As an international student interested in studying in the USA, you’ll already be aware of the infamously high American tuition fees. Perhaps you’re struggling to make sense of the over-abundance of information available. Of course, the American education system is known for its high quality, but there’s no denying it can be hard to understand the finer details.

To simplify matters, we’ve compiled the data to help you understand a bit more about tuition fees and get a better idea of what you might expect to pay for your course.

What do tuition fees cover?

Tuition fees in the US are not standardised at the governmental level and instead are set by the universities and colleges individually. That means there may be a degree of variation in what they cover. However, you can usually expect the minimum to be:

• lectures, seminars, and tutorials
• access to university resources e.g. libraries and computer rooms
• access to course-related facilities and equipment e.g. laboratories and studios

Tuition fees do not cover student supplies (e.g. textbooks or stationery) or living expenses (e.g. rent, travel or bills). For more information about these, why not read our article about the cost of living in the USA?

Understanding tuition fees

When calculating the price of tuition fees in the USA, there are several considerations you’ll want to keep in mind since the costs can vary so widely.

Academic institution

Tuition fees vary significantly between institutions. Often, the institutions rated highest in the QS World University Rankings will charge more for their courses.

Public vs private institutions

Public (state-owned) universities will offer cheaper tuition fees in the USA than private ones.

If you are on a tight budget, you might consider applying to a community college. Here you’ll receive an associate degree instead of a bachelor’s qualification. The associate degree is a recognised qualification and can also be used as the first half of a bachelor’s degree if you choose to transfer to another university later.

Geographic location

Tuition fees in east coast states tend to be more expensive than on the west coast. The cost in inland states is often cheaper still.

Type of qualification

Often, tuition fees for postgraduate degrees are more costly per year than they are at the undergraduate level.

Subject studied

Typically, science degrees cost more than arts or humanities degrees. Medical and veterinary sciences are usually much more expensive than other degree types.

Course length

Don’t forget to consider the length of your course. As tuition fees are not usually charged as a one-off payment, the longer your course takes, the more expensive it will be. Undergraduate degrees in the USA are typically four years long.

Method of learning

Some courses offer a distance learning option, which is often considerably cheaper than traditional study options. Similarly, at the postgraduate level, research-based courses will be cheaper than those that are taught.

Years abroad

If your course offers a year abroad, the tuition fees for that year may be different to other years.

How much are undergraduate tuition fees in the USA?

Overseas undergraduate tuition fees at a US university can cost anywhere between USD 18,000 to USD 62,000 per year.

The range is big, and the figures are complicated. To make things even more confusing, different US universities may opt to charge by course credits, semester, quarter or year, making it feel almost impossible to compare.

In this article, we've put the data together to show rough averages of what you might expect to pay, based on your course.

In our first table, you can see the cost of overseas undergraduate tuition fees (per year) at five of the top universities in the USA. These fees are for full-time courses starting in the 2021/2022 academic year.

Typical US international undergraduate tuition fees per year

Want to get an idea of tuition fees for some of the most popular undergraduate courses in the USA? Our next table should help. Remember these figures may fluctuate depending on your module and major/minor choices.

Be aware that in the USA, disciplines such as law and medicine are not offered at the undergraduate level. Instead, students complete a general degree in a study area (e.g. a Bachelor of Science) and then a major in the relevant area.

Typical US annual international undergraduate tuition fees by course

With these two tables, hopefully, you can get a basic understanding of what you might expect to pay in tuition fees as an undergraduate in the US. And of course, if you already know which universities you are interested in, you can visit their websites or download a prospectus for further information.

How much are postgraduate tuition fees in the USA?

Overseas postgraduate tuition fees at a US university can cost anywhere between USD 6,000 to USD 110,000 per year.

As with the undergraduate model, universities’ different charging systems based on course credits, semesters, quarters, and years can make any sort of comparison challenging, so we’ve done the hard work for you, compiling the data into easy-to-read tables.

Our first table should help you get an idea of what you might expect to pay as an international postgraduate student, based on your level of study. These fees are for courses starting in the 2021/2022 academic year.

Typical US international postgraduate tuition fees per year (or course length, where the full course is shorter than a year)

The next table shows the costs of some popular postgraduate course options at the same five universities. Remember, the range shown for each course may include options at every level of postgraduate study.

Typical US annual international postgraduate tuition fee per year (or course length, where the full course is shorter than a year) by course type

* part-time, online only

Feeling a little more confident about what to expect? Perhaps now would be a good time to download some prospectuses and narrow down your university choices.

How do I pay my tuition fees in the USA?

Tuition fees in the US are paid directly to the university. Different institutions have different payment structures so you may be asked to pay annually or by term, semester, or quarter. Ensure you check the requirements with your chosen university before you apply.

Did you know?

Many US universities also require that students pay additional compulsory fees separate from their tuition fees. These may cover costs like student services, unions, or course admin costs. The amounts of these fees vary, so check this with your prospective university.

Many universities offer scholarships and funding opportunities to international students. It’s worth checking to see if there’s one that might suit you.

Now that you know all you need to about the cost of tuition fees, why not learn about the application process for universities in the USA?

Disclaimer: Whilst we’ve done all we can to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this article, be aware that these are guidelines and averages only. Costs may vary or change at any time, so be sure to verify fee structures with any prospective institutions.