The USA is one of the most preferred study abroad destinations among international students. It is appealing to students because of its highly-ranked universities, globally recognised coursework, employment opportunities, flexible education system, a plethora of courses and more. If you plan to study in the US, this article is for you as it covers the higher education system in the USA, how it works and other fascinating information.
Key Highlights

• The US education system levels
• What you must know about the USA educational system
  • Master’s degree
  • Doctorate-level program
• Important aspects of the higher education system in the USA
• Academic intakes
• Types of educational Institutions in the USA
  • Public Universities
  • Private Universities
  • Community Colleges
• What are the IVY league universities in the USA?

The US education system levels
Indian education system comprises primary, secondary, higher secondary, graduation, and post-graduation. Whereas, the higher education system in the USA consists of elementary school, middle school/junior high school, high school and higher education/college/university.

What you must know about the USA educational system

• Master’s degree
  Post-completion of your graduate study program, you can embark on your master’s journey. For your post-graduation, you can opt for coursework aligned with your career choices. So, for a master’s program, you can choose between an academic master’s degree and a professional master’s degree. The colleges in the USA that offer Academic master’s degrees cover streams like Arts and Science. On the other hand, a professional master’s degree aims to cover the area of your interest by providing you with more specialisations.
  Duration of master’s courses

  • The duration of academic master’s degrees will be 1-2 years.
  • A professional master’s study program might be 1-3 years long, depending on the course selection.

• Doctorate-level program
  If you want to study post-completion of a master’s degree, you can choose to pursue PhD study program. Most universities offer rigorous coursework, and you are expected to submit a dissertation or a project at the end of the last year. The course duration might be between 3-6 years, depending on your selected university and specialisation.
  

Important aspects of the higher education system in the USA

• The US varsities offer research-intensive coursework allowing the student fraternity to think beyond theory.
• You will benefit from state-of-the-art infrastructure, such as innovative teaching tools, the latest study material and other interactive digital tools enhancing your student experience.  
• You will be a part of a vibrant campus where you can network with international students and professors. This network will immensely help during your transition from academic to career.

Academic intakes

• The higher education system in the USA usually follows the fall intake, which begins in August/September.
• Some colleges in the USA have Spring intake, which starts around January/February.

Types of educational institution in the USA

• Public Universities
  Did you know that the federal government of America doesn’t play a major role in the higher education system of the USA? Instead, state governments are actively involved in the education ecosystem of their respective states. Hence, each state’s education system may vary depending on the state government. Public educational institutions are also known as State Universities.
  Some famous public universities in the USA:

  • University of California
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Virginia
  • University of Florida

• Private Universities
  The government does not run these colleges in the USA. Most Ivy League universities are private, which can be expensive compared to public universities. But you must not let this create a hindrance in your academic journey. You can opt for an education loan for study abroad programs as it covers the holistic cost of education, including tuition fees, airfare, accommodation cost, equipment cost, living expenses and more.
  Some popular private varsities in the US

  • Harvard University
  • Princeton University
  • Yale University
  • Brown University

• Community Colleges
  These educational institutions offer a program of 1-2 years. You can earn a certification or an associate degree from these colleges.
  

What are the IVY league universities in the USA?

The IVY league universities are the premier universities in the US that are extremely popular among international students.

IVY league universities

• Brown University
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• Dartmouth College
• Harvard University
• Princeton University
• University of Pennsylvania
• Yale University

So, we hope this information about the USA’s higher education system assists you in planning your academic journey. If you are planning to study in the USA but are reluctant to go ahead due to a lack of funds, we are here for you. We, at Avanse, offer customised student loans with benefits such as quick sanctions and flexible repayment options. All you have to do is connect with us! All the best!