Major + more
Look beyond a single subject
Compare your major, electives and academic requirements.
EducationUSA · Undergraduate studySTUDY ABROAD / US
Think bigger.Your next chapter.In the USA.
Think bigger / Big questions. Campus spirit. Your own direction.
A major that excites you. A research lab that asks your kind of questions. A campus with a life of its own. Explore American degrees, graduate study and carefully planned transfer routes—with the cost and the conditions in view.
Guide checked · Official sources
SEATTLE / IN FOCUSUSA
Steve Ginn · CC0 · Display cropped
Funding first
The offer can change the comparison
Check the net cost and the award’s renewal conditions.
EducationUSA · Undergraduate costs2+2, mapped
Another route to a bachelor’s
Plan the transfer credits and destination from the start.
EducationUSA · Community colleges01 / YOUR STARTING POINT
Where are you starting from?
Choose the closest match. Use it to plan your next checks, not as an admission decision.
Find a campus where your interests can develop.
Compare what you will study inside and beyond your major. Class sizes, advising, student organisations and the surrounding city all shape the experience.
EducationUSA · Undergraduate study- 01Check major prerequisites, general education requirements and the degree’s total credits.
- 02Confirm tests, essays, recommendations and deadlines for each institution and intake.
- 03Compare the full cost after confirmed aid, including any conditions for keeping it.
Keep in mind
Academic flexibility has conditions. Admission to a university may not guarantee entry to a competitive major; confirm the course rules and current student-status restrictions.
02 / THE REAL COST
Compare the net cost. Then read the small print.
The same headline tuition can lead to very different bills once fees, insurance, housing and confirmed aid are included.
Ask for the international cost of attendance.
Use the institution’s estimate for your programme and year. Check tuition, mandatory fees, books, housing and meals. Public universities can have non-resident rates; do not budget using an in-state fee without confirmation.
EducationUSA · Undergraduate costsRead the housing and health-insurance terms.
Price the actual contract period, meal plan and travel to campus. Ask about the required health plan, any waiver conditions and cover between semesters. Keep insurance in one budget category so it is not counted twice.
EducationUSA · Prepare for departurePrice every stage of the degree.
Check whether fees can rise and whether your award renews. Include summer living costs if the published estimate covers only the academic year. For transfers, calculate the community-college stage and the university stage separately.
EducationUSA · Transfer costs03 / MAKE THE NUMBERS YOURS
What would your first year look like?
Change the example figures to match your shortlist. See the expenses and the cash you may need to set aside.
UNIVERSITY STUDY / 12 MONTHS / USD
Illustrative first-year example in US dollars, not a university quote or a national average. Replace the figures with your institution’s international cost of attendance. Include health insurance within living costs here unless it is already in the fees. Build a separate total for the full degree.
YOUR FIRST-YEAR PICTURE
Total cash to plan forUS$61,400.00
- Estimated expenses
- US$59,900.00
- Refundable deposit
- US$1,500.00
Living costs × 12 + tuition + other fees + arrival costs. The deposit is added separately as money to set aside.
Build from funds you can rely on.
No sign-up. Your figures stay in this page.This example deducts no unawarded scholarship or income from a job you have not secured.
04 / FUNDING THE MOVE
Find the right kind of support.
Start with an affordable study plan. Then explore funding that matches your background.
Merit and need-based university aid
Availability for international students varies by institution. Ask whether aid needs a separate application and whether it affects admission consideration. Compare the remaining cost and renewal conditions, not just the scholarship amount.
Explore undergraduate fundingGraduate assistantships
Some graduate programmes offer teaching or research roles with a stipend, tuition support or both. These are especially common at PhD level. Verify the duties, award period and which costs remain your responsibility.
Read graduate funding guidanceExternal awards and home-country support
Check official scholarship providers for nationality, subject and degree restrictions. Deadlines may arrive before the university application deadline. Count support in the budget only once you know the award and its terms.
Explore ways to finance studySTUDY. WORK. UPSKILL.
Work during and after your studies.
Understand the study-related options, then prepare for the next stage.
On-campus work
Eligible F-1 students can generally work on campus for up to 20 hours a week while classes are in session. Break-period rules differ. Check with your designated school official, including how assistantship hours count toward the limit.
UW International Student Services · On-campus workCurricular Practical Training
CPT must be integral to the academic programme and authorised by the school’s designated official before work starts. Check eligibility, timing and the specific employer and dates. An internship offer alone is not permission to work.
UW International Student Services · CPTOptional Practical Training
Eligible F-1 students may apply for up to 12 months of OPT at a given education level; prior pre-completion OPT can reduce what remains. Work must relate to the field of study. Qualifying STEM graduates may apply for a further 24 months, with additional conditions.
UW International Student Services · OPT05 / FROM INTEREST TO ACTION
A route you can work through.
Start at the step that matches where you are. Course dates and your circumstances set the pace.
- 01
Build a balanced shortlist
Compare the programme, academic environment and a budget you can sustain. Include options beyond familiar university names.
- 02
Prepare each application carefully
Track the institution’s documents, testing policy, essays and funding deadlines. Different programmes can use different processes.
EducationUSA · Applications - 03
Compare the complete offers
Read the net cost, funding conditions, refund terms and any restrictions on the major or transfer route.
- 04
Arrange I-20 and visa preparation
After admission, follow the school’s financial-evidence process, then the SEVIS and visa application instructions for your circumstances.
US Department of State · Student visas - 05
Check the rules for your arrival date
Review current DHS guidance with your school official before travel. Confirm your documents, entry conditions and any deadlines after arrival.
DHS · September 2026 student-status changes
06 / KEEP YOUR PLAN CURRENT
Worth knowing before you apply.
Reviewed guidance and official publishers to follow as your plan develops.
STUDENT STATUS / SEPTEMBER 2026
Your arrival date matters.
DHS has scheduled new fixed-period admission rules for F students from 15 September 2026. They also affect extensions, school transfers and changes of study. Check the latest implementation guidance with your school official, including transition rules for existing students.
DHS · September 2026 student-status changesReviewed 10 September 2026AFTER STUDY / STEM OPT
Check the degree code, not the marketing label.
The STEM extension depends on an eligible degree and other conditions, including an eligible employer and a formal training plan. A course described as “tech-focused” is not enough. Verify the classification and application requirements.
UW International Student Services · STEM OPTReviewed 10 September 2026From the official newsroom
Study-related immigration updates from DHS · Study in the States. This is a selected feed, not a complete list of opportunities.
Feeds are refreshed on request, with up to 30 minutes of caching. Publisher dates are shown above, with updated dates labelled; a headline may refer to a closed call. Always read the full notice.
THE QUESTIONS THAT MATTER
A little more clarity.
Useful answers to bring into your next conversation.
Many undergraduate programmes include a major plus other coursework, but access to majors and changes can be restricted. Ask the university about academic requirements and the school official about the new September 2026 student-status rules before planning a switch.
UW International Student Services · Status guidanceYOUR NEXT MOVE, WITH STAAR
Turn “what if” into a first step.
Tell us where you are today. We’ll help you explore what comes next.
SOURCE NOTES
Check the detail at its source.
Reviewed 10 September 2026. Course, funding and immigration rules can change. Use the current rules for your nationality, residence and intake.
EducationUSA · Undergraduate study
Degree structure and choosing an academic fit.
EducationUSA · Undergraduate costsTuition, living expenses and international financial aid.
EducationUSA · Graduate fundingAssistantships, awards and graduate cost planning.
EducationUSA · Finance your studiesFunding research and financial preparation.
EducationUSA · Community collegesThe 2+2 model and checking transfer-credit arrangements.
EducationUSA · Transfer costsFinancial planning across both stages.
EducationUSA · Advising centresOfficial advising resources in India and worldwide.
EducationUSA · ApplicationsDocuments and requirements by study level.
EducationUSA · Prepare for departureHousing, health coverage and arrival preparation.
DHS · Financial abilityEvidence reviewed before the school issues an I-20.
US Department of State · Student visasI-20, SEVIS, visa application and entry guidance.
UW International Student Services · On-campus workUniversity guidance on F-1 employment conditions.
UW International Student Services · CPTCurricular training and advance school authorisation.
UW International Student Services · OPTPost-completion training eligibility and application requirements.
UW International Student Services · STEM OPTExtension, employer and training-plan conditions.
DHS · September 2026 student-status changesOfficial announcement of fixed admission periods and related changes.
UW International Student Services · Status guidanceUniversity interpretation and transition guidance; confirm with your own school.