The cost of studying at a university in the United States
This guide outlines the cost of fees, accommodation, lifestyle and financial assistance options for international students planning to study in the United States. This is how much it costs to study in the US.
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How much does it cost to study in America? If you are interested in studying in the United States, one of the most important things you need to consider is how much university is going to cost. This essential guide breaks down the cost of every aspect of university life in the US to make sure you have everything covered.
Note that the prices and exchange rates are correct at the time of publication and may vary from those shown here. All of the costs stated here in US dollars.
How much are tuition fees in the US?
The US is one of the world’s most popular destinations for higher education – and also one of the most expensive. Although the initial pricing may cause a sharp intake of breath, it is worth exploring all avenues of funding and financial aid before ruling the country out.
Tuition fees range from $5,000 to $50,000 per year. Most undergraduate degrees last four years.
American universities differentiate between in-state and out-of-state students when calculating tuition fees. A typical four-year public college charged in-state students $10,200 per year while out-of-state students were charged $26,290. There are private non-profit colleges too, which charge $35,800 on average. These include universities such as Harvard, Stanford and Yale, renowned for having some of the best law schools in the US.
How much does student accommodation cost in the US?
In general, university towns in the Midwest region of the US have lower living costs, whereas the East, North East and West Coast are more expensive. The average apartment starts at $500 per month (a one-bedroom apartment in a rural area) and goes up to $3,500 (or even more) a monthm(a one-bedroom apartment in a built-up city).
On-campus accommodation is typically in dormitories, with two or three people per room. Residents share bathrooms, toilets and showers.
On-campus dormitory rooms in the US averaged between $5,300 and $8,100 a year including all utilities and housing-related costs. The lowest prices will be found at the two-year public colleges, and the highest at the private non-profit four-year institutions.
There may specific calculators for adding up accommodation and tuition fee estimations on each university website.
How much does it cost to live in the US?
Internet provision costs roughly between $35-$70 per month, and household and monthly phone bills are around $50. Petrol costs around $0.98 per litre. Some cities and towns may offer a monthly public transport pass which can cost between $20-$60 and some areas offer discounted prices for students. The average cost of books and academic supplies per academic year is $1,170 or $390 per semester.
Another compulsory cost to consider is the student visa to study in the US. The F1 visa, which is the most common visa for students costs $510 per application. The application can be a long process and is best started about three-five months before the semester begins.
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What other costs are there for students?
Utilities may or may not be included in the price of rented accommodation but electricity is about $50-120 per month and heating is $50-120 per month. The costs of heating and electricity do vary across the states, so it's always worth looking up average prices of the state you are choosing to study in while creating your monthly budget.
Water, sewerage and rubbish collection contributions may be paid by the landlord, but if that responsibility lies with the tenant this will amount to $50-75 every three months.
Weekly groceries in the US cost between $20 and $70 per person depending on diet – the price of fresh fruit and vegetables varies considerably throughout the country. Some meals are included with the price of university accommodation (many prices will be room and board – which includes some meals or meal plan cards).
A meal in a restaurant costs about $20 and a trip to the cinema is about $12. A Big Mac from McDonald’s is $5.58.
The average monthly gym membership is $60. A bottle of wine costs about $15 and a pint of beer costs $6-7. Prices for a night out depend on the state and the activity, but the average event-goer in the US spends an average $80 per night depending on where you are going and the activity you've chosen to do.
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What financial support is available to international students in the US?
The cost of studying in the US can seem extortionate but it’s important to look at the difference between the “sticker” price (what is advertised on university websites) and what students actually pay, once all sources of funding have been considered. It's good to remember that approximately 85 per cent of full-time undergraduate students at four-year public universities and 89 per cent at private non-profit universities benefited from some type of financial aid.
More often than not, the most prestigious universities in the US, with the highest “sticker” prices, give students the widest range of funding opportunities. For example, some 91 per cent of students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology receive financial aid.
Financial aid comes in many formats: scholarships, grants, assistantships and work-study schemes. Some of these might be possible only for US citizens but there are many financial aid opportunities for international students too. For example, the University of Pennsylvania includes students from Canada and Mexico in its needs-blind financial policy, meaning the institution will ensure that admitted students from these countries are given any and all the financial support they need to fund their studies.
Funding information is available on each university’s website and financial aid should be applied for at the same time as a university place. For more information on scholarships visit our page on scholarships for international students looking to study in the United States.
Several high-ranking universities in the US operate a “needs-blind” admission policy, meaning the financial background of potential students is disregarded during the admission process and the university promises to financially support students so every successful applicant can attend.
There are also a few well-known government-funded US scholarship programmes for international students, for example, the Fulbright Foreign Student Program and the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program.
Once a student has arrived at their university in the US there are also many ways in which they can keep costs down while they study abroad. As long as you have a valid student ID, you may be eligible for 10-50 per cent discounts on clothing, cinema tickets, museum entry, Greyhound coach travel and Airbnb stays.
Read more in this series
The cost of studying at a university in Japan
The cost of studying at a university in the UK
The cost of studying at a university in Germany
The cost of studying at a university in Canada
The cost of studying at a university in France
The cost of studying at a university in Australia
The cost of studying at a university in the Netherlands
The cost of studying at a university in New Zealand
The cost of studying at a university in China
The cost of studying at a university in Brazil
