As you consider which school to attend, you must consider the cost of your education and living as well as how you are going to pay for everything. According to a US State Department official, funding is the biggest issue facing students travelling to the USA.

What is the cost of tuition?
Schools in the USA vary greatly in cost, from several thousand dollars a year to tens of thousands of dollars each year, just for tuition. Consider the cost of a school before applying. Use the first link to the right to search for schools based on tuition cost. One helpful suggestion, to really understand how expensive American education is, find out how much your tuition would be in your own currency. Use the link at the right for world currency conversions. For example, in 2004, the tuition at one of the large, public universities in the southern part of the United States was $6,500 for an international student for only one semester. In June of 2004, here is what that would be in other currencies:   516,500 Kenyan Shillings,   5,377 Euros,   298,510 India Rupees,   or 12,451,920 Venezuela Bolivares! Looking at your total expense in your own currency will help you see how feasible it is to study overseas.

What are the other costs?
Many students only consider tuition. However, that is only part of the expense. Books alone in the USA can cost you between 500 to 5000 dollars! What about housing? What about travel expense? What about food? All of these most be considered and will vary greatly depending on the region of the US. For example, for every $100 you would need to live in Arkansas, you would need $150 to live the same way in California. Check with the schools you are interested in and ask them for a total cost estimate per year. To see how far a dollar goes in different cities, use the third link to the right.

Are scholarships and financial aid available?
YES!!! There is help available. Many southern, rural, or small universities are working hard to recruit international students. Such schools are more likely to provide scholarships to international students than larger, urban schools which already have a large international student population. Use the scholarship search engine link to the right along with other Internet search engines for scholarships to help locate money for college! Be sure to also ask about scholarships and financial assistance from your university, from the college at that university, from the specific department in which you will be studying, as well as from the international student office at that university.

May I work while in school?
The answer is yes. HOWEVER, you are limited to 20 hours a week and you may only work on-campus. Most on-campus jobs only pay US minimum wage. Even if you make $120 US per week, that rarely covers all of your living expenses, not counting tuition and books.

The bottom line...
Education in the USA is expensive. Make sure you understand the total cost and have a plan for paying it. American culture values individualism and doing things on your own. As a result, there is no leniency in payment due dates. At American schools, it you are late on even one payment, you are prohibitted from registering for the next term. Mercy or extensions are rarely made available. Because of this adherence to deadlines, you must have a specific plan for how to pay for your education. NASFA has partnered with the US government to offer great resources to help in this area. Click on the Funding Help For Internationals link to the right to read their suggestions on paying for your education.
 
This type of planning is essential. In fact, before you are granted a student visa, you must have money available to cover the first year's expenses, as well as a plan for where you will find funding for the remainder of your education.