What are the 5 Best U.S. Universities for International Students?

Studying at a university in the U.S. is a great idea because it’s one of the countries that offer some of the best education in the world. Take a look at worldwide college rankings lists and you’ll see that U.S. schools rank very highly.

You’ve probably heard of many of them like Stanford University, Harvard or M.I.T.

There’s just no denying that choosing America as a destination for your international education is commendable. After all, what prospective students want is to get high-quality education for their degree, at a fantastic school, in a country that’s filled with great opportunities, right? However, it’s important to note that it can be difficult if you’re not from the U.S.

That’s not a problem, though, if you sort out all the documents, formalities, and agreements. There are also a lot of U.S. schools that actively target international student enrolments because it’ll help improve their diversity and enable them to attract the most talented individuals.

If you’re confused about what university to choose, then you’ve just found the perfect article! In this post, we’ll show you some of the best colleges for international students. We’ll also talk about the factors to consider, as well as the benefits of studying in the U.S.

So let’s take a look our list of some of the best American colleges for international students:

Columbia University

Location: New York City, NY

Columbia University is one of the best US universities for international students to study at. It is located in New York City, NY, and is at the 6th spot of Forbes top US universities for foreigners.

This university is also located in the upper section of Manhattan, New York, right in the center of the most “international” city in the globe – making it a wonderful place to study.

What’s more, the international student body represents around 15% to 17% of all its students. This also makes it the 20th most foreign student-occupied university in the US.

University of Southern California

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Next on our list, the University of Southern California – home to more than 18,000 international students. And just like the other top universities in this list, its foreign student population is also growing pretty fast.

Approximately 6000 new foreign students enrol at USC every academic year. And that number keeps on rising Niche.com even named USC as the third-best college for international students in the US, while Forbes placed them in the 18th spot.

Yale University

Location: New Haven, CT

Then there’s the iconic Yale University which always features in the upper echelons of Forbes and College Factual’s top colleges for foreign students.

What makes Yale a great choice is that it has some of the most generous financial aid programs for international students of any school in America, with some sources saying it reaches up to $58,000 to $60,000 each.

New York University

Location: New York City, NY

New York University ranks 11th in Forbes and 10th in Niche.com’s top universities for international students. One of the things that makes this a great choice for foreigners is because they really welcome international applications. In fact, New York University currently ranks #1 for the highest international student population in the U.S.

Students at NYU can also easily integrate with the different thriving industries in New York, knowing that it’s also the global center for trade and finance. Foreign students are assured to benefit greatly from the bespoke curated university programs from this school.

Harvard University

Location: Cambridge, MA

Coming in last (but not least) in our list is Harvard University. This comes in at 6th place in College Factual’s list of top international student universities, and 24th in Forbes.

What makes this a great choice for international students is the high financial aid given to them, amounting to up to $60,000 each. This is expected to increase as the demand for more international students is rising.

There are also more than 10,000 overseas students at Harvard, with thousands of students expected to apply in the coming months for admission in future years. Harvard also placed huge importance on welcoming foreign students as can be seen in their published guide to “culture shock.”

Benefits of Studying University in the USA for International Students

High-quality education

One of the best things about studying university in the US is the level of quality of education you get. It’s not a surprise that more of the best universities in the world are found in the US.

Some of these are Yale, Harvard, MIT, New York University, and the University of Southern California, to name a few. These are just some of the most well-known names, but there are still hundreds of other prestigious colleges and universities scattered around the US.

You’ll also have lots of choices to upgrade your education knowing that each state has its flagship university. Furthermore, completing your studies at a US university will surely make you an elite candidate for your future employers.

Many degree options

Another nice thing about studying university in the US is that you have many degree choices to choose from. There are more than 5,000 universities in the US that offer undergraduate degrees.

There are even some that give you the freedom to combine your minor and major subjects, giving you lots of freedom on which career path you want. The United States is surely the best place to go if you want to try out different subjects and classes.

There’s no other country offering such a diverse range of courses and flexibility. You can even study the newest and unheard of subjects, or maybe interact with globally-renowned scholars who are going to guide you through your studying years.

A large number of universities also means you have lots of choices in choosing the kind of experience you want. Also consider their offered courses, location, size, accommodation, tuition fees, facilities, student body, and sports programs.

Enjoy the American student lifestyle

Whether you attend one of the many private colleges, community colleges or a public college, studying at university is not just about reading books and attending classes. You also need to live a good life and hang out with your friends while enjoying your youth, right? Well, all of those things can be found in an American university.

Studying in the US means that you can experience one of the most diverse and interesting cultures in the world. You can also interact with students from different corners of the globe so that you can be geared towards a global career.

Surely, most, if not every youngster has dreamed of living in the US at least once. Well, the easiest way to make that dream come true is to travel to the US for studies.

You can live on the university campus and join fraternities, clubs, or even sports teams to make your stay more worthwhile.

Improve your English

We all know that English is the universal language, right? This also means that the current job market needs professionals who have good levels of English. What better way of learning this language than by immersing yourself in an environment with English as its main language?

You’ll also get a better understanding of English even if you’re already good at it. The accent, vocabulary, and the way you use it to socialize and build your network will improve, which could then help propel your career.

Remember that you’re going to interact with native English speakers 24/7, so you can expect you’ll be good at it in no time!

Potential for an international career

US universities are well known for offering premium quality education. This means that companies would be more than willing to welcome fresh graduates with US degrees! This would greatly help you in your career’s success.

Studying in the US also puts you a step closer to a successful international career. You’ll have an opportunity to gain experience in your chosen career field from their Optional Practical Training program.

Studying in the US is ideal preparation for you in case you plan to work in an international workplace. You simply just have the skills and experience that many employers sought.

Things International Students Should Consider When Choosing a US University

Location

The first thing you should consider is the location of your chosen university. It’s important to treat this as a major factor to your college-searching because this will affect your lifestyle, studies, and academic success.

If you love the culture, architecture, and history, then maybe Europe is for you. But if you’re the kind of person who loves to party, socialize with people, enjoy the beach while surfing, or perhaps soak under the sun, then the United States is definitely for you, most especially the coastal cities.

Consider your passion, hobbies, and personal interests when choosing a university. You surely don’t want to get rid of your favorite sports just for the sake of studying, right?

Being able to enjoy your passions aside from academics also increases your chances of success in your studies because you are more motivated.

University

Of course, you need to choose the university you want. It’s the time where you’ll spend most of your time.

Do intensive research on the university you plan to attend. Know its history, background, ideals, and the number of students there. Does it have a good reputation? Do you like to study there because of its reputation? Or maybe because of the programs it offers?

If you are a bit confused, you should speak to a professional education consultant so that you can arrive at the right decision.

Degree

This is one of the most important factors to consider. Ask yourself why you’re going to attend university. Is it because you want to pursue your dream career? Or is it because you want to follow in the footsteps of your parents who might be a doctor or an engineer?

If you still have no idea what degree to take, then know the course offerings of the university and how well-established their program is. There might be some schools that aren’t as popular as Cambridge or Oxford, but they might have specialty courses that are the best in the globe.

Finance

And last, but certainly not the least important is your budget. A huge challenge that stops students from studying in the US is the expensive tuition fees plus other education expenses and living costs.

Studying in the US might be expensive. But that’s because it offers world-class facilities, education, and instructors. However, you also need to note that there are many scholarship programs out there. There are even lots of universities offering a cheaper tuition fee to international students.

Also consider if you have families, relatives, or friends in the US. You should connect with them. Also consider the expenses of studying in the US, aside from the tuition fee.

Factor in housing, cost of food, transportation, and miscellaneous costs. Also, take note of international flights because you surely are going to go home now and then.

You may also be able to take out a loan to cover some of your costs.

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Conclusion

Studying university in the United States to pursue a degree and achieve your dream career is possible. Not only can it open many doors in terms of academic and personal growth, but it can also advance your career in ways you never imagined.

The United States is renowned to offer some of the best educations in the world and experiencing this yourself will make you more superior to other job candidates in skills, talents, and experience.

You just have to choose the right university or college that will support you on this very crucial life journey. You can do this by first identifying your expectations and goals. Then look into the resources and degrees that the school offers. You can then weigh things out and see if it’ll help motivate you to pursue a career.