COST OF STUDYING IN THE U.S.A

Studying in the United States is very expensive. Annually, cost of attendance at U.S. colleges and universities ranges from $12,000 to $60,000. Here, is the finances broken down into parts to help you understand the true costs involved in studying in the United States.

Tuition: $3,000 - $40,000

The cost for tuition is the cost for the education provided. There is a vast difference in price when you compare $3,000 to $40,000. The tuition fee differs from one institution to another. There are two types of colleges in the United States: public colleges and private colleges. Public colleges are subsidized by the state and they are a lot cheaper in price. Public colleges have two kinds of tuition fee structures, namely the instate tuition fee and the out-of-state tuition fee. Students who are residents of that particular state pay the instate fee (lower in cost); others, including international students pay the out-of-state fee (higher in cost). Private colleges operate with student tuition money as well as funds from other sources; therefore they tend to be more expensive than public colleges. However, it is important to note that the competitive private colleges provide higher amounts of scholarships than their public counterparts. High quality education can be found at both private and public colleges.

Room and Board $4,000 - $12,000

Expenditure for your accommodation and food will depend primarily on which part of the United States you will live in. In general terms, the east coast and the west coast are expensive places to live when compared to the central area of the United States. Understandably, living costs will automatically rise if you live in big cities. If you are going to live in a rural or a small town area, your living cost will be significantly less. The college website will tell you exactly where the college is located, which will help you determine your living expenses.

Books and Supplies $500 - $1,000

Books in the United States are expensive (a single book can cost over $100!), and students are required to buy their text books. The college will estimate your cost of books for that particular semester. Some majors such as art, photography, and architecture may need additional supplies which will increase expenses when compared to other subjects.

Health Insurance $500 - $1,000

It is important to have health insurance when you get to the United States. In fact, all colleges make it mandatory for international students to have health insurance. Medical bills can be really high if you are admitted to a hospital or visit your campus health center. A one-night stay at a U.S. hospital can cost you more than $1000! If you have a health insurance, it will help you manage medical bills. It is difficult to predict your health: mishaps like an accident can take place at any time. Generally, students spend $500-$1000 per year on health insurance.

Personal Expenses $1,200 - $3,000

Personal expenses cover a variety of things. It can mean the cost for travel, laundry, telephone bills, clothes, and many more things. The amount you spend on personal expenses will of course completely depend on you and you spending habits. Sometimes students may not realize hidden costs that build up to be a large sum of money when buying basic goods.

Travel to the United States $1,000

This is the approximate cost of airfare for a one way ticket to the United States.

Now, you can see that it is expensive to study in the United States as an international student and that is why you must carefully plan your budget.