Millions of students around the world dream of studying an undergraduate degree in the US. There are a lot of famous universities and colleges to choose from. Improving their future prospects, getting a high quality higher education, and access to better opportunities are just some of the reasons why so many students want to study at a university in the US.

But to get the best quality product you usually have to pay a high price. US colleges are some of the most expensive colleges in the world, but still millions of international students apply every year. How do you find an affordable university in USA for international students?

So, how much does an international student pay to study in the US? The annual cost of studying here can reach up to five figures.

Most colleges don’t have a standardized government fee system. It mostly depends on the college and the course you choose.

There are multiple types of institutions available for undergraduate students in the US such as community colleges, private colleges, and public colleges. Most international students study at public and private colleges rather than community colleges.

Private colleges are the costliest of them all. On average public colleges charge between $15,000 and $45,000 and private colleges charge from $30,000 to $75,000 per year.

Tuition Fees:

Private universities charge more tuition fees as compared to public universities and community colleges. Unfortunately, in most cases, there is no such thing as cheap tuition for international students.

Public colleges get their funding mostly from the state government and private colleges get their funding from private organizations and donations. Community colleges or two year colleges also usually get their funding from the government just like public colleges.

Subjects like the arts, education, and humanities tend to be less expensive than engineering, medical, dentistry, and other similar subjects.

Higher courses like masters are usually more expensive than undergraduate courses. The college tuition fees depend on the college or course that you are planning to pursue. They differ from college to college. However, international students almost always pay significantly more in university fees than American students.

Undergraduate Courses:

The cost of undergraduate degrees in the US varies greatly between institutions, and it is even higher for international students. International students pay $15,000-$35,000 per year at a public university and $30,000-$45,000 at private colleges on average. The cost can reach up to $40,000-$55,000 per year for some private colleges.

Postgraduate Courses:

All the fees depend on degree program and the courses that you choose. In general, a Ph.D. or master’s courses will cost less than the MBA, JD, or MD courses. International students usually pay $15,000-$35,000 for public colleges and $30,000-$50.000 for private colleges per year.

Accommodation Costs:

Most colleges offer their international students on-campus residence. The residence is often called a “dorm room” or dormitory. Students usually share a room with 2 or 3 other students. Colleges provide daily essentials like water, electricity, and the internet. Students also share bathrooms, showers, and so on. It depends on the college how much they charge for on-campus accommodation. On average this is between $5000-$8000 per year.

However, you can choose to stay at a non-campus residence as well. You can share an apartment with other students or you can live alone as well. The rent depends on the area you are staying in. The Midwest region is cheaper than the East and Northeast in the US. But, you have to pay your electricity, internet, and water bills along with the rent and living costs. The usual rate for a single bedroom apartment is between $5,000-$15,000 per year – depending on the apartment and location.

Living Expenses:

It will be a good idea to make some savings for your daily and basic needs like emergencies, shopping, groceries, food, water, clothes, books, and study materials. When you live or study abroad you should track even your smallest expenses. This will help you to keep an eye on your overall expenses and you can save or set a budget for a period.

A good estimate would be $5,000-$12,000 per year for international students. The cost of living might vary where you are staying.

Student Visa:

A student visa is mandatory for all international students. It can be a long process as well. As an international student, you have to apply and get accepted by a Student and Visitor Exchange Program (SEVP) certified college. After the approval process, you will receive the I-20 from where all of your information will be recorded.

Visa applicants have to pay a non-refundable fee. All students are categorized as F, M, or J, depending on their courses, merit, and colleges. They have to pay $350 as a SEVP fee and a visa application fee of $160.

Health Insurance:

Staying so far away from your home can be hard. Thousands of international students get injured or need medical attention throughout their courses. Student health insurance provides international students with financial support in these kinds of situations. International students must have proof of health insurance to get admission to most US universities and colleges. Without health insurance, international students can not apply for US colleges.

Under the age of 25, international students can expect to pay $30-$140 for health insurance per month depending on the college and the health insurance package.

Transportation:

Usually, the most affordable universities and colleges provide dormitories to their international students. When you stay inside the college campus you won’t be using transportation too much, unless you are going somewhere off-campus. However, if you choose to live outside of the college campus, you will need transportation. Luckily, in the US transportation costs are not that high, and there are multiple options to choose from. You can get cabs, trains, and buses or you can use vehicle rental facilities.

Bus and train passes cost around $30-$50 per month for students. For additional expenses, you can expect to pay around $100-$120 per month in your total transportation. However, that cost mostly depends on where you are staying.

In summary:

Yes, it is costly to study in the US. International students pay around total $20,000-$60,000 per year depending on the university and the course. It is a lot of money but there are various options and opportunities available for international students. You can get the facilities of international student financial aid, international scholarships, international student loans, and help from private and government organizations as well.

#USA #studyinUSA #Bachelors #Masters #studyvisa

So is it easy to get a study visa in the USA is one major query which arises among international students, and the answer to this question is that it’s not difficult to get a student visa in the US especially for Nepalese students till the time their paperwork and applications are complete and they ace their interviews. US study visa includes three broad types – one for studying at the university level, the second is the exchange level program visa and the third one is for vocational education, that is, F, J and M student visas in the US respectively. The timeline for application assessment for each of these student visas varies.

F1 Student Visa

Students applying for a program that requires more than 18 hours of study in a week require an F1 visa in USA. This includes all undergraduate programs as well as graduate programs like MS in the US or MBA in the USA.

Spouses or children accompanying F-1 visa recipients will travel on an F-2 visa. Please note that spouses are not able to work but may accompany and/or apply for their own visa to the U.S. to work or study.

Cost of Student Visa in the USA

There are two fees associated with for F1 student visa for the USA

• SEVIS fee which is at present at $350, US student visa fees in Nepalese rupees is approximately Nrs. 46549.
• Visa Application Fee (MRV Fee) which is at present $160 equals Nrs. 21279.

*Spouses and dependents do not need to pay the SEVIS fee if they are going to the U.S. on F-2 or J-2 visas.

**MRV is Machine Readable Visa Fee, or in layman’s terms is an application fee. In order to appear for a student visa interview to study in the US, it is mandatory for international students to carry along with them the MRV receipt.

Documents Required for F1 Student Visa Application:

USA Study Visa Process: You need the mandatory documents along with supporting documents of financial and academic records. Make sure you refer to this checklist before going to the consulate for the visa interview.

• A valid passport with a validity date of at least six months beyond your period of stay.
• A printed copy of DS-160, the online application form
• SEVIS Fee Receipt
• Interview appointment letter (original and copy)
• Form I-20 sent by the college (where you are going to study)
• Visa fees payment confirmation receipt
• Bank statement for at least three years showing that you have enough assets to pay for the first year (could be of parent or guardian)
• Pay/salary slips
• Original mark sheets/provisional certificates
• Score sheet of exams like TOEFL or IELTS as ELP proofs along with either ACT or SAT for UG admissions or GMAT or GRE for PG admissions.
• Financial Documents are required to show financial strength to support education in the USA.

For the USA, students need to show proof of the number of funds they need to cover the first year’s total expenses. It includes tuition fees, living expenses, and other expenses (like books). Apart from this, students also need to show proof of the readily available funds for the rest of the tenure of their education.

Evidence of Financial Resources Required for F1 Visa:

• Tax returns for the past 3 years
• Bank statements/passbook for the past 3 years
• Original pay/salary slips and letters of employment
• Statement from certified CA
• Scholarship letter (If the applicant has received it)
• The loan approval letter by the bank or the concerned authority

How to Apply for US Student Visa (F1 Visa)?

There are several steps to apply for a USA Study Visa:

• Your visa process starts when you receive Form I-20 from your college. Though you can pay the SEVIS fee anytime during the application, it is strongly recommended that you pay the SEVIS I-901 fee before you start your US visa application.
• After paying the SEVIS fee and getting a receipt, you can apply for a DS-160 visa form. It is an online application form.
• Print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
• Schedule a Biometric appointment and Interview appointment.
• For the Biometric appointment, you will be required to appear in person to get your photograph clicked for the visa and get your fingerprints scanned.
• At the Personal interview, the interviewer will ask you questions about your choice, of course, college, finances, and intent of coming back. If s/he is convinced, they will keep your passport with them to get the visa stamped.

Remember, F1 student visas can be issued up to 120 days before the starting date of your course of study. However, you will not be allowed to enter the United States on F1 status earlier than 30 days before your start date.

Dependents

• Spouses and children under the age of 21 who wish to accompany the applicant in the US for the duration of his or her stay require F2 or M2 visas. A spouse on F2 status cannot enrol for a full course of study but can attend classes that are vocational or recreational in nature like pursuing a hobby or interest, such as cooking or tennis. Children on F2 status are allowed to attend elementary, middle, or high school as full-time students. They may not enrol in a full-time course of study at a college or university.

• The spouse and children of students cannot accept employment at any time during their stay period on the F2 Visa.

Additional Information

• F1 visa holders are eligible for up to 12 months of OPT (optional practical training) on completion of graduation. That means you can work for a year after you finish your studies. STEM can apply for 24 months of OPT extension.It is a temporary employment permission giving students the opportunity to gain practical experience in their field of study. After that, you will be required to apply for a work visa if you have to continue working in the US. You can remain in the US up to 60 days after the completion of your course even if you don’t have a job offer or haven’t applied for OPT.

Intakes in USA:

• There are three main intakes in USA: Summer, Spring and Fall. Spring intake happens in January, Summer in May, and Fall intake starts in September.