The United States of America has always been a top study destination for attaining overseas education by scores of students across the world. Being counted as one of the countries with best education system in the world, the USA education system offers a rich blend of diverse cultures with world-class technologies and infrastructure. The USA is home to some of the best schools and universities in the world, and it is needless to say that pursuing a degree program from one of these universities can increase your chances of being recruited by top corporate offices, MNCs and government agencies. However, before starting with your education there, it is important for you to be familiarized with the education system of the country.
Under the education system of the USA, it is mandatory for a student to start their education at the age of 6 up to the age of 18 and beyond. The USA education system is divided into 4 major stages namely, Primary, Middle Education, Secondary Education, and Tertiary Education. Let’s have a close look at all the four sectors below:
| Education | Level | Age (in years) | Class/Grade | Duration (in years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | Elementary School | 6 to 11 | 1 to 5 | 5 |
| Secondary | 1. Middle/Junior High School 2. High School/Senior High School |
11 to 14 14 to 18 |
6 to 8 9 to 12 |
3 4 |
| Tertiary | Higher Education | 18 onwards | University | 3 or 4+ |
Primary Education (Elementary School)
All the basic subjects which are essential for the development of a child is what is covered at this stage of the USA education system. Consisting of 5 grades, the elementary school puts special emphasis on basic academic learning which includes reading, writing, and counting. Further, it also includes studying the basics of Mathematics, English, Science, Social Studies, fine arts, etc.
Secondary Education (Middle and High School)
Following the primary level, secondary education includes middle/junior high school and high school within its domain. While the students aged between 11 to 14 years are enrolled in middle school, those between 14 to 18 years of age constitute the high school of the USA education system. Towards the 9th grade of high school, the students choose their core curriculum courses which generally include English, Science, Mathematics, Physical Education, Health, Computer Science, Social Studies (American and world history, geography, etc.). Additionally, the students can choose optional subjects/electives which provides them with a platform to explore other areas of study apart from their core subjects.
Tertiary Education (Higher Education)
After completing their 12 years of study or high school, a majority of students enrol themselves for undergraduate courses, as specified in the USA education system, that typically lasts for 4 years. During the bachelor’s degree, the first two years are dedicated to educate the student on a wide variety of subjects, such as social sciences, arts, history, literature, science, etc. The next two years involve building a strong foundation in the specific field of study the student has chosen.
On completion of the bachelor’s degree, the students can then enrol in a master’s program in their chosen major as per the USA education system. The post-graduate studies take one to two years to complete and include classroom training, seminars, and completing the master’s thesis or the final semester project. For enrolling into various masters in USA, the students need to take entrance exams such as GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, etc based on their disciplines. If the student wants to push their academic boundaries and delves deeper into their field of study through research, they can pursue a doctorate degree or a PhD which can be done upon the completion of the master’s degree. The students can pursue a career in research which generally lasts for five to six years, depending upon the area of study.
Post-secondary education in the US, offers a wide range of programs, including non-degree programs that lead to certificates and diplomas and associate, bachelor, first professional, master, advanced intermediate, and research doctorate degrees.
Here's an overview of the qualifications available in the US:
| Qualification | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Associate degree | 2 years | Job oriented programs that allow a graduate to launch a career, it is also equivalent to first two years of a 4-year bachelor's degree |
| Bachelor's degree | 3 to 4 years | Undergraduate degree that includes core courses, major, minor and elective. The four years are known as Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior. |
| Master's degree(Professional) | 1 to 3 years | Leads students from first degree to particular profession; duration depends on field of study |
| Master's degree(Academic) | 2 years | Generally awarded in traditional disciplines of humanities, arts, and science; may lead students to doctoral programs |
| Doctorate or PhD | 5 to 8 years | Completed under the supervision of faculty advisor, PhD is awarded on completion of dissertation and successful defence before a panel of faculty members |
There are a few types of higher education institutions in the U.S. No matter how trivial they may seem,these institutions have their differences, from physical size, to what part of the curriculum they focus on, and the time it takes to finish them.
Universities are higher education institutions, often referred to as post-secondary education institutions, which usually last up to four years. Although similar in function, universities have their differences when it comes to core ideals.
From public universities to Ivy League schools, here is what differentiates them and what they have in common.
Public universities:
Public universities are higher education institutions that are funded by public means, meaning they are state-funded as opposed to private universities. These universities vary in size; however, they are often bigger in size than private ones and are characterized by lower tuition costs.
Public universities tend to enroll more part-time and commuter students. For many, these universities are the best option due to their priority, which is finding the most affordable option. However, international students that wish to enroll will have to pay higher fees than domestic students at such universities.
Private universities:
Private universities are not funded by the state government, and they account for a significant number of enrollments in the U.S. However, due to the fact they’re not funded by taxpayers’ money but rather they rely on primarily donations, endowments, and tuition itself, these universities tend to have higher tuition fees than public universities.
International and domestic students alike are on par when it comes to tuition costs in private universities. Although they’re more costly, many of these institutions offer financial aid or a range of scholarships, which can either minimize costs or take care of them completely.
For-profit private universities
For-profit private universities differentiate from non-profit ones because their aim is not only to educate students but to generate revenue for the share-holders and they tend to gravitate towards money-making. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that these universities don’t deliver quality education as well. In fact, there are many for-profit private universities with great curriculums.
Non-profit private universities
Non-profit private universities’ main purpose is not to be the most profitable institution, rather offer high-quality education. These institutions generally have a better reputation than for-profit ones due to their attention being more focused on producing high-quality curriculums and education.
Bay Atlantic University(BAU) is one of the non-profit private universities in the U.S. and has numerous scholarships awarded to both domestic and international students.
Research Universities
Research universities can be public and non-profit private universities, which are regarded as doctorate degree-granting institutions that spend millions in research expenditures and have high research activities.
There are 131 such institutions in the U.S., which include all eight Ivy League universities and other highly regarded universities, and many public universities.
Ivy League schools
Ivy League schools consist of eight Northeastern U.S. based universities and is an American collegiate athletic conference. However, the bond between these universities goes beyond sports, and they are all regarded for their academic excellence, social elitism, and admission selectivity.
The eight Ivy League schools include Harvard University, Princeton University, Brown University, Dartmouth University, Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and Yale University.
Universities may further be categorised into:
| Type of University | Description |
|---|---|
| Ivy League | Ivy League, which is actually a sports conference of eight private colleges in the Northeast includes some of the oldest American institutions. These are perceived to be some of the most esteemed places to study and therefore extremely competitive for admissions. |
| Public Ivies | Group of over 30 state-funded or public universities in the US. Although this is not an official classification of universities, these universities have earned their reputation and are considered prestigious and academically rigorous. Education costs are slightly lower than the Ivy League universities. |
| Liberal Arts Philosophy | This philosophy promotes a well-rounded academic education that develops the overall thought process of students. The courses begin with a wide variety of courses in humanities, languages, arts and the social sciences before specialising in a particular field. The primary focus for faculty is on undergraduate teaching rather than research, with a small student population and high student to faculty ratio. |
| Specialist institutions | Universities and Institutes that specialise in providing degrees in a certain field such a degree in music, visual and applied arts, etc. |
| Land Grant Colleges and Universities | Large, publicly-funded universities |
| Research Intensive Institutions | Universities offering the highest level of research and are a good starting point for students seeking doctoral degree. |
Colleges, as opposed to universities, will usually take less time to complete, with an average of two years to graduate. However, there are also numerous four-year colleges, which are often akin to universities. Colleges, similar to universities, differ from each other and are separated into several kinds.
Here are the college types, what they have in common, and what they don’t.
Liberal arts colleges
Liberal arts colleges are mostly non-profit private colleges (there are a number of public liberal arts colleges) that are relatively small in size, and they offer programs in humanities, sciences, and social sciences. They tend to put emphasis on an undergraduate and well-rounded education rather than research, and they generally don’t focus on athletics.
These colleges will usually offer one expansive area of study instead of breaking one degree into a few branches. They tend to focus on the more academic side of higher education rather than vocational skills.
Community colleges
Community colleges, sometimes referred to as junior colleges, are primarily two-year higher education institutions. They provide lower-level tertiary education, and they grant associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates. For the most part, these institutions attract local students and are usually funded by local tax revenue.
Many students use community college as a stepping stone to a four-year university or a liberal arts college. Although the term junior college is used to describe community colleges; junior college refers to private two-year colleges, whereas community college refers to public two-year colleges.
Other colleges
Other than liberal art colleges and community colleges, there are religious colleges, same-sex colleges, specialized colleges, art colleges, and for-profit colleges. These colleges can be either public or private, and often very similar to community colleges in function, but with a specific set of rules that are unique to each institution.
There are a number of different types of universities and colleges where you can choose to get your education—from community colleges to private universities. We hope this list of different types of higher education institutions in the U.S. helped you better understand the types of universities and colleges there are and helped you make up your mind regarding where you want to continue your studies!
The USA education system has gifted the students with some of the best universities in the world that provide world-class educational amenities, highly-qualified faculty members and high-tech laboratories for research studies. Listed below are some of the top universities in the USA that are highly-regarded all over the world, pursuing higher education in which can provide you with the necessary exposure and numerous career opportunities:
Experience of Studying in the US
One of the most attractive features of the U.S. higher education system is the flexibility it provides through the number and diversity of institution types it encompasses. This diversity offers students options to specialize in a variety of academic disciplines and even gain employment training.
Nearly 4,000 accredited institutions make up U.S. higher education in the United States. Unlike many countries, U.S. higher education institutions are not centrally organized or managed, but are accredited on a national or regional level by independent accrediting bodies.
A variety of institution types offer higher-education degrees. Liberal arts institutions, for example, offer courses in the arts, humanities, languages, and social and physical sciences. The majority of liberal arts institutions are private. Private colleges and universities are funded by a combination of endowments, gifts from alumni, research grants, and tuition fees. Private colleges and universities are usually smaller than public institutions and can have a religious affiliation or be single-sex schools.
Community colleges are another option and provide two-year associate degree programs to prepare students to continue studies for an undergraduate degree or help them gain occupational skills for immediate employment. State colleges and universities, also called "public universities," were founded and subsidized by U.S. state governments to provide a low-cost education to residents of that state. Public universities generally offer access to research opportunities and classes in a wide variety of fields of study. These universities tend to be very large and generally admit a wider range of students than private universities. Each student's interests will guide his/her choice among the many possibilities.
Regardless of the institution type, in the United States, students typically earn credits for courses they take and these credits count towards the completion of a program. Courses are often divided into "core" subject areas to provide the foundation of the degree program and "major" courses to provide specialization in a subject area. Students can also take "elective" courses to explore other topics of interest for a well-rounded educational experience.