Study in the United States: 2027 Guide for International Students

Why Study in the United States?

The United States is home to many of the world’s top-ranked universities and one of the most diverse student communities anywhere — more than 1 million international students study there (SEVIS counted about 1.58 million active F-1 and M-1 student records in 2024, according to ICE’s SEVIS by the Numbers). It is also one of the most expensive places to study: annual tuition typically runs from about $20,000 to $60,000+, and living costs in the major cities are roughly $1,500 to $3,000 a month.

Tuition and living-cost ranges are ScholarshipUnion estimates; your university’s I-20 shows the official cost of attendance you must prove you can fund.

This guide walks you through the practical side of life in the US: where to study, what it costs, where to live, and what everyday student life feels like. Start with the visa and work basics below, then read the pages in order.

Explore the USA Guide

F-1 Student Visa: Fees You Will Pay

Most degree students come to the US on an F-1 visa. Once your university issues your Form I-20, budget for these government fees before you fly:

The SEVIS fee for J-1 exchange visitors is $220 (ICE I-901 fee page). The $185 application fee is listed on the State Department’s visa fee page. The visa integrity fee (at least $250) is set by the July 2025 budget law, but DHS said it would be implemented “in a future publication” (Federal Register, 22 July 2025). No implementing notice had appeared as of 6 October 2026, and the State Department fee page did not list it — check that page for whether it is being charged when you apply. Some embassies also add a reciprocity (issuance) fee depending on your nationality.

Screening and Entry Restrictions

Since June 2025, consular officers review the online presence of all F, M and J visa applicants, and you are asked to set your social media profiles to public (State Department). You should also book your interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country of nationality or residence (State Department, updated 15 July 2026). Apply early.

Since 1 January 2026, Presidential Proclamation 10998 fully or partly suspends visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries and holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents, with limited exceptions. For 19 countries, all visas are suspended; for 19 others, including Nigeria, F, M and J student and exchange visas are among those suspended. Check the State Department’s current list before you accept an offer or pay deposits.

New since 15 September 2026: a fixed period of stay

DHS has replaced “duration of status” for F and J students with a fixed admission period. If you are admitted on or after 15 September 2026, you are admitted until the program end date on your I-20 or DS-2019, for at most four years. To stay longer — a longer PhD, a change of degree level, or OPT that runs past your admission date — you must file an extension of stay with USCIS on Form I-539 ($470 on paper, $420 online, per the USCIS fee schedule G-1055, edition 1 October 2026).

• The grace period to leave after finishing your studies or OPT drops from 60 to 30 days.
• Delays caused by academic probation or not completing on time are generally not accepted as reasons for an extension.
• Graduate students generally cannot transfer schools or change their educational objective during a program, unless SEVP allows an exception.
• Language-training students are limited to 24 months in total.
• Students already in the US under duration of status can stay until their program end date, for at most four years, without a new admission date — but if they travel abroad, they get a fixed admission date when they return.

The rules are strict, and breaking them can end your status. In short:

• On-campus jobs: up to 20 hours a week while school is in session, and full-time during official breaks. New students can start up to 30 days before classes begin.
• CPT (Curricular Practical Training): off-campus work that is part of your curriculum, such as a required internship, authorised by your school’s DSO. It usually requires one full academic year of study first, unless your graduate programme requires CPT straight away. A year or more of full-time CPT ends your eligibility for OPT.
• OPT (Optional Practical Training): up to 12 months of work in your field at each degree level, before and/or after graduation. You file Form I-765 with USCIS ($470 online, $520 on paper).
• STEM OPT extension: an extra 24 months for graduates of designated STEM degrees working for an E-Verify employer.

Other off-campus work needs separate USCIS approval, for example for severe economic hardship after your first academic year. Rules from Study in the States (DHS); fees from the USCIS fee schedule (G-1055, edition 1 October 2026).

Health Insurance

Healthcare in the US is expensive — a single emergency visit or ambulance ride can cost thousands of dollars. Almost every university requires international students to enrol in its student health plan or prove comparable cover, so budget about $200 a month (our estimate; school plans vary widely). J-1 exchange visitors must meet federal minimum insurance requirements.

The Fulbright Scholarship is the US Government’s flagship international exchange programme, covering tuition, living expenses, and travel. For graduate study at Stanford, see Knight-Hennessy Scholars; for development-focused master’s degrees, including at US universities, see the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship.