If you must break the bank to pay for education, then it has to be worth it. Studying in the U.S. is not Cheap you’d probably have discovered that, but it is worth every penny. When you check the list of top universities in the world you find so many universities like Harvard, Princeton University, Yale University and so many others mentioned. Top universities in the US are known for their quality education, which is evident in the students studying in the US and the quality of Alumni they have produced over the years.
Thousands of students from around the world each year apply to different universities in the U.S., although not every student is eligible or is able to afford studies in the U.S. A study shows that an international student will spend at least $33,000 yearly for four years course program in the U.S. for private Universities. Note that this amount can change over time and so many factors affect the amount a student pays for a course program in the U.S.
Top Universities in the US and the Average Tuition per year
Princeton University – average tuition of 44,000 USD/year
Harvard University – tuition between 5,500 – 33,000 USD/year
The University of Chicago – tuition between 13,500 – 39,500 USD/year
Yale University – tuition between 22,000 – 46,000 USD/year
Columbia University – tuition between 23,000 – 59,000 USD/year
The following American universities have some of the most affordable tuition fees:
The City University of New York (CUNY)
California State University Long Beach
Western Kentucky University
South Texas College
Average Tuition Fee of Top Ten Public Universities
University Name
In-state students
Out-state students
University of California, Los Angeles
$13,611
$43,01
University of Michigan, Ann-Arbor
$15,761
$15,761
University of California, Berkeley
$14,170
$42,184
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
$9,005
$34,588
University of California, Davis
$14,419
$42,433
University of California, San Diego
$14,018
$42,032
Purdue University
$9,992
$28,794
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
$17,293
$34,719
University of Virginia
$16,155
$47,650
University of Washington
$10,974
$35,538
Read Also: Financial Aid For International Students in the US
Average Tuition Fee of Top Ten Public Universities
University Name
Average Yearly Tuition Fee
Harvard University
$46,340
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
$49,892
Yale University
$53,395
Columbia University
$51,640
California Institute of Technology
$49,908
Stanford University
$49,617
Brown University
$55,554
Princeton University
$49,055
Dartmouth College
$51,468
Duke University
$51,720
Average Yearly Tuition Fee for Ten Most Popular Programs in the United States
Program
Number of International Students
Average Yearly Tuition Fee
Engineering
201,145
$32,000
Business Administration
200,312
$56,000
Computer Science
107,682
$25,000
Visual & Applied Arts
59,736
$22,000
Social Sciences
52,568
$32,000
Liberal Arts & Sciences
50,360
$20,000
Intensive English
40,887
$10,000
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
40,184
$20,000
Mathematics
33,969
$23,000
Health Professionals
33,947
$50,000
Cost of Living in the U.S. as an International Student
So many factors affect the cost of living in the U.S. for international students. Let’s start with factors that cannot be controlled by students such as the cost of foodstuff in the market, or the cost of housing in different areas of a city or state in the U.S.
Students pay accommodation costs of $450 – $1500 every month. However, the amount spent on accommodation can be halved or reduced when you share an apartment. You can share an apartment on or off campus. The cost of accommodation provided by the school is cheaper compared to the amount you pay for a house outside the school.
Top States and Cities in the U.S. and their Cost for Rent
State
Number of International Students
Major City
Average Monthly Cost of Living in the US(rent excluded)
California
200,000
San Francisco
$1,243.56
New York
170,000
New York City
$1,445.25
Texas
140,000
Austin
$1,009.87
Massachusetts
80,000
Boston
$1,148.53
Illinois
78,000
Chicago
$972.97
Pennsylvania
70,000
Philadelphia
$1,200.26
Florida
69,000
Orlando
$937.33
Ohio
60,000
Cleveland
$987.10
Michigan
57,000
Detroit
$951.13
Indiana
50,000
Indianapolis
$949.94
Other Expenses to Consider
Aside from the accommodation, and tuition fees, there are still lots of things that would demand your money such as feeding, transportation, books, clothing, and health costs. For transport, it is advisable to look for houses close to your school or better still stay in on-campus hostels.
This way, it will be easier for you to commute to school on foot or with your bicycle which is the best way to save cost. Transportation will cost anywhere from $500 – $1,200 a month depending on the distance.
Feeding is another expense to consider, the average cost of feeding for one person is $2,500 per month. Below is a table showing the other expenses and costs to study in the U.S.
Expenses
Average yearly cost
Books and Stationery
$500- $1000
Traveling
$500- $1200
Food
$2500
Clothes and footwear
$500
Miscellaneous expenses
$2000
