How Big Is the Cost of Studying Abroad Really?
Tuition
Tuition in the U.S. has always been notoriously expensive, and in recent years, repeated tuition increases are no longer surprising.
According to official statistics from USNEWS in 2017, several typical universities were selected based on public versus private status and different majors for reference.
Public Universities:
√ Engineering:
University Texas-Austin : $18,030
University of Wisconsin-Madison : $25,269
University of California-San Diego : $26,322
√ Education:
University of Texas-Austin : $16,828
Ohio State University : $31,032
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor : $44,222
√ Business:
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor : $64,350
University of California-Los Angeles: $57,560
Indiana University(Kelly) : $44,460
Private Universities:
√ Engineering:
Brigham Young University : $13,360
University of Pennsylvania : $32,286
Duke University : $52,925
√ Education:
Syracuse University : $25,974
Stanford University : $47,331
Northwestern University : $50,424
√ Business:
Washington University in St. Louis : $55,400
Carnegie Mellon University : $61,440
Columbia University : $68,792
From the data above, we can see that tuition varies significantly depending on the nature of the school and the type of major.
U.S. universities are divided into private and public. Typically, private universities charge higher tuition than public ones, and business programs cost more than STEM and liberal arts majors.
Of course, this is not absolute.
Housing
For these three types of housing, the price gradient is roughly: Town house < single house < apartment . Apartments have better amenities, such as swimming pools and gyms, so they cost the most.
Take a senior student known to CheersYou（清柚教育） as an example, during her undergraduate years she lived in Fairfax City, Virginia, a well-ranked town with a great location, just a half-hour drive to the capital DC. But housing was much cheaper than DC. At that time, she lived in a townhouse, with each room costing $600 a month. Later, she lived in a single house, with each room at $850 a month.
During graduate school she moved to Boston, living alone in an apartment for $2,000 a month.
So let's take a median: if you're not living alone in an apartment, average monthly rent is around $800, and average monthly utilities around $150. (Note: In San Francisco, NYC, and Boston, housing prices are much higher than other areas; in other regions, average rent can be calculated at around $600 per month.)
Living Expenses
First, the cost of living index for U.S. university locations can be divided into 4 tiers:
Tier 1 Cities:
Refers to major U.S. metropolises such as San Francisco, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, etc.
Living expenses:
Approximately $1,500/month, about 120,000 RMB/year.
Tier 2 Cities:
Refers to large U.S. cities such as Pittsburgh, Seattle, Dallas, Atlanta, Austin, Detroit, etc.
Living expenses:
Approximately $900/month, about 72,000 RMB/year.
Tier 3 Cities:
Refers to cities in southern, midwestern, and southeastern states such as Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Utah, Colorado, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, etc.
Living expenses:
Approximately $700/month, about 56,000 RMB/year.
Tier 4 Cities:
Cities in states like Oklahoma, Missouri, Louisiana, etc.
Living expenses:
Approximately $500/month, about 40,000 RMB/year.
Food, Clothing, and Other Expenses
Food and clothing expenses really depend on personal preferences.
If you eat out, in tier 1 cities you typically spend at least $20, plus 10%-20% tips and tax. Costs in tier 1 city areas are indeed high. If you cook at home, groceries might cost about $80 per week.
For clothes, entertainment, etc., you can estimate based on your own spending habits.
There Are Many Ways to Save Money
Choose a School with Lower Tuition
If you're outstanding, you can find good schools with lower tuition, such as Texas A&M University, University of Texas at Austin, etc. Also, public schools generally charge less than private ones, because private universities rely mainly on student tuition, government subsidies, and alumni donations for funding, while public universities rely primarily on government appropriations.
Secure Scholarships
The way scholarships are awarded varies by school. Some schools allocate them directly based on academic ranking, while others require students to apply on their own.
Seek Internships, Part-time Jobs, TA/RA Positions
Students need to proactively seek out these opportunities. Internships are the most recommended, as they not only offer decent pay but are also very beneficial for finding a job in the U.S. afterwards. TA and RA positions help develop skills and also provide good compensation.
