| COSTS FOR STUDYING AND LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES Listed below are basic costs which are subject to change. Costs are listed in U.S. dollars for 1990. Use these estimates for planning but always be aware of increases for all items. Be certain to account for bank changes and currency devaluation in changing from local currency to U.S. dollars. In a few cases, students are required to submit a deposit equal to a year's tuition, or even a year's estimated costs, in advance. | ||
| ITEM | RANGE OF COSTS | EXPLANATORY NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| I. COST OF APPLICATION | ||
| Application Fees | $10-$75 per institution | Application fees are usually non-refundable. |
| Fees for Academic Entrance Examinations and English Proficiency Examinations | $20-$75 per examination | Additional costs may include travel to and from the test center and additional score reports. |
| II. COST OF STUDY PER ACADEMIC YEAR | ||
| Tuition (cost of study) | $3,000-$22,000 per academic year (nine months) | Tuition is usually lower for community colleges and technical training institutes. At state-financed universities, foreign students (and students from other states) are charged the "out-of-state" tuition fee. |
| Fees for Use of University Services | $100-$550 per academic year | Students in fields such as engineering, art and architecture may have additional materials fees or laboratory fees. |
| Books and Study Materials | $500 or more per academic year | For some fields, such as engineering, books and study materials may be much more expensive. Since papers must be typewritten, budget for typing services (often $2 per page) or plan to buy a typewriter or computer. |
| III. TRANSPORTATION COSTS | ||
| Travel to the U.S. | Check with your travel agent | Ask for lower rates for early ticket purchase and youth fares. Sometimes special inexpensive tickets for domestic travel within the U.S. are available overseas. |
| Travel form Port of Entry to Campus | Up to $1,300 round trip (regular coach fare) plus ground transportation | Choice of campus location near your port of entry can reduce this cost significantly. Air travel is most convenient; bus travel is less expensive, but distances are great. |
| Daily Transportation Costs | Variable | If you live on campus, you may have few or no transportation costs. If you live off campus, budget for a bicycle or other public transport. It is better to avoid buying an automobile. |
| IV. COST OF LIVING PER ACADEMIC YEAR Since the cost of living varies from one location to the next, it is only possible to give you estimates of what your stay in the United States is likely to cost. | ||
| 1. Housing on Campus | ||
| Residence Hall Charges (Room and Board) | $2,200-$5,500 per academic year | Room and board charges include housing plus a specified number of meals. Room and board arrangements must be made well in advance of the start of the academic year. If all meals are not covered in the contract, you must budget $100-$200 for additional meals. |
| Cost of Furnishings | About $100-$150 or more per academic year | Residence hall rooms are usually furnished with only a bed, a desk, a table, a chair and a closet. You will need to provide lamps, sheets, towels and decorations. |
| Academic Vacations | About $1,000-$1,500 per academic year | Many residence halls close during academic vacations. Students who cannot return home during these periods must find other arrangements for living and eating. These extra costs are not included in room and board contracts. Ask the housing office of the institutions you are considering about policies regarding academic vacations. |
| Housing for Families | About $200-$600 per academic year | On some campuses a limited number of "married student housing" units may be available. Competition is always keen; application may have to be made nine to 10 months in advance. |
| 2. Housing: Off Campus | ||
| Hotel Accommodations | $25-$100 per night | If it is necessary to find housing after you arrive, at least a short stay in a hotel or YMCA may be necessary. |
| Single Furnished Room | $150-$350 per month | Costs are lower in rural areas, higher in urban areas. |
| Furnished One-Bedroom Apartment | $200-$600 per month, more in large cities | A furnished apartment comes with furniture, draperies, and usually carpets, but often does not provide dishes, bed linens, or cooking equipment. Larger or luxury apartments cost much more. |
| Unfurnished Apartment | $150-$500 per month, more in large cities | Unfurnished apartments cost less, but the cost of buying or leasing furniture can be has high as $500-$1,500 per year. Utilities, if not included in the rent, can cost up to $200 or more per month, depending on usage. |
| NOTE: Telephones are not included in furnished or unfurnished apartments. Installing a telephone often requires a refundable deposit of $100 or more as well as installation charges and monthly charges for rental and use. | ||
| 3. Meals | $1,000-$3,000; more for meals in restaurants | Students who live off campus can often purchase meal tickets for campus dining halls; these range from $1,000-$1,800. If you have access to a kitchen, you may want to do your own cooking (Cooking is not allowed in most residence halls.) Shopping for food in supermarkets is convenient, and a month's food bill would run between $150-$250 per person per month. |
| 4. Clothing | $500 or more | Winter in some parts of the United States can be cold, with temperatures below zero degrees centigrade for several months. If it is necessary to purchase winter clothes, this can add $600 or more above these figures. |
| 5. Campus Health Service | $100-$300 per year | Most educational institutions offer health services for students; they do not take care of students with serious or prolonged illness. For this reason it is essential that each student buy additional medical insurance. |
| 6. Medical Insurance | $200-$500 for students; additional for others | Standard health insurance policies do not cover the cost of eye examinations, eyeglasses or contact lenses. Dental and maternity coverage if desired are an additional cost. If you have a medical insurance policy at home, do not assume that it is valid in the United States. Many educational institutions require that all foreign students purchase health insurance. |
| 7. Personal Expenses | About $1,500-$2,500 per academic year | These are incidental expenses such as laundry, postage and entertainment. |
| V. EXTRA COSTS | ||
| English as a second language study in the United States (OPTIONAL) | $1,000 or more per month, including living expenses | The time required to improve English proficiency to a level sufficient to begin academic study may range from two months for advanced speakers to as much as a year for those with no English. |
| Summer Study (OPTIONAL) | Estimate the same as total costs for half an academic year | Often this additional expense during the summer results in an overall saving by eliminating travel expenses and making it possible to complete a degree in a shorter time. |
| (CAUTION: Many foreign students assume that it will be easy to find summer employment. However, it is not easy for U.S. or foreign students to find summer jobs. Foreign students must obtain permission to work. Approval is only granted after successful completion of a full year's study.) | ||
| Bringing Other Family Members (OPTIONAL) | 10%-15% addition to living costs for each dependent. | |
| Several thousand dollars plus licensing, maintenance and insurance | The cost of buying and operating a car in the United States is very high. Try to plan living so that car is unnecessary. If you find that you need a car, consult with the International Student Adviser on your campus before purchasing one. | |