Universities in the USA

Situated in North America, the USA boasts a vast landscape ranging from bustling cities to wide open natural wonder. It can boast of a renowned education system with many prestigious universities and colleges and is the world’s most popular destination for international students, with over 1 million students currently studying abroad in the United States.

The types of University

In the USA, the terms college and university tend to be used interchangeably, with some universities keeping the term college in their name, as a reference to the original smaller colleges that in time grew to acquire more schools and faculties. Smaller, more specialized colleges in the USA also retain the term college in their name.

There are nearly 4,000 universities and colleges in the US that are degree-awarding, making it one the countries with the most universities in the world.

Universities in the USA are largely decentralized, with individual states responsible for running their public universities in their state university system. There are also private universities that do not receive state funding.

There are several types of university and college in the USA, including:

• Research universities, which can be either public or private, which put a focus on the quality of research output, including institutions such as Boston University, California Institute of Technology and Stanford University.
• Community colleges, which may offer two year courses, which allow students to graduate with an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree, or they may offer four year courses, which allow students to graduate with a bachelor degree. The best community colleges in the US include Manhattan Area Technical College, Northwest Iowa Community College and Montgomery College.
• Liberal arts colleges, which tend to focus on the pursuit of education and intellectual studies, rather than professional or vocational training. The best liberal arts colleges in the USA include the United States Naval Academy, Amherst College and Williams College.

Language of tuition

Whilst the United States does not have an official language, English is the official language in many of the 50 states and English is the most widely spoken language in the country. Of the other languages spoken throughout the country, Spanish is the second most popular.

At universities and colleges throughout the USA, English is the default language of tuition. As such, you will need to provide your English language proficiency to enroll on a course as an international student.

Popular cities in the USA for International students

• San Francisco – located in Northern California, on the west coast of the United States, San Francisco is one of the state of California’s most populous cities and is a hotbed of technology companies. With the iconic Golden Gates Bridge, Alcatraz Island, parks, history, food, arts and culture at every turn, it is a popular destination for tourists, but also home to several world class universities and many international students.
  
  Some of the top universities and colleges in San Francisco include the University of California, Berkeley, San Francisco State University and the University of San Francisco.

• Chicago – Situated in the Midwestern United States in the state of Illinois, Chicago is one of the most populous cities in the USA. Based on Lake Michigan, Chicago is famous for its jazz scene and performing arts culture, its skyline and architecture, and its food (if you like deep-dish pizza it’s the place for you!).
  
  Chicago is a welcoming city for international students and boasts fantastic colleges and universities, including Illinois Institute of Technology, the University of Chicago and Northwestern University.

• New York City – In terms of population size, New York City is the largest city in the United States, with a population of over 8 million people. With points of interest and attractions as far as the eye can see, New York offers something for everyone. International students will find themselves studying alongside a diverse and inclusive range of backgrounds. New York is home to some of the world’s best universities, including Cornell University, Columbia University and New York University.

• Boston – The capital city of the state of Massachusetts in the north east of the United States, Boston is a city full of culture and history for international students to enjoy. In terms of education, Boston is home to some of the most prestigious universities in the world, including Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

• Los Angeles – The largest city by population in the southern state of California, Los Angeles is famous for its film industry, beaches, food and many districts. It is also an attractive location for international students and is home to several well known and highly ranking universities, including California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

• Washington D.C. – The capital of the United States, located in the east of the country, is full of history and famous architecture. Whilst it is a popular tourist destination, it is also a great study destination, with a vibrant arts culture and several top universities such as Georgetown University, George Washington University and Howard University.

• Philadelphia – The largest city by population in the eastern state of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia is known for its history as the birthplace of the US, its food and its many parks and vibrant areas. Philadelphia is an affordable destination for international students and also home to the prestigious University of Pennsylvania.

• Atlanta – The largest city by population in the southeastern state of Georgia, Atlanta can boast a thriving arts scene, affordability and, clement weather and many outdoor spaces and parks to explore. There are great institutions in Atlanta for international students to consider, including the highly ranked Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).

The top universities in the USA

The USA is home to some of the most prestigious universities anywhere in the world, some of which regularly feature at the top of various world university rankings.

Table of the top ranked universities in the US

See below for a list of universities and higher education providers in the USA. Click on universities you are interested in below to read more and to see which courses are available for international students.