How much does it cost to study in USA?..and where can you find most affordable universities?

How much does it cost to study in USA?..and where can you find most affordable universities? Back in 2001, after I graduated from high school in Kenya, I thought one year later I would be somewhere overseas studying for my bachelor’s degree. Little did I know the challenges that lay ahead. …..the challenge of finding the most affordable schools, the challenge of passing entrance exams, the challenge of cracking the student visa interview among others! It took me 8 good years to finally make it here in the USA. It is a journey that taught me a lot of lesson that I am always willing to share and help those who are out there wishing to study overseas.

One of the major challenges that a lot of people face is knowing how much it would cost them to study overseas. For those wishing to study in the US, this article is for you. I will try to give you a detailed breakdown of all the expenses that you will most likely incur on your journey to USA as an international student. So grab a pen and a sheet of paper and note this information as it will give you a good understanding of what you need to know as far as finances of studying in USA are concerned.

If you are coming to study in the US, you may either come to a community college for a 2-year associate degree, or to a 4 year college for your Bachelor’s, graduate or post graduate degree.

For the purpose of this article, I will cover the cost of studying in some of the most affordable 4-year state universities here in USA. I will take an average of the following 3 universities.

1. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania (I went to this school for my master’s) costs 19,000/year for tuition & fees while books & other miscellaneous costs are $4,000
2. University of North Georgia costs $15,000/year for tuition & fees while books & other costs miscellaneous are $,3,500
3. Midwestern State University costs $11,000/year for tuition & fees while books & other miscellaneous costs are $3,000

So, the average cost of these 3 schools is about $16,500 per year. That covers the tuition, fees, books and other miscellaneous costs.

Before you come to study, you should be prepared to incur relocation costs prior to you landing in the US. These are (US Visa + Passport) about $250, school application fees about $30, entrance exams (eg GMAT, GRE, SAT,ACT) $250, TOEFL (Not all schools will ask for this if you are from an English speaking country ) $200. TOEFL and Entrance exams self-study materials (assuming you study on your own) $200, Immunizations $200, Air ticket$1200(I am assuming you are travelling from Nairobi, Kenya like I did!). Total cost of all these relocation expenses is about $2,300.

Once you are here, you will need to take care of your other living expenses. These are: Shared student accommodation off-campus $500/month which is $6,000/year. Utilities can cost you about $100 (i.e. water, electricity and internet & basic prepaid phone) so that would be about $1,200 per year. Transport could cost you about $50 per month which would equate to $600 per year. Food would be about $100 per month, which would be $1,200 per year. Student health insurance (although optional) could set you back about $25 per month which would total about $300 per year. Total cost of these living expenses would be about $9,300 per year.

From the above, you will require a total of about $28,100(16,500+2,300+9,300) for the first year of your studies in the US.

In order for you to be issued with an I-20 (The official immigration document that you take to the Embassy in order to get visa issuance), you will need to show your school, your ability to pay  about ,$26,000 (excluding the relocation expenses).Schools here require you to show funds to cover your full tuition and living expenses for one year.

So, as you can see, studying in the US is expensive. These numbers that I picked are from very modest state universities. There are some universities that charge over $50,000 per year, especially if you are enrolled in those Ivy league schools.

So, for those with the dream of studying in the US, these numbers can be very discouraging. My advice is that, do not be discouraged because there is a way that you can fund most of it. You can get a Job on campus, you can find scholarships, you can get (secured or unsecured) international student loans or you can get graduate assistantship grants (if coming for graduate/post graduate programs).

However, the bottom line is, if you are thinking of coming to study in the US, at least you need some money for your relocation expenses, regardless of whether you have a scholarship, loans or not.

To know more about most affordable schools in the US that partner with lenders, and to get FREE access to thousands of scholarships offered across the world , please visit my website at www.successwithbobmwiti.com

By Bob Mwiti

About me;

I am the founder and managing director of Appstec America-A consulting company that helps immigrants find education and job opportunities that are abundant here in the United States.

My mission is to get you to wake up to the unlimited potential within you and achieve what you’re truly capable of.

For enquiries about my international scholars programs & IT training programs, you can check out my personal website at www.successwithbobmwiti.com

You can also email me at success@successwithbobmwiti.com or call +1 813-573-5619 ext 402 for a FREE 30 minutes consultation. Also, we can connect if you “like” my Facebook page by the name Bob Mwiti or subscribe to my YouTube channel by same name Bob Mwiti.

How much does it cost to study in USA?..and where can you find most affordable universities?