Universities in The United States

In the United States, "college" and "university" are often used for the same thing: higher education after high school. Strictly, colleges award only undergraduate degrees, while universities also award graduate degrees, but EducationUSA, the U.S. Department of State's advising network, notes that the terms are often used interchangeably. Nearly 4,000 accredited institutions make up the sector; the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) counted 3,931 degree-granting institutions in 2020-21, of which 1,294 were 2-year colleges and 2,637 were 4-year colleges.

There is no national ministry that runs universities. Institutions are accredited by independent accrediting bodies, and public universities are founded and subsidised by the states. This directory lists 676 universities and colleges in the United States, with the largest groups in New York, Boston, Baltimore, Los Angeles and Chicago.

How U.S. higher education works

The main types of institution are:

• Public (state) universities: usually large, with research and a wide range of subjects; the University of Washington, founded in 1861, teaches on campuses in Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma
• Private universities and colleges: funded by endowments, gifts, research grants and tuition; many are smaller, and some have a religious affiliation
• Liberal arts colleges: mostly private, focused on undergraduate teaching in the arts, humanities, languages and sciences, such as Lawrence University in Wisconsin
• Community colleges: two-year colleges that award the Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) and offer technical programmes; Tacoma Community College and Hartnell College in California both offer routes to transfer to a four-year college
• Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs): such as Morgan State University in Baltimore, founded in 1867 and classified as a high research (R2) institution

Undergraduate study follows the liberal arts model: students take courses in several fields before specialising in a major. A bachelor's degree usually takes four years of full-time study and is awarded after a set number of credits, which each institution defines. Graduate study leads to a master's degree (usually two years) or a doctorate (five to eight years); more than 1,000 U.S. universities offer graduate degrees. Through the "2+2" route, a student can complete two years at a community college and then two years at a university to earn a bachelor's degree.

The academic year usually runs from September to May in two semesters of 16 to 18 weeks; some institutions use quarters or trimesters instead.

Admission for international students

Each institution sets its own requirements, so the international admissions page of every college is the reference. A typical undergraduate application includes the secondary school diploma and transcripts (with English translations), test scores where required, recommendation letters and a personal essay. Universities require an English proficiency test before admission. Applications for a September start are usually due between November and January, and EducationUSA advises starting the search 12 to 18 months ahead.

For a full degree, international students normally need an F-1 student visa. To apply, a student must first be accepted by an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which issues the Form I-20. SEVP certification is not the same as accreditation: a certified school may not be accredited, and accreditation is what links credits and degrees to recognition by other universities and employers. Hartnell College, for example, states that international students can study there on an F-1 visa. Rules are changing: according to the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA), SEVP published a final rule on 17 July 2026 that eliminates admission for "duration of status", effective 15 September 2026, and the University of Utah notes that it affects F-1 and J-1 students. Ask the international office how the new rules apply to your programme.

Costs and funding

Costs differ widely between public and private institutions. According to NCES, average tuition and fees at 4-year institutions in 2022-23 were $9,800 at public institutions (in-state rate) and $40,700 at private nonprofit institutions; at public 2-year colleges they averaged $4,000. For public institutions NCES uses the lower in-state or in-district rate, so each university's own rate for non-residents is the figure to check. Including housing, food and books, the average total cost of attendance for students living on campus at 4-year institutions was $27,100 at public institutions and $58,600 at private nonprofit institutions.

EducationUSA warns that most scholarships cover only part of the cost and may not be available to first-year international students. Ways to reduce costs include starting at a community college, choosing a region with a lower cost of living such as the South, the Midwest or rural areas, and, at PhD level, teaching or research assistantships that come with a tuition waiver or stipend. With permission from the international student office, students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week in their first year.

How to choose

• Accreditation: check that the institution is accredited, not only SEVP-certified
• Type and size: a large public research university, a small liberal arts college or a community college with a transfer route
• Total cost: tuition at the rate for non-residents plus housing and living costs, and the scholarships open to international students
• Location: big city, college town or rural campus, and the climate of the region
• Programme fit: the major, the credits required and support for international students

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a college and a university in the United States?

Colleges award only undergraduate degrees, while universities also award master's and doctoral degrees. In everyday use the two words often mean the same thing.

How long does a bachelor's degree take in the United States?

Usually four years of full-time study. Students can also take the first two years at a community college and transfer to a university.

How much does a U.S. university cost?

According to NCES, average tuition and fees in 2022-23 were $9,800 at public 4-year institutions (in-state rate) and $40,700 at private nonprofit ones. The public figure is the lower in-state rate; check each university's rate for non-residents.

Which visa do I need to study at a U.S. university?

Usually the F-1 student visa. You first need an offer from an SEVP-certified institution, which issues the Form I-20 you present at the visa interview.