Study and Research Opportunities in United States

Long and short-term academic programs are available in the United States across many universities and educational centers. International students and researchers may apply to BA, MA, Ph.D., and postdoctoral research programs in the United States. Moreover, summer schools and conferences are other excellent academic activities that make the United States an attractive destination for scholars and scientists. Many programs also come with fully-funded scholarships and fellowships as well as travel grants and financial aid, thus every student, researcher, and professor can always find a suitable program in the United States and apply.

Scholarships in the U.S.

Fellowships in the U.S.

Grants and Awards in the U.S.

Summer Programs in the U.S.

The U.S. as an academic destination

The U.S. is a home country to the most popular cities and spots we've seen in the movies. It is a country of unlimited opportunities, where the majority of people dream of appearing to strike their career and reach their dream life. The U.S. is also the magnet of international students. The best and the most popular educational institutions are located here and dictate the education system and approach to the rest of the world. 

This section of ARMACAD will guide you through the country's main studying opportunities, and many of the universities that might sound only like a dream for you might become your next academic year's reality. 

The number of international students in the country is rising rapidly. In the mid-1950s, there were about 35,000 international students in the country, while currently, this number is above 1,000,000 and still promises to increase. International students chase thousands of academic programs, and flexible education system in the top-ranked universities of the U.S. U.S. is so popular with its universities that universities occupy roughly half of the top 10 global universities' list. 

There are different types of higher educational institutions in the U.S.:

  • Universities
  • Community Colleges
  • Private non-profit U.S. universities
  • Liberal arts colleges
  • For-profit U.S. universities and colleges

Universities in the U.S.

The Ivy League is enough to describe the structure and popularity of U.S. universities. The League contains 8 of the most prestigious and highly-ranked universities in the country, in particular: 

Those and other public universities in the U.S. usually have the sponsorship of public-sector funding, which is implemented by the state government. Therefore, despite tuition fees might seem huge to you, consult with your accepted university admissions or another dedicated department for the education funding opportunities you might have. 

For international students, U.S. public university fees may be very expensive. However, compared to the fees of other higher educational institutions in the U.S., where education is one of the most affordable ones. Note that for in-state and international students, there are different rates. 

Community colleges

You might also meet community colleges under the title junior colleges. Those educational institutions are also state-funded. However, they do not offer a full range of academic degrees to students. Community colleges are often called two-year colleges as they usually provide undergraduate education: associate's degree. 

Community colleges are grouped under separate systems, the largest of which is California Community Colleges System (CCCS). Also, ARMACAD has previously discussed the difference between the colleges and universities, which might interest you. 

Private non-profit U.S. universities

While pubic universities have lower fees, private ones are the most frequently chosen universities in the U.S. by international students. That's because more of them are included in the top international rankings. Therefore, they have a high demand from the perspective of students. 

Still, don't miss an opportunity to check for the scholarships, and don't skip the university just because its fee is not affordable. Many of the private universities' academic programs appear to be very inexpensive if the student manages to benefit from a scholarship. 

Liberal arts colleges

Liberal arts colleges are the type of university that traditionally were the most popular in the country and are focused on quality teaching, leading to students' individual development. Here, you can receive education on liberal arts and sciences, mostly on the undergraduate level. 

For-profit U.S. universities and colleges

For-profit universities chase business goals. In parallel, they want to ensure students receive a high-quality education in exchange for the financial resources they pay for these educational institutions. Following the constant critique of such kinds of colleges, their enrollment has declined a bit. However, their role is still important, backed up by significant demand from the students. 

Student expenses in the U.S.

This section discusses U.S. tuition fees that are paid purely by the resources of students. Before you move on to the presented prices, here is a reminder to double-check both scholarships in this section and funding opportunities provided by your chosen university. 

You might find different tuitions for the same academic program in different universities, which does not necessarily mean that the quality is proportional to the quantity of education it provides. 

Usually, the tuition for the undergraduate academic year varies between 10,000-30,000 USD, and the fees for graduate programs are 15,000-55,000 USD in the U.S. As already mentioned, there may be higher rates for international students in public universities compared to the domestic ones. However, private universities have the same fee for everyone. 

Some of the most prestigious universities in the USA mentioned above might charge up to 50,000 USD for undergraduate and 120,000 USD for graduate studies. 

Not only tuition fees but also living costs are expensive in the U.S., especially if you live in large, popular American cities. Particularly, in metropolitan countries like New York, Chicago, or San Francisco, annual living costs may reach 18,000 USD a year. More affordable and smaller cities cost up to 12,000 USD a year.

Student visa to the U.S.

Getting a visa for the U.S. is a desirable event for many so that in many countries, people will congratulate you if you inform them you have been granted a visa to the U.S. Receiving a student visa is a more straightforward process. However, it's still complicated and time-consuming compared to visa procedures in other, mainly European countries.

The first different thing, you should apply significantly earlier than you will arrive in the U.S. The student visa is granted no earlier than 120 days before starting your studies, and you are allowed to travel to the country no earlier than 30 days before the courses start.

Each country has its different policies for applying for a U.S. visa. The majority, however, apply for an F-1 type of visa, which is the most popular non-immigrant visa for those who wish to conduct studies in the country.

Before you apply for the visa, make sure to have the university's acceptance letter, as it's the main proof of your goals in the country. After that, you will pay around 200$ to complete the second required step: registration with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. There is also a step for the interview in the American embassy of your country. 

More detailed information on how to receive a U.S. student visa is available at the U.S. Department of State - Student Visas.

We hope this section of ARMACAD will help you reach the places you always wanted to.