1. About USA:

The United States of America (USA), commonly referred to as the United States (US), America or simply the States, is a federal republic consisting of 50 states and a federal district. The 48 contiguous states and the federal district of Washington, D.C., are in central North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is the northwestern part of North America and the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also has five populated and nine unpopulated territories in the Pacific and the Caribbean. At 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million km2) in total and with around 317 million people, the United States is the fourth-largest country by total area and third largest by population. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries. The geography and climate of the United States is also extremely diverse, and it is home to a wide variety of wildlife.

2. Facts:

Flag		Time zone Summer (DST)	(UTC−5 to −10) (UTC−4 to −10)
Capital	Washington	Total Area	9,826,675 km
Largest city	New York City	Population	317,871,000
Official language(s)	English
Government	Federal presidential constitutional republic	GDP (Nominal) Per capita	$52,852 (2014 estimate)
Calling code	+1	Currency	United States dollar ($) (USD)

American public education is operated by state and local governments, regulated by the United States Department of Education through restrictions on federal grants. The U.S. spends more on education per student than any nation in the world, Some 80% of U.S. college students attend public universities. The United States has many competitive private and public institutions of higher education. According to prominent international rankings, 13 or 15 American colleges and universities are ranked among the top 20 in the world. There are also local community colleges with generally more open admission policies, shorter academic programs, and lower tuition. Of Americans 25 and older, 84.6% graduated from high school, 52.6% attended some college, 27.2% earned a bachelor's degree, and 9.6% earned graduate degrees. The basic literacy rate is approximately 99%. The United Nations assigns the United States an Education Index of 0.97, tying it for 12th in the world.

Higher education in the United States is an optional final stage of formal learning following secondary education, often at one of the 4,495 colleges or universities, and junior colleges in the country. Strong research and funding have helped make United States colleges and universities among the world's most prestigious, making them particularly attractive to international students, professors and researchers in the pursuit of academic excellence. According to the Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Academic Ranking of World Universities, more than 30 of the highest-ranked 45 institutions are in the United States (as measured by awards and research output). Public universities, private universities, liberal arts colleges, and community colleges all have a significant role in higher education in the United States.

Recent high visibility issues include greater use of the Internet (such as Massive open online courses), competency-based education, cutbacks in state spending, and rapidly rising tuition and burdensome student loans. As for public expenditures on higher education, the U.S. trails some other OECD nations but spends more per student than the OECD average, and more than all nations in combined public and private spending. As of 2012, student loan debt exceeded one trillion dollars, more than Americans owe on credit cards

The United States has a total of 4,495 Title IV-eligible, degree-granting institutions: 2,774 4-year institutions and 1,721 2-year institutions. As of 2010, the US had 20.3 million students in higher education, roughly 5.7% of the total population. About 14.6 million of these students were enrolled full-time. In 2006, 19.5 percent of the adult population had attended college but had no degree, 7.4 percent held an associate's degree, 17.1 percent held a bachelor's degree, and 9.9 percent held a graduate or professional degree. The historical gender gap had practically vanished. New England had the highest proportion of college graduates, and the South Central states the lowest.

The United States Department of Education did a longitudinal survey of 15,000 high school students in 2002 and surveyed them again in 2012 at age 27. The survey found that 84% of the 27-year-olds had some college education but only 34% achieved a bachelor's degree or higher; 79% owe some money for college and 55% owe more than $10,000; college dropouts were three times more likely to be unemployed than those who finished college; 40% spent some time unemployed and 23% were unemployed for six months or more; and 79% earned less than $40,000 per year.

4. Why USA?:

• World class institutes – America consistently holds the top spots for the best universities in the world, which says a lot about the quality of post-secondary education. Those who study at American universities will be happy to know that their credentials will be universally recognized.
• International opportunities – The USA is home to many different kinds of people from all over the world. As a result of the winning combination of a diverse population, the best brains in the world, high quality institutes and being home to the world’s biggest metropolises, the USA may be your launch pad to an international career.
• Diverse society – America is home to people of every country. The well mixed society will allow you to integrate into American society.
• Support for international students – The US is home to the world’s largest number of international students, and to support this population, there are many resources in place that make studying in the USA as easy as possible.
• Conversational, broad-based education – The American curriculum emphasizes that students be well-rounded individuals so that they can learn life skills that are applicable to many professions and situations.
• Wide variety of programs to study – Due to the sheer number of people and post secondary institutes in America, no other country can rival the USA in the diversity of the programs it offers. If you are looking to study something very specific, chances are there is a school that offers that program in the USA.
• Unique culture – The “American Dream” is a popular ideal in many countries, and the USA is the only place where you can try your best and reach it.
• Flexible study programs – It is common that students enroll in community colleges for 2-3 years before transferring into a nationally ranked university, so they have time to discover and explore the topic of their choice. The result is a very flexible, accommodating degree that you can customize to suit your interests.
• Be highly sought after by employers – More than 50% of undergraduates from American private universities immediately pursue postgraduate education, while 98% of the remainder secure positions in their chosen careers within six months of graduation.” Obtaining an American degree is a signal to employers that you are a worthy candidate for their company.

5. Cost:

Average tuition fee range (per year):

Tuition fee varies from Public to Private Institutions in USA;

• Private Universities: $14,000 - $35,000
• Public Universities: $10,000 - $25,000
• Community Institutions: $7,000 - $14,000

Living Expenses range (per year):

Total Living Cost: $9,000 - $12,000

• Books and Supplies: $400 - $1,500
• Medical Insurance: $350 - $700
• Local Transportation: $1,000 - $1,500
• Accommodation: $4,000 - $9,000
• Food & Beverage: $1,800 - $2,400
• Entertainment: $600 - $1,000
• Personal Expenses: $800 - 1,500

Travel Expenses (per year): :

• Air Travel: $1,800 - $2,500 (TWO International Round Trips)

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