🇺🇸 USA

The average cost of university in the US for international students can vary depending on a few factors, but here's a general breakdown:

• • • Overall range: $25,000 to $45,000 per year (including tuition and living expenses) for international students

    • Public vs. Private: Public universities are generally cheaper, with tuition ranging from $10,000 to $55,000 per year, while private universities can cost upwards of $80,000.

    • You can calculate the expected cost of tuition using the Net Price Calculator.

Scholarships and loans are important to think about when applying to university in the United States. Some good resources to use are listed below:

• • • https://educationusa.state.gov/your-5-steps-us-study/finance-your-studies/undergraduate

    • https://www.iefa.org/scholarships

    • https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-scholarships.aspx

    • https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search

The International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) is used by universities when giving scholarships, grants, and aid to students. This option is great for universities which are NEED BLIND, meaning they do not consider financial need in their admissions decisions.

• List of need-blind schools

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is for American-citizens who are eligible for grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and loans for college or career school.

• FAFSA help | The College Investor

  • • What Is The Student Aid Index?

    • Student Aid Index Chart (Formerly EFC Chart)

    • Pell Grant Eligibility Formula

Always check with each university/programme to inquire about tuition, fees, and possible financial aid and scholarships.

See more general information about tuition, fees, cost of living, and financial aid opportunities here.

What is the SAT?

The SAT, or Scholastic Assessment Test, is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. It is designed to assess a student's readiness for college and is intended to provide colleges with a common data point that can be used to compare all applicants.

For information about study resources, dates, registration, and administration of the SAT exam, check the Exams page

Early decision (ED) and early action (EA) plans can be beneficial to students who have thought through their college options carefully and have a clear preference for one institution.

Counselors need to make sure that students understand the key distinction between the two plans:

• Early decision plans are binding: A student who is accepted as an ED applicant must attend the college.

• Early action plans are non-binding: Students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date of May 1.

Approximately 450 colleges have early decision or early action plans, and some have both. Some colleges offer a nonbinding option called single-choice early action, under which applicants may not apply ED or EA to any other college.

ED plans have come under fire as unfair to students from families with low incomes, since they do not have the opportunity to compare financial aid offers. This may give an unfair advantage to applicants from families who have more financial resources.

Find more information here: https://counselors.collegeboard.org/college-application/early-decision-action

Most universities accept the IBDP program, and some will accept IBCP. You can find specific information about which universities recognize the program and the specific course requirements here: https://recognition.ibo.org/en-US/.  Always check the individual university websites to find their unique requirements.

Top-tier universities typically expect scores ranging from 38 to 45. For example, Ivy League institutions may require scores of 40 or above, while other prestigious colleges consider applicants with scores in the mid-30s. Here's a snapshot of IB score requirements for select U.S. universities:

University Minimum IB Score Required for Admission

Harvard University 39-44

Princeton University 42

Yale University 40

Columbia University 38-43

Brown University 40

University of Pennsylvania (U Penn) 38

Cornell University 38

Dartmouth College 37

Stanford University 40

Duke University 40

MIT 40

Northwestern University 37

University of Chicago 36

UC Berkeley 37

UCLA 37

New York University (NYU) 37

Remember, while a high IB score is crucial, U.S. universities also consider non-academic factors like extracurricular activities and essays. Taking a holistic approach to your application is key to success.

Didn't get the IB diploma? Don't panic!     Read the guide here.

Most US colleges will give you credits for your Diploma Program subjects if you score higher than a particular score. For example...

• University of Pennsylvania - A score of six in most "higher level" (HL) IB subjects will earn you credits towards your degree.

• Stanford University - Specified HL IB exams with scores of five or higher in the subjects listed here are eligible for credit.

• New York University - Typically awards eight hours of course credits for each HL subject in which you've scored at least a six.

• University of California (UC Berkeley, UCLA, etc.) - Generous when it comes to the IB. As a policy, DP recipients will earn a minimum of 30 credit hours and up to 45 credit hours of advanced credit.

Check with each university to see what type of course credits they will offer for IBDP scores HERE.

Strong IB performance can also benefit you when you fill out university scholarship and financial aid assessments.