Destination · US
Study in United States
The widest choice of programmes and the most generous funding for strong applicants.
- Tuition
- USD 20,000–55,000
- A year, indicative
- Living costs
- USD 10,000–18,000
- A year, one student
- Universities
- 0
- Partner institutions
- Courses
- 0
- Listed on this site
The passage
From Dhaka to United States, in four steps
- Apply Shortlist courses, prepare documents, submit from Dhaka.
- Offer A conditional offer first, unconditional once you meet the conditions.
- Visa Funds, medicals and biometrics for the student visa.
- Fly Pre-departure briefing, then orientation on campus.
Overview
No other country offers as many institutions or as much variety: roughly four thousand degree-granting colleges and universities, from community colleges charging under USD 10,000 a year to private research universities charging six times that. Funding is the decisive factor for most Bangladeshi applicants. Graduate assistantships at state universities routinely cover full tuition plus a living stipend in exchange for teaching or research work, which makes a fully funded master's or PhD realistic in a way it rarely is elsewhere.
Why students choose United States
Unmatched research funding, the ability to change major after enrolment, twelve months of Optional Practical Training after graduation and a further twenty-four for STEM graduates. Assistantships and tuition waivers mean the sticker price is often not the price a strong applicant pays.
How the education system works
Bachelor degrees run four years with general education requirements in the first two. Master's degrees run one and a half to two years, and PhD programmes five to six with coursework built in. The credit-hour system makes transferring between institutions straightforward.
What tuition costs
Public universities charge USD 20,000 to 40,000 a year for out-of-state and international students; private universities USD 35,000 to 60,000. Community colleges charge USD 8,000 to 14,000 and transfer credit into a bachelor degree after two years.
A year in United States
- Tuition
- USD 20,000–55,000
- Living
- USD 10,000–18,000
- Total
- USD 30,000–73,000
- Tuition and living combined
Indicative ranges across our partner universities, before travel, the visa fee and health cover. Estimate your own total.
What living there costs
Budget USD 12,000 to 18,000 a year outside the major coastal cities, and considerably more in New York, Boston or the Bay Area. Health insurance is compulsory and adds USD 1,500 to 3,000.
Scholarships and funding
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program funds graduate study in full. Beyond that, departmental assistantships are the main source of money: a teaching or research assistantship typically waives tuition and pays a stipend of USD 1,500 to 2,500 a month.
The student visa
An F-1 visa requires an I-20 from a SEVP-certified institution, payment of the SEVIS fee, a DS-160 application and an in-person interview at the Embassy in Dhaka. The interview is short and decisive: the officer is testing whether the study plan, the funding and the intent hang together.
Working while you study
F-1 students may work up to 20 hours a week on campus during term and full time in vacations. Off-campus work requires prior authorisation through Curricular or Optional Practical Training.
Staying on after you graduate
Optional Practical Training gives twelve months of work authorisation, extended by twenty-four for STEM degrees. Most graduates then move to an H-1B through the annual lottery, with employer-sponsored permanent residency following after several years.
Questions
What families ask about United States
How much should I budget for a year of study in United States?
Tuition runs roughly USD 20,000 to 55,000 a year depending on the institution and the subject, and living costs add another USD 10,000 to 18,000. Treat those as the planning figures for your first year — the visa authority will expect evidence covering both, not tuition alone.
Can I work part time while studying in United States?
F-1 students may work up to 20 hours a week on campus during term and full time in vacations. Off-campus work requires prior authorisation through Curricular or Optional Practical Training.
Budget as though that income does not exist. Visa officers do not count it towards your maintenance requirement, and neither should you.
What does a United States student visa application need?
An F-1 visa requires an I-20 from a SEVP-certified institution, payment of the SEVIS fee, a DS-160 application and an in-person interview at the Embassy in Dhaka. The interview is short and decisive: the officer is testing whether the study plan, the funding and the intent hang together.
Can I stay and work in United States after I graduate?
Optional Practical Training gives twelve months of work authorisation, extended by twenty-four for STEM degrees. Most graduates then move to an H-1B through the annual lottery, with employer-sponsored permanent residency following after several years.
Next step
Talk to a counsellor about United States
Bring your transcripts and your IELTS result, or tell us what you expect to score. We will tell you which universities are realistic, what the year will cost and what the visa needs. The first conversation is free.