The United States is both the most popular international student destination and one of the most popular and expensive education systems in the world. Is this, however, true?
To answer the question “How much does it cost to study in the US”, IDP would like to share the General Guide to Studying Abroad in the US 2020-2021. Hopefully, these posts will help you get a sense of what’s going on. What kind of study abroad fees would you have to pay if you study in the United States?
- Tuition fees to study in the US
- Fee for US student visa and fingerprinting
- Admission application fee
- Translation fee
- Insurance fee
- Housing Costs in the US
- Cost of Living in the US
Items from 1 to 5 are the costs you need to prepare before you go to study in the US.
Tuition fees to study in the US
Tuition rates will vary depending on the study program, level of study, and city you choose. In general, American public schools will have a much lighter cost of studying abroad than private schools.
In addition, if you attend the “Top” schools, the tuition will also be more expensive. Below is the US tuition fee table for your reference.
| US tuition fees | ||
| Level of study | Study time | Tuition |
| English | Depending on request | 3,200 – 3,500 USD/month |
| High school | 4 years | 20,000 – 50,000 USD/year |
| Community college | 2 years | 7,000 – 12,000 USD/year |
| Bachelor | 4 years | 12,000 – 50,000 USD/year |
| Master | 1 – 2 years | 15,000 – 35,000 USD/year |
To lower the expense of studying in the US, you can enroll in a two-year Community College program instead of a four-year Bachelor degree, which has an average tuition fee of roughly $ 26,290/year at US public schools (approximately 615 million VND/year, according to College Board 2018-2019).
You can also apply for scholarships to study in the United States. With 50 years of experience as a study abroad consultant around the world, IDP is the unit that manages and coordinates many major studies abroad scholarship programs from partner schools.
You can contact IDP to get the most up-to-date list of scholarships for studying in the United States. Experienced experts will also assist you in completing your US student visa application for free!
Fee for US student visa and fingerprinting.
When you are accepted by the university, the school will send you an I-20 form for you to expedite your application for a Student Visa (F1).
US student visa application fee from 510 USD or more, including interview fee and security fee for International Students (SEVIS I-901 Fee)
Admission application fee.
Depending on the school you choose, the application fee will vary, averaging about 100 USD or some schools will be free.
Translation fee.
The cost of translating US study documents is approximately 800,000 VND per set. This charge, however, is waived if you apply directly to IDP.
In order to create conditions for students to study abroad in the US successfully at the most economical cost, IDP always has attractive incentive programs when applying to IDP, including: Free translation, free of charge counseling, scholarship hunting guidance, support in making US student visa applications, practice classes for visa interviews, support for booking airline tickets at preferential prices… (Conditional application and subject to change promotion period, please contact IDP for more details).
Insurance fees
The cost of medical examinations in the US is quite expensive, so you need to buy insurance when studying in the US. Insurance for international students is quite diverse from basic to advanced, averaging about 2,000 USD/year.
Cost of housing in the US.
Dormitories, rental apartments, and homestays are three popular types of lodging for international students in the United States. Costs will also vary depending on the type of housing and the city. If you choose a school in a bustling urban region, such as New York or Washington, D.C., the rent will almost certainly be higher than in a small city.
If staying in a dormitory gives you convenience and security because it is located on campus, staying at a Homestay with a local will help you absorb the American way of life in the most natural way.
However, if you have a high degree of independence and freedom, you can find someone to rent an apartment with and share space with. Here are some housing fees for your reference.
| Cost of housing in the US | |
| Type of housing | Average costs |
| Dormitory (including accommodation costs) | 12,000 – 20,000 USD/year |
| Rental apartments | 400 – 1,000 USD/month |
| Homestays | 10,000 – 20,000 USD/year |
Cost of living in the US
- Food costs: 300-500 USD/month
Meals for overseas students typically cost between $300 and $500 USD a month. Fast food restaurant chains are chosen by many international students because of their convenience and fast, affordable prices. To ensure hygiene and adequate nutrition, you should also go to the market and prepare at home.
- Travel expenses: 50-100 USD/month
In terms of transportation, each state has a public transportation system. In general, buses are the easiest and cheapest means of transport. You can buy bus tickets by the week or by the month.
If traveling by taxi, choose reputable car companies to avoid high price differences. Or, you can go to school by bicycle to exercise and reduce traffic jams.
- Internet, electricity, phone: from 20 USD/month
If you stay in a dormitory or homestay, most of the electricity, water, and internet bills are included in the rent. However, if you live alone, it will cost you about 20-60 USD/month for this expense.
The cost of entertainment and shopping is about 50-100 USD/month. Take advantage of student deals and only buy things you really need.
| Cost of living in the US | |
| Subsistence items | Average costs |
| Food | 300 – 500 USD/month |
| Travel | 50 – 100 USD/month |
| Internet, electricity, phone | 20 USD/month |
| Shopping | 100 USD/month |
| Book | 1,000 – 2,000 USD/year |
| Entertainment | 50 – 100 USD/month |
Free support from IDP
IDP understands the difficulties of students and parents when preparing a study abroad application and many questions need to be answered. There are deadlines you need to keep in mind, so you don’t miss any chance of applying to school. If you are planning to study in the US in the near future, contact our consultants who will be happy to answer all your questions.
Free support services from IDP include:
- Free consultation to study in the US, saving solution
- Advice on choosing the right school & course
- Introducing American scholarships that match your ability.
- Support in applying for admission, tracking progress and receiving confirmation letters from the school
- Practice interview, complete US student visa application for free with a high success rating
- Advice on accommodation, financial planning, booking air tickets, equipping skills before you leave.