Destinations · United States

The biggest choice of universities, at the biggest price

The United States has more universities, more research funding and more scholarships than any other country, and a US degree is respected worldwide. It is also the most expensive choice, and the one where rules change most often. During 2026 the rules changed on how long students can stay, what they must disclose, and what work after study may cost. Choose the right programme with funding, rather than a famous name.

AugustJanuary Last checked: November 2026

The facts, as of November 2026

Intakes
August · January
English
Universities set the requirement, usually TOEFL iBT 80 to 100 or IELTS 6.5 to 7.0 for a master’s, and many accept Duolingo. There is no separate English test for the visa, but you must be able to speak for yourself at the visa interview. Check per course.
Tuition
USD 25,000 to 60,000 per yearEstimate as of November 2026. The College Board’s 2025-26 averages are USD 31,880 for out-of-state students at public universities, which is the rate international students pay, and USD 45,000 at private non-profit universities. Master’s fees range from about USD 20,000 at state universities to well over USD 60,000 at the most selective private ones.
Living
USD 15,000 to 25,000 per yearEstimate as of November 2026, in line with the College Board’s full-cost budgets of USD 50,920 for public out-of-state students and USD 65,470 for private universities, once tuition is removed. Large coastal cities cost more, and college towns cost less.
Work during study
Up to 20 hours a week on campus while classes are in session; off-campus work is not allowed in the first academic year except in approved hardship cases, and later only through CPT or OPT (Study in the States, as of November 2026).
After you graduate
Optional Practical Training gives up to 12 months of work after graduation, with a 24-month extension for STEM degrees. In October 2026 DHS proposed, but has not yet finalised, fees of USD 70,000 for initial OPT and USD 30,000 for any later OPT, so check the status of the rule before you rely on OPT (USCIS and DHS, as of November 2026).

F-1 student visa

  • •Fees, as of November 2026: the SEVIS I-901 fee of USD 350, paid at fmjfee.com once your I-20 arrives, and the USD 185 visa application (MRV) fee. A further USD 250 visa integrity fee became law in July 2025; check the embassy fee page for whether it is being collected when you apply.
  • •Since 15 September 2026, students are admitted for a fixed period matching the I-20 programme length, up to four years, plus 30 days, instead of an open-ended 'duration of status'. Staying longer needs an extension application.
  • •All F, M and J applicants must list five years of social media handles on the DS-160 and set their profiles to public for vetting (US Department of State).
  • •You need an I-20 from a SEVP-certified school and must show funds for at least the first year. The interview decides the outcome, and refusals happen even with an admission letter.
  • •Apply early, because interview appointments in India fill up quickly between May and July.
Official visa page

What studying here is like

American universities offer choice: thousands of institutions, flexible course selection, research labs with large budgets, and a full campus life. Teaching is interactive, grades come from continuous assessment, and professors expect you to take part. The size of the system is both the attraction and the risk, because an average university in a small town can cost as much as an excellent one. Indian students are one of the largest international groups in the country, so you will find a community almost everywhere, from Texas to New Jersey.

How the journey works

Tell us where you want to study, and we will talk about funding before we talk about universities, because in the United States the two cannot be separated. Shortlisting starts about 18 months ahead. Applications for an August start are due between December and March, with the GRE or GMAT where they are required. The documents are transcripts, an English test, a statement of purpose, three references and a CV. Decisions arrive in March and April. Once you accept and show funds for the first year, the university issues your I-20. You then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 with your social media history, pay the visa fee and book an interview, ideally by June. The interview is short and it decides the outcome. You arrive in August, with orientation, a bank account, and a social security number only if you have campus work.

Money, honestly

Two years of a US master’s usually cost USD 80,000 to 160,000 in total. The headline tuition leaves out health insurance of a few thousand dollars a year, compulsory campus fees, textbooks, a car in most college towns, and flights home. The figures above are averages. The real question is how much of the cost is removed by a scholarship, a teaching or research assistantship, or a cheaper public university. Twenty hours a week on campus covers food and a share of the rent, and no more. Watch the proposed OPT fees as well. If they are confirmed, the value of working after study changes completely.

Our honest take

Choose the United States if you are a strong STEM or business candidate with funding or a substantial scholarship, you understand the rules on status and work, and you can do well in a large and competitive system. Think twice if the plan depends on a loan plus income from OPT, if a single visa refusal would end your plans, or if you are drawn by the name of a city rather than the strength of a department. The United States remains an excellent choice for students who are well funded and well prepared, and a difficult one for everyone else.

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Sources

Figures are estimates, checked November 2026. Rules and fees change; the official pages above are always right when we disagree.

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