Studying abroad in the USA has its perks. The US boasts the world’s top universities including Harvard University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, offering world-class education in many programs. Thanks to the USA’s flexible work-study options, students can work part-time while studying, effectively managing living expenses during their education.
If you’re considering studying in the USA, you are in the right place. This article delves into what the higher education system in the USA is like. It thoroughly explores the country’s education system, providing valuable insights to prospective international students about their study abroad experience.
Types of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the USA
1. Public Universities
Public universities are funded by the state, boasting huge campuses and a huge student body. Most public universities offer associate, undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate degrees in many fields to local and international students. These institutes follow the GPA grading system, sticking to a 4.0 scale.
Academic disciplines typically offered can vary widely but common examples include arts, sciences, engineering, business, and more. The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Purdue University, and the University of Washington fall under public universities in the USA.
2. Private Universities
Instead of relying on state funding, private universities depend on tuition fees, private contributions, and endowments. These independent institutions are famous for their high academic standards, top-tier reputations, and strict acceptance criteria.
Like public universities, they follow the 4.0 grading scale, offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in programs ranging from liberal arts to sciences and engineering. Some globally recognized private universities are Harvard University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
3. Community Colleges
Community Colleges offer two-year Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degrees. With these degrees, you can either transfer to a four-year university in the USA or apply for employment in your relevant field. These academic institutes offer vocational courses focused on specific skills for immediate employment.
Some community colleges also offer certificate programs in fields like Nursing, Business, or Information Technology, using a grading system similar to universities. Community colleges are usually cheaper and provide students with transferable credits for a bachelor’s degree in a US university.
4. Liberal Arts Colleges
Liberal Arts Colleges offer education in arts, sciences, humanities, and social sciences. They focus strongly on undergraduate education, characterized by their small class sizes and emphasis on communication and critical thinking skills. Students enrolled in liberal arts colleges spend the first two years studying general courses after which they choose a major they want to specialize in.
These colleges offer four-year degrees, including a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) while some may offer master’s degrees. Some examples of liberal arts colleges include Amherst College, Williams College, Smith College, and Carleton College. Out of these colleges, Smith College and Carleton College offer master’s degrees.
5. For-profit Institutes
For-profit Institutes, also known as propriety schools, are educational institutes run by private businesses. Their main objective is to generate profit through tuition fees collected from non-traditional students enrolled in a range of degree programs. This makes them more expensive than non-profit colleges.
These institutes offer associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in common fields of study such as health sciences, business administration, criminal justice, and culinary arts. The programs focus more on practical skills and training. Berkeley College, Monroe College, and Plaza College are common examples of for-profit institutes.
6. Technical Institutes
Technical Institutes, commonly known as institutes of technology are specialized higher education institutes that focus on engineering, technology, applied science, and natural sciences. These institutes combine study with practical learning. Technical institutes prepare students for careers in technical fields and applied sciences.
You can acquire certificates, diplomas, and undergraduate or graduate degrees from technical institutes. One example is the Georgia Institute of Technology, famous for its Industrial design, Mechanical engineering, and Biomedical engineering programs.
Types of Degree Levels in the USA
1. Bachelor’s Degree (B.A or B.Sc.)
A bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by universities to students who complete a study duration of four years. To receive the degree, students have to complete 120 to 130 semester credit hours, depending on the course they are enrolled in. The number of credit hours assigned to each course represents the number of hours students must complete each week.
US universities require prospective bachelor’s students to have completed secondary school education. Students must provide their academic transcripts at the time of admission. For example, Missouri Southern State University requires first-time college students to meet requirements like a minimum high school GPA of 2.25. Some colleges may have additional requirements like a standardized test score or proof of English language proficiency.
2. Master’s Degree (M.A, M.S., MBA)
A master’s degree is a graduate degree awarded to students who demonstrate a high level of expertise and mastery in a specific field of study. Students must complete 30 to 60 credit hours to acquire a master’s degree.
The United States is home to more than 1,000 universities that offer master’s degrees, including the University of Chicago, Columbia University, and Yale University. This graduate degree is more self-directed and involves research and coursework.
3. Doctoral Degree (Ph.D., Ed.D.)
A doctoral degree is the highest academic achievement awarded by universities. It is usually earned through original research or significant contributions to existing knowledge in a particular field.
Doctoral programs typically last three to seven years, requiring students to complete 60 to 120 credits depending on the program. For instance, a Ph.D. in Engineering at Wright State University requires students to complete 90 credit hours of coursework.
FAQs: Higher Education in the USA
What Grading System Does Higher Education in the USA Use?
Higher education systems in the USA use the Grade Point Average (GPA) system for grading. It is a standardized method that compares academic performance consistently across institutions and programs. The system is recognized globally and used as a benchmark to decide whether a student meets the eligibility criteria to apply to universities in another country.
The system converts letter grades assigned to students (like A, B, C, D, or F) into numerical averages. Each grade corresponds to a numeric average and may be accompanied by pluses or minuses that indicate variations in performance. The average is multiplied by the number of credit hours for that course and the resulting values are averaged across all courses taken by the student to obtain a cumulative GPA. The CGPA represents the overall academic performance of the student.
Understanding the USA’s higher education system is the first step to beginning your academic journey abroad. It will help you decide whether the US matches your career goals and aligns with your academic objectives.
We hope that this article on higher education in the USA was informative and helpful. If you’re interested in knowing more about studying abroad, feel free to check out our Guide to Studying in the USA and Available Programs for International Students!
