reimburse most of the cost, but that doesn’t mean all. Even if it comes down to just 10% of the actual cost, that will still be more than 10 lakh in Indian currency. So, before even remotely thinking about studying abroad, make sure that you have more than sufficient funding at your disposal.
Public vs. Private
Public schools and colleges in USA are comparatively cheaper than their counterparts. Making it the top pick for most international students. But that doesn’t mean private ones are suffering or anything. The majority of private schools can be afforded easily through various means like green cards, internships, employment, and so on.
Financial Aid via The Green Card
The green card holders have the luxury to exempt the tuition fee altogether. The Green card is similar to the Aadhaar card in India, but it has flexible rules for non-citizens, aka international students. For example,
- A US permanent resident can sponsor a non-citizen for their green card, giving them almost the same benefits as a regular US citizen.
- Companies can also directly hire students and give them their own green cards for their valuable skills or investments. This is also known as employment-based immigration.
There are other ways one can acquire a green card, but not all of them are applicable for students. So the above two should be your top priority if you are a non-citizen and want to exempt tuition fees through the green card system. Still, remember that there is no surefire way to guarantee that you can get one. So keep this on your radar while searching for an affordable USA international school. And if you are lucky enough, this may save a crazy ton of expenses during your entire academic career.
Decide your Major
This goes without saying that deciding your major is a major part of your overall journey. The USA has a lot more courses that you can choose from, which often don’t exist in other countries. For example, the Liberal Arts adapt the minds of the young ones and gives them the necessary critical thinking to question the system and also find answers in the process. It may sound like Political Science, but its overall reach is more than that. Liberal arts students can easily start working as consultants, technical writers, UI/UX designers, mediators, and so on.
The Student Visa
It goes without saying that getting a student visa is a no-brainer for your journey to international studies. The usual process includes four parts:
- Proof of Admission.
- Proof of sufficient funds.
- Language proficiency test, English in this case in particular.
- Necessary document verification
You can choose between an F-1 and M-1 visa. The F-1 is for academic students, while the second one is for vocational students who are there for technical and non-academic reasons. It usually lasts for a year and can go up to 6 more months based on how the duration of the course works. As for the F-1, it’ll be your preferred choice that grants a full stay until your academic year ends.
What is the cost of education in USA?
The cost will vary drastically based on your final result. Like the public schools may cost somewhere between $10,000 and $10000-$25000, while universities and colleges in USA will cost almost double, if not more. So to make it short, here’s a list of expenses that will occur in your academic year in the USA:
- The Application Fee: This is the lowest fee you will pay in your entire journey. This can vary from $50 to $150. Some may even offer waivers under special circumstances, so make sure to double-check that.
- Test Fees: Most international students are expected to pass a certain amount of tests. Each test can cost $100-$250.
- Visa: The student visa can cost up to ₹30000 to ₹40000, or up to $500.
- Flight: The airline can easily take more than $500. The major cities will cost double or more.
- Tuition fee: Assuming you have some kind of scholarship, the average cost will be around $5000 to $15000 each year.
- Living expenses: Living expenses in USA can easily cost equal to, if not more than, your tuition fees. So make sure that you have a minimum of $20000 at your disposal before landing in the USA.
- Miscellaneous: Buying clothes and gear, traveling, additional certificate courses, and having fun with friends can also make a big impact on the wallet. In any normal circumstances, it will cost the same as the living expenses, which is $20,000 during your entire stay.
In short, yes, you can expect to pay around $40,000 even with scholarships. Sure, special cases exist, and they can remove up to 70% of the cost. Even so, $16,000 is not a small number, and it’s even worse if you come from underdeveloped countries like India, where that same amount can cost up to 14 lakh. Which is a massive amount for small to medium-class families. So yeah, always have high hopes that the cost of education in USA will be Higher!
Top USA University List for International Students in 2025
There is no shortage of prestigious universities in the US. So it’ll be pointless to rank each one, since it’s not the prestige that matters; it’s the need of the student. Based on your major and expectations, some typical public universities will be the best choice. So, here’s a list of seven such universities, which are known to foster a big and reputable audience of international students in the USA:
- New York University (NYU)
- Located in the heart of New York City, it hosts one of the largest populations of students, including international students.
- Top contender for arts, social science, law, and business students.
- Private Research University.
- Northeastern University (Boston)
- Located in Boston, this university harbors a large co-op student population across technical-related fields. And yes, this includes a large enough population of international students too.
- Top contender for engineering, health science, and computer science.
- Private Research University.
- Columbia University
- One of the top eight universities in the Ivy League, known for its excellent academic performance across many programs.
- Top contender for science and journalism students.
- Private Research University.
- Arizona State University (ASU)
- One of the largest campuses in the USA, offering a plethora of programs at an affordable cost for both inside and outside students.
- Top contender for science and journalism students.
- Public Research University.
- University of Southern California (USC)
- Located in Downtown LA, USC harbors a wide population of students who have talents for cinematography and acting.
- Top contender for the filmmaking field.
- Private Research University.
- Boston University (BU)
- One of the best universities in USA for international students.
- Top contender for science-related fields.
- Private Research University.
- Purdue University
- One of the best universities in USA that focuses on land-grant studies and is known throughout the world for its top-class engineering courses.
- Top contender for agriculture, aerospace, and other engineering sources
- Private Research University.
These were only a few of the many prestigious universities in the USA. You may ask, why haven’t we mentioned Harvard or Oxford? Well, they don’t cost cheap, and as for the international students, it’s nearly impossible to land a scholarship on those campuses unless they are some kind of prodigies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What are the masters tuition fees in USA for international students?
Ans. The typical cost for a master's in the USA will cost anywhere between $20K to $50K. This cost is the same for both national and international students, so there is no competition there.
Q2. Are USA international school better than Indian international schools?
Ans. At the end of the day, it all depends on how thick your wallet is. If your parents can afford it, surely the USA International School will be the best choice on the basis of curriculum alone. And if we are talking about the studies, there is no one-word answer for it.
Q3. How much does it cost to study in America?
Ans. If we are talking about the average cost of everything, it will be around $30K-$40K. But factors like scholarships, green cards, and other schemes can significantly take it down to a mere $5K-$10K, or even less.
Q4. What are the top public universities in USA for international students?
Ans. The University of California, the University of Washington, and Purdue University are among the top public universities in USA for international students.
Q5. Are there any cheap and best universities in USA?
Ans. The California State University in San Bernardino is known for its affordable tuition fees across the nation. Up to 55% of the students avoid paying tuition fees altogether thanks to the green cards of their parents.
