AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES

See List of U.S. universities by state

1. General information 

Universities in the United States offer multi-disciplinary training and provide the following programs:

• Bachelor’s degree: 4 years;
• Master’s degree: 2 years;
• Doctoral degree: ≥ 3 years.

Types of universities in the United States

• Public universities. State universities are managed and financially supported by the state governments and are accredited by regional university-college associations. Each state typically has at least one large university (state university) and smaller universities (state college). Some state universities include the word “State” in their names, while others use the word “College.”
• Private universities. These institutions are established and operated by private individuals or organizations and are also accredited by regional associations. Tuition at private universities is generally higher than at public universities, and their campus and training scale are usually smaller. See more information here.
• Religiously affiliated universities. Many U.S. universities were founded by religious organizations. However, the relationship between the university and the religious organization may be flexible or minimal, and these institutions admit students from all religions, nationalities, and ethnicities. Their academic programs are similar to other universities.
• Technical universities/institutes (“Institute of Technology” or “Technical Institute”): These institutions offer programs of at least four years in science and technology fields and award bachelor’s degrees. Some have graduate programs, while others offer shorter specialized programs. Their common feature is a high level of practical training, enabling graduates to obtain essential skills for the labor market.

Admission requirements. Specific requirements vary by institution, but the general criteria are:

• Academic performance: good to excellent, depending on major and university;
• English: 60-64 PTE A or 89-95 TOEFL;
• Work experience for some master’s and doctoral programs.

Tuition fees. Tuition varies from 12,000-18,000-35,000 USD per year depending on the institution. Certain majors have higher tuition, such as Medicine: 47,000-67,000 USD per year. Private university tuition is higher, around 20,000-50,000 USD per year.

Accommodation. Students may stay in homestay, dormitories, or share housing with other students. Fees range from 6,000-12,000-15,000 USD per year. Students under 18 must stay in homestay, dormitories, or with relatives approved by the university.

Intakes. Main academic terms start in August (semester 1) and January (semester 2). Most universities have application deadlines 5-6 months before the intake date.

Part-time work. Students may work up to 20 hours per week during school terms, usually in on-campus jobs, and full-time during summer/holidays. Common part-time jobs include hotel work, restaurants, retail shops, tutoring, factories, and suitable office jobs, with hourly wages ranging from 6-8-10 USD.

Work after graduation. University graduates in the U.S. may stay for one year to work before they must return to their home country.

2. Notes for Vietnamese students studying in the U.S. universities 

Vietnamese students wishing to pursue university-level education in the U.S. should note the following:

1. Study pathways. Vietnamese students may choose:

• Finishing grade 11: study 2 years at a community college + 2 years for a bachelor’s degree;
• Finishing grade 12: direct entry into year 1 of university;
• Finishing undergraduate degree: apply for a master’s program;
• Finishing undergraduate degree with excellent results or completing a master’s degree: apply for a doctoral program.

2. Admission requirements. Depending on the study level, it generally requires good academic performance and English proficiency of 60-64 PTE A or 89-95 TOEFL.
3. Application documents. Include the highest level diploma and transcripts, SAT/ACT/GMAT/GRE scores, international English certificate (PTE A or TOEFL) or study English in the U.S. if needed, and a passport valid for the entire study period.
4. Intakes. Main intakes are in September and January each year. Application processing takes 4-12 weeks, with deadlines typically 5-6 months prior to program start.
5. High school credential evaluation for university admission. U.S. universities often require international applicants to submit an academic evaluation of their high school diploma and transcripts. This evaluation is conducted by independent organizations such as WES (World Education Services). Students must send original diplomas and transcripts for equivalency assessment to determine U.S. high school equivalence and academic standing. Fees range from 100-150 USD, and processing time is 4-8-12 weeks depending on the evaluator.
6. SAT/ACT for undergraduate admission, GMAT/GRE for graduate programs. Besides English requirements, most U.S. universities require SAT or ACT scores when evaluating undergraduate applicants. Some institutions request these scores only for scholarship consideration. For graduate programs, GMAT is required for MBA and business-related majors, while GRE is required for most other fields.
7. Visa interview. The most challenging step in the study-abroad process is the face-to-face interview with the visa officer. You must prepare your documents thoroughly and practice your interview skills. Duc Anh has extensive experience supporting students with this process, and our students’ visa approval rate is nearly absolute.

For tailored guidance and full assistance throughout your study-abroad journey, please contact us HERE:

Duc Anh EduConnect

Hotline: +84 9887 09698  | +84 9630 49860 | +855 12 205 775

Email: info@educonnectgroup.com 

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