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How to Apply to Universities in United States (2027): Step by Step

The United States hosts more international students than any other country, through thousands of accredited universities and colleges that each set their own admissions standards, tuition and deadlines rather than following one national system. F-1 visa holders can work up to 20 hours a week on campus during study, and most graduates qualify for 12 months of post study work, extended to 36 months in eligible science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.

Verified 7 Sep 2026 Sources
Public tuition, per year
$32,100 to $61,050
international students
Living cost, per month
$1,000 to $3,500
typical range
Work during study
20 h
per week
Post study work
1 yr
after graduation
Intakes
Fall, Spring, Summer
main application cycles

Bachelor (undergraduate, first year)

  1. Research universities individually. There is no single national application; compare admissions pages, tuition and deadlines school by school.
  2. Apply through the Common Application, the Coalition Application, or the university's own portal. Most universities offer an early round, commonly closing around November 1, and a regular round, commonly closing in December or January.
  3. Submit official secondary school transcripts, translated into English where needed, along with any required essays.
  4. Submit standardized test scores if the university requires or accepts them, and an English proficiency score (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test or PTE Academic) if your prior schooling was not conducted in English.
  5. Pay the application fee for each university, or apply for a fee waiver where one is offered.
  6. Once admitted, confirm your place, pay any deposit, and submit financial documentation so the university's international student office can issue the Form I-20.
  7. Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, then apply for the F-1 student visa at a US embassy or consulate, including a visa interview.

Master and other graduate study

  1. Contact the specific graduate program or department directly; many US universities set deadlines and requirements by department rather than by one university wide date.
  2. Submit transcripts from your bachelor's degree, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and, for many programs, GRE or GMAT scores.
  3. Submit an English proficiency score if required.
  4. Once admitted, follow the same Form I-20, SEVIS fee and F-1 visa process used by undergraduate applicants.
Sources, checked 7 September 2026
  1. https://educationusa.state.gov/experience-studying-usa
  2. https://educationusa.state.gov/experience-studying-usa/us-educational-system
  3. https://educationusa.state.gov/your-5-steps-us-study/apply-your-student-visa
  4. https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901
  5. https://www.ice.gov/sevis/practical-training
  6. https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/work/working-in-the-united-states
  7. https://www.bu.edu/isso/2026/05/19/visa-integrity-fee/
  8. https://research.collegeboard.org/trends/college-pricing/highlights