A graph from Statista showing the number of international students in the United States from 2003/04 to 2021/23.
Types of universities in the US
There is a diversity of institution types among universities in the US that students can choose from based on their needs and preferences. There are two-year associate degrees offered by community colleges, and four-year bachelor's degrees offered by liberal arts colleges and national universities.
The most common option is to attend either a liberal arts college (ex: Swarthmore, Amherst, Pomona) or a national university (ex: Harvard, MIT, UCLA) in which students can get a bachelor's degree after four years. The main difference between liberal arts colleges and national universities is that the former are private institutions that only offer undergraduate programs, while the latter can be public or private, with bachelors, masters, and phD programs. Many national universities also have several schools such as the school of engineering, school of business, etc. many of which often require additional application essays or a separate application from the main application to the university. While liberal arts colleges are all private institutions, national universities can be public or private. If you don't need a college degree and you just want an education experience that enriches your skill sets, there are additional education programs like certificate programs, extension programs, continuing education, and online schools that many traditional colleges offer as well.
On the other hand, community colleges are typically local, public colleges in which students get an associate's degree after two years. They have an open enrollment policy which means anyone can attend the school if they sign up. Some community college credits are transferable to four-year colleges, so many students choose to start at community colleges, then transfer into a four-year college in their junior year to finish their bachelor's degree. Entering a community college as an international student could be a good idea if you didn't qualify for the four-year university you desire, but still want to start studying in the US after high school. It is also a way to save money on tuition because community colleges are often much cheaper than four-year colleges. However, they don't have the same level of prestige as traditional four-year colleges.
The academic curriculum
The academic structure of universities in the U.S is often considered to be academically broader compared to other countries. Most introductory classes are open to all, which allows students to explore their interests in a variety of fields before choosing a major, or field of focus. Though many students indicate a major they wish to pursue in their college application, majors are typically not declared until the end of sophomore year. Many students choose to double major, add a minor, or even triple major when they are interested in more than one field of study. Additionally, many universities require students to take core curriculum or general education classes in addition to their major/minor curriculum, which are meant to supplement their studies with essential skills like writing and critical thinking. In sum, the undergraduate curriculum is generally composed of major/minor classes and core curriculum classes if there is one.
The college admissions process slightly varies from school to school, but for most U.S college admissions, applicants need to present a holistic application and not just their academic scores. Thus, the college application consists of multiple parts, including essays about who you are and what your interests are, a list of extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation from teachers, transcript, SAT or ACT test score, background information, and sometimes a resume as well. The SAT and ACT are standardized tests that essentially evaluate a student's readiness for college admission. International students who don't speak English as their native language likely have to take the TOEFL, IELT, or the IEPT in addition to the SAT or ACT, as justification of English proficiency. However, some schools waive this requirement for students who achieve a high SAT/ACT score, have high AP/IB test scores, or have lived in an English-speaking country for a long time.
Studying in the U.S. is notorious for being expensive. According to US News, the average price was $10,662 per year at a public institution and $42,162 per year at a private institution for 2023-2024. However, many students can apply for scholarships and financial aid. While international students are not qualified for federal or state aid, there are various institutional aid options-provided by the school-such as the International Student Financial Aid Application or CSS profile, grants and scholarships, all of which offer different amounts of financial support based on merit and need.
Bibliography
Admin. (2023, November 21). Fafsa vs. CSS vs. ISFAA. Interstride. https://interstride.com/blog/fafsa-vs-css-vs-isfaa/
How to get state and institutional financial aid. BigFuture. (n.d.). https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/get-help-paying-for-college/state-and-institutional-financial-aid#:~:text=Institutional%20financial%20aid%20is%20provided,loans%20or%20work%2Dstudy%20programs.
What international students should know about financial aid | paying for college | U.S. news. (n.d.). https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/what-international-students-should-know-about-financial-aid
YouTube. (2018, July 27). Hey international students!!! The American College System explained. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6XkuulGpbk
Higher ed: The US higher education system explained. Shorelight (n.d.). https://shorelight.com/student-stories/the-us-higher-education-system-explained/
Admissions Blog. (2016, November 14). College in the US vs. Europe. https://admissions.rochester.edu/blog/college-in-the-us-vs-europe/
See the average college tuition in 2023-2024. (n.d.-a). https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/paying-for-college-infographic