Education In USA Education in the United States
With thousands of academic programs, world-class institutions, and unmatched flexibility, the United States offers a wealth of higher-education opportunities that you will not find anywhere else in the world! EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State network of over 430 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories. The network promotes U.S. higher education to students around the world by offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States. EducationUSA also provides services to the U.S. higher education community to help institutional leaders meet their recruitment and campus internationalization goals. EducationUSA is your official source on U.S. higher education.About EducationUSA
EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State network of over 430 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories.
The network promotes U.S. higher education to students around the world by offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States. EducationUSA also provides services to the U.S. higher education community to help institutional leaders meet their recruitment and campus internationalization goals. EducationUSA centers are located in U.S. embassies and consulates, Fulbright commissions, bi-national centers, universities, and non-profit organizations.
EducationUSA Serves International Students
Each year, EducationUSA advisers respond to millions of inquiries from international students. Advisers offer a wide range of in-person and virtual services to students and their families based on Your 5 Steps to U.S. Study, a guide to navigating the U.S. higher education application process. Advisers provide information on a host of topics, including:
- The admissions process and standardized testing requirements
- How to finance a U.S. education
- The student visa process
- Preparing for departure to the United States
EducationUSA Serves the U.S. Higher Education Community
EducationUSA advisers support the international student recruitment and internationalization efforts of all accredited U.S. higher education institutions by:
- Organizing school visits and college fairs, virtual and on location
- Sharing information about foreign educational systems and scholarship programs
- Connecting U.S. and foreign educational institutions
Policies and Procedures
All centers follow EducationUSA policy guidance and the EducationUSA Advisers Principles of Good Practice.
The United States Education System
The US education system consists of 12 years of elementary and secondary education before students can advance to post-secondary education.
In the US, the school calendar begins in August or September and continues through to May or June. The majority of students begin school in autumn. The academic year is composed of three terms also known as semesters. The first semester is from September to December followed by a short holiday break between semesters. The second semester is from January to May. The last semester is a summer holiday break. Post-secondary students can be on summer break from June to August.
Elementary and Secondary (K-12) Education
Elementary and secondary school is similar across the US. However, there are minor variations from state to state. Elementary and secondary education is divided into:
- Elementary School: Runs for 6-7 years starting in Kindergarten through to Grade 5 or 6
- Middle School: Runs for 2-3 years starting in Grade 6 or 7 through to Grade 8
- High School: Runs for 4 years starting in Grade 9 through to Grade 12
Once a student has completed Grade 12, they will receive a high school diploma. Students must complete secondary school (high school) to qualify for post-secondary education. Public education in the US is generally free, however, students may come across some fees including field trips, uniforms, books, etc.
Post-Secondary Education
The US has more than 4,500 post-secondary institutions. The US is unique as their institutions are not centrally organized but are accredited on a national or regional level. There are many different types of post-secondary education systems within the US. They include:
- State College or University
- Private College or University
- Community College
- Institute of Technology
Each type of institution provides students with a unique schooling experience, giving students the flexibility to choose the path that works best for them and their career.
Public and Private
Public or state institutions are supported by state or local governments. Each state has a minimum of one state university and college. With support from the government, students are provided with an affordable post secondary option.
Private institutions are privately run and receive no funding from the government. Notoriously, private institutions have higher tuition rates. They are also smaller in size and can have religious affiliations than their public school counterparts.
Types of Post-Secondary Institutions
State College or University
State colleges offer a more affordable post-secondary route. They have often have a wide range of degree programs available. Students also have access to a vibrant campus life, extra-curricular activities, and state of the art teaching facilities. The largest public colleges in the US have over 60,000 students enrolled. Some state colleges available include:
- University of Michigan
- University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA)
- University of Virginia
- University of California - Berkeley
Private College and University
Private colleges offer students with smaller class sizes, that helps the students build a relationship with their professors and advisors. They have a smaller list of the degree programs they offer but students have the option to customize their degrees and will be part of more discussion based classes. Among the private colleges are the prestigious Ivy League.
Ivy League
The Ivy League is one of the most well-known groups of universities in the world. It consists of a group of eight historic universities. They are all located in the northeast region of the US. The Ivy League was originally formed in the 1950s as an athletic association. To this day it remains an athletic association, as well as leaders on the intellectual side. The eight schools include:
- Brown University
- Columbia University
- Cornell University
- Dartmouth University
- Harvard University
- Princeton University
- The University of Pennsylvania
- Yale University
Community College
Community colleges are two -year associate degree programs/certifications. Throughout the years, community colleges have begun to adopt vocational oriented programs. There are two associate degrees students can take in community college. Students can enroll in an academic transfer program or direct to the workforce program. ESL or intensive english language programs are available to help prepare international students for university-level courses. Some community colleges available include:
- Green River College
- Miami Dade College
- Northern Virginia Community College
- Santa Monica College
Institute of Technology
Institutes of technology are universities that specialize in engineering, technology, applied sciences, and natural sciences. Students can attend a four year program to receive a bachelor’s degree. Some institutions have graduate programs and also offer short-term courses. Some institutes available include::
- Illinois Institute of Technology
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- New York Institute of Technology
Levels of Education Qualifications
The US has various qualifications students can achieve while they study stateside. They are grouped into associate degree, bachelor degree, masters, and doctoral.
Associate Degrees: Typically 2-year programs designed to provide students with basic knowledge on subjects. They prepare students for entry-level positions in fields including nursing, designing, and education.
Bachelor Degree: Taking 4 years to complete, these programs provide students with education and preparation for most careers paths. Students are able to accept full-time work in their respective field right after graduation.
There are five types of bachelor degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Science (BS)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
- Bachelor of Architecture (BArch)
Masters: Can take 1-2 years to obtain with students specializing in one area of study. Masters can be thesis or research-based depending on the student's specialization.
Doctoral (PhD): There are different types of doctoral degrees that students can obtain. All are typically research-based and require students to have found a research supervisor at the university they're applying to. Students looking to get into the medical field will need to obtain a Doctor of Medicine designation, which is different from other doctoral streams.