Every year, thousands of international students travel to the United States for further studies. Although most universities in the U.S. offer world-class education, the costs of education in the country can be quite expensive for most Canadian Students.
Considering that studying in the U.S is an expensive undertaking for most international students, one should budget for all the expenses anticipated. That includes tuition fees and other living costs such as accommodation, transportation, and food.
In this article, we look at the study costs for each level of education. Read on and find out the amount of money you will spend on tuition fees and living costs in the United States.
Tuition Fees for Canadian Students in the U.S.
Tuition fee is the primary expenditure for education, and it varies depending on the level of study and place of study. A graduate school student will pay more tuition fees than a college student. Also, private institutions charge higher tuition fees than public ones.
Generally, tuition fees in the United States are higher than those of Canada. The average tuition fees for an undergraduate degree program in a U.S. public university costs around $26,290. While in Canada, it costs around US $20,600 for international students.
According to the latest report by College Board for 2018/2019 academic year, the average tuition fees for a public two-year college (community or technical college) costs around $3,600 per year. Doctoral degrees costs between $28,000 and $55,000 per year.
For a public four-year college, a state resident would pay around $10,230 while an international student would pay about $26,290 per year. A private non-profit college would cost approximately $35,830 in a year for the four-year degree courses.
When it comes to subjects of study, courses such as education, humanities, and arts tend to be relatively cheap. Medical, engineering and MBA programs are usually expensive. One would pay an average tuition fee of up to $60,000 in a year for these courses.
Accommodation Costs
Most institutions in the United States offer on-campus accommodation for international students. The good news is that staying in campus hostels is quite cheaper compared to renting an apartment. To secure an on-campus room, apply for it as early as possible.
In 2018/2019, on-campus accommodation for a public two-year college averaged $8,660 per year while that for a public four-year college averaged $11,140. At a private four-year college, the room and board costs averaged $12,680.
Renting an apartment can be very expensive, especially when opting to live in urban cities. The cheapest apartment in rural areas would cost around $500 per month. In every month, you will spend about $3,500 on rent when residing in the urban.
Essential living Costs
As a Canadian student, saving funds for your living expenses can be of great importance when seeking to study in the United States. Some of these expenditure includes grocery shopping, communication, books, transportation, insurance, and personal expenses.
Considering that the living cost in the United States is slightly higher than that of Canada, you should keep good track of your expenses to avoid overspending. You’ll need between $10,000 and $25,000 to take care of your living costs.
- Books and Supplies: Books are essential education resources that you should budget for before travelling. You will need between $500 and $1,200 per year for books. You’ll spend more when buying books for medical and engineering courses.
- Transportation Costs: If the institution doesn’t offer any means of transport from your area of residence to school, you will have to use public transport services. In every month, you will need around $50-60 for public transport.
- Communication Costs: As a Canadian, you’ll always want to communicate with family and friends back in Canada. You should, therefore, budget for it. You’ll need around $80-100 every month for internet services and phone bills.
- Personal Expenses: Include costs for clothing, laundry, toiletries, groceries, and many others. In every month, you will need around $250 for personal expenses.
Sources of Funding to Study in the United States
In many cases, Canadian students sponsor themselves to study in the United States. But if you cannot raise the entire amount of money for your education, seek funding from an institution offering financial aid to international students.
Fortunately, most universities in the United States offer financial aid to students. In MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) alone, 58 per cent of undergraduate students get financial assistance. Most of these funding opportunities come in the form of scholarships.
Final Words
When budgeting for your education in the United States, you should visit an institution’s website to find out more about their tuition fees. Some institutions have online calculators that can help you determine the amount of money you will need to study in the U.S.
Before travelling to the United States, consider converting your Canadian money to the United States currency at Knightsbridge Foreign Exchange. You can also use their free international money transfer services to pay for your fees in the United States.