The USA has been attracting international students for a long time now. Several universities in the country are revered all over the world, contributing to the country's popularity. As such, it is quite natural that students tend to look at the cost of studying in the USA. Typically, courses like Arts and Humanities are cheaper while Engineering and Medical courses are more expensive. The tuition cost can vary considerably based on the course, university and area. On average, you will be required to pay USD 8000 to USD 55,000 per year on tuition fees. An MBA degree can cost you around USD 35,000. The cost of studying in the USA for international students can be on the higher end, but you need not worry after seeing the increased amount. You will get aid from scholarships and fellowships of several kinds. They may even cover all of your expenses. You can read further and be learned about everything you need to know about the cost of studying in the USA.
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Universities in USA and their Tuition Fees
You need to know explicitly about the cost of studying at American universities. The tuition fees can vary for private and public universities. The same course can have varying amounts of tuition fees as well. You must research well and choose the ones that best suit you. The table below will help you get the average tuition fees of some famous universities. You should remember that the amount can vary.
|
Name of University |
Course |
Tuition Fees (in USD) |
Tuition Fees (in NGN) |
|
Stanford University |
Computer Science |
USD 53,529 |
NGN 2,23,73,516 |
|
Harvard University |
Social Sciences |
USD 51,925 |
NGN 2,17,03,092 |
|
MIT |
Computer Science |
USD 53,790 |
NGN 2,24,82,606 |
|
CalTech |
Engineering |
USD 54,600 |
NGN 2,28,21,162 |
|
Yale University |
Economics |
USD 53,395 |
NGN 2,23,17,508 |
|
Arizona State University |
Business |
USD 13,000 |
NGN 54,33,610 |
|
University of California, Berkeley |
Social Sciences |
USD 42,184 |
NGN 1,76,31,646 |
|
University of Virginia |
Liberal Arts and Sciences |
USD 47,650 |
NGN 1,99,16,271 |
|
Columbia University |
English Language & Literature |
USD 51,640 |
NGN 2,15,83,971 |
|
Dartmouth College |
Engineering |
USD 51,468 |
NGN 2,15,12,080 |
English Proficiency Test and their Registration Fees
If you wish to study in the USA, the first step you need to take will be applying for an English Proficiency Test. there are a few tests available. You can choose the one you need. This decision also depends on the university you are applying to; not all universities accept every test score.
The popular tests and the registration fees are given in the table below:
|
Test Name |
Registration Fees (in USD) |
|
IELTS |
USD 140 - USD 310 |
|
TOEFL |
USD 190 |
|
PTE |
USD 185 - USD 275 |
|
Duolingo |
USD 49 |
Total Cost of Studying in USA for International Students
The USA is not a cheap country to study in, and you will have to manage your finances well to lead a problem-free life. For that, it is essential to know the likely expenses you will face when you move to the country. The table below provides a breakdown of all the expenses you will come across in the USA.
|
Category |
Amount (in USD) |
Amount (in NGN) |
|
Bachelor’s degree tuition fees |
USD 24,000 - USD 32,000 |
NGN 1,00,31,280 - NGN 1,33,75,040 |
|
Master’s degree tuition fees |
USD 30,000 - USD 35,000 |
NGN 1,25,39,100 - NGN 1,46,28,950 |
|
English Proficiency Test fees |
USD 49 - USD 310 |
NGN 20,481 - NGN 1,29,571 |
|
University application fee |
USD 50 - USD 250 |
NGN 20,899 - NGN 1,04,493 |
|
Visa fees |
USD 160 |
NGN 66,875 |
|
Health insurance |
USD 500 - USD 1000 per year |
NGN 2,08,985 - NGN 4,17,970 |
|
Living expenses |
USD 1000 - USD 3000 per month |
NGN 4,17,970 - NGN 12,53,910 per month |
|
Flight tickets |
USD 1252 - USD 1254 |
NGN 5,23,298 - NGN 5,24,134 |
Cost of Living in USA
The living cost for international students in the USA can be somewhere around USD 1000 to USD 3000 per month without tuition fees. This can depend on your lifestyle, area of living, spending habits etc. there are ways to save money if needed. For instance, on-campus accommodation is provided by most universities; you can either stay there or can even choose to live in an apartment. Your accommodation costs can range from USD 300 to USD 400 per month. The food and transportation expenses may come to around USD 200 and USD 300 to USD 700 per month, respectively. Utilities, clothing, eating out, shopping etc., are some areas where you can save money. Setting a budget and spending within it is better so you do not face financial difficulties. You will come across scholarships that can even cover your living expenses in the USA. There are also options for part-time work opportunities to earn while you learn. You can read our blog on the cost of living in the USA to know more about the same.
How Much is Visa Fee for USA in Nigeria?
Obtaining a student visa is one of the foremost steps to studying in any country, and the case with the USA is no different. You must apply for a student visa and get it approved to study there. There are three types of student visas in the USA; F1 visa, J1 visa and M1 visa. You should choose the F1 visa to study any full-time academic program. If you are sponsored by an organisation or chosen by your institution for an exchange program, you should apply for the J1 visa. You should take the M1 visa to study all the courses not included in the F1 visa. There are two types of fees for a student visa; the SEVIS fee and the visa application fee.
The SEVIS fee for the three types of visas is:
- F1: USD 200
- J1: USD 180
- M1: USD 200
The visa application fee for the three types of student visas is:
- F1: USD 160
- J1: USD 160
- M1: USD 160
The visa fee can be paid by all the primary payment methods. You should apply for the visa early so there is no time shortage issue. You can read more about the cost of a USA student visa from our blog.
If you need further assistance on the cost of studying in the USA or anything else about studying in the USA in general, you can contact aecc. We have counsellors and professionals skilled at addressing all your queries and helping you apply to your favourite university. You need not hesitate to contact us anytime.
