It may come as a surprise to you, but there are indeed a few colleges in the U.S. that provide high-quality education without burning a hole in your pocket. Traditionally, a U.S. undergraduate education is considered to be an extremely expensive affair, reserved only for the affluent few. The cost of education being US$60,000 upwards per year is a daunting amount for the majority of students belonging to the aspirational and upwardly mobile middle class of India. But dig a little deeper, and you can find some hidden gems that could be the answer to your dream of pursuing higher education in the United States.
Every university determines the cost of attendance for a full year of study. Attendance fees are determined by both direct and indirect expenses. Tuition, fees, housing, and board (if on campus) are examples of direct charges. Indirect charges include books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.
Let us explore a few of these colleges that are within the reach of many international students.
- University of Michigan-Flint. Known for its rigorous academic programs, UM Flint has a thriving international student community. Deeply engaged in research, the university offers excellent opportunities for its students to work alongside faculty. You can prepare for your career in fields like business, education and human services, fine arts, health, humanities, and STEM. UM Flint offers a vibrant campus life where students create and join clubs and organizations and participate in leadership development programs. The cost of an undergraduate degree program per year is approximately $40,833.
https://www.umflint.edu/cge/student-resources/tuition-fees/
- Rutgers: Rutgers, one of America’s highest-ranked and most diverse universities, is a public university in the New Jersey area. Rutgers, with three regional campuses: Rutgers-Camden, Rutgers-Newark, and Rutgers-New Brunswick, prides itself on having 585,500 alumni around the world and 67,200 undergraduate and graduate students. Rutgers University-New Brunswick offers more than 120 undergraduate majors. The college ensures practical experience for students in their chosen field before graduation. This provides invaluable insider knowledge and the opportunity to connect with future peers and professional contacts. What makes the college most accessible is the reasonable tuition and generous financial aid. The annual cost for international students is $50,716.
https://admissions.rutgers.edu/costs-and-aid/tuition-fees
- The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (UIUC) is a public research university located in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign. The university is renowned for its academic excellence and is consistently ranked among the top public universities in the United States. UIUC boasts a large and influential alumni network, including renowned figures in various fields such as academia, government, business, and the arts. The university’s faculty has 11 Nobel laureates and 18 Pulitzer Prize winners. The University Library is one of the largest public university collections in the world, with 15 million volumes in its 20+ unit libraries. The students of UIUC receive transformative educational experiences both inside and outside the campus, so that they leave with the skills, knowledge, and drive to become leaders in their fields and make a positive impact in the world. The cost of attendance at UIUC for international students is between $ 56,334-66422.
Tuition & Fee Rates by Academic Year – Office of the Registrar (illinois.edu)
4. Stony Brooks University (SBU) is another excellent college renowned for its academic rigor. Offering 200 undergraduate programs and more than 140 graduate and doctoral degrees, this university has a growing alumni network making significant contributions in various fields. The six undergraduate colleges transform the student experience by helping them take advantage of the university’s vast resources, thereby gaining the reputation of being one of the country’s most significant places of learning. The university’s picturesque location on Long Island’s North Shore, just 60 miles from New York, is a major highlight. While the estimated annual cost of attendance at SBU is $52,798, the university offers scholarships to deserving students.
https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/finaid/undergraduate/basics/Cost.php
5 Brigham Young University: A private research university located in Provo, Utah, with campuses in Idaho, Laie, and Hawaii, BYU was established in 1885. Owned and operated by the LDS Church, BYU adheres to the principles and teachings of the church. However, it welcomes students and faculty from diverse backgrounds and faiths. The school prepares its students to be lifelong learners who later pursue graduate studies in their field of expertise. With 198 undergraduate majors, 96 master’s programs, and 30 doctorate programs, BYU is a highly selective school. The Church of Jesus Christ, as BYU’s sponsor, enables students to gain a great education for as little as US$29,548 annually in the Provo, Utah campus and a surprisingly low cost of $ 10,037 for non-LDS members.
https://enrollment.byu.edu/financial-aid/cost-of-attendance
https://www.byui.edu/financial-aid/tuition-and-cost-of-attendance#non-member
Apart from the above-mentioned colleges, there are many more colleges where students can expect to get a great education at a low cost. While at Sweet Briar College the cost is $ 39,820, at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) the annual cost is a surprisingly low 29,747.22. Various factors, such as state funding, endowments, and cost-saving measures, allow colleges to extend the tuition fee benefits to deserving students without undermining the reputation of the institution or compromising the quality of students. Applying to U.S. colleges requires a great deal of research and planning. Good grades and a strong profile enable colleges to select the best candidates from a pool of applicants.
