United States · Education sectorUS court grants preliminary injunction to block rule that would have ended Duration of Status admissions for international students
ICEF Monitor ↗ (read at source)
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Study in
Imagine a campus the size of a town, the widest choice of courses anywhere, and up to three years of work in a STEM field after you graduate.
Widest choice of universitiesUp to 36 months’ OPT (STEM)Campus life
New YorkBostonChicagoLos Angeles
Your journey
From choosing a course to working in United States
Seven steps, using United States’s real rules. Tap any step, or let it play.
Step 1 of 7 · Start here
Choose a career
- Start with what you enjoy and the career you want.
- Pick a course in United States that leads there.
- An adviser checks the entry requirements with you, free.
Key facts
Taught master’s1–2 years
Work after graduating12 months, 36 with STEM
Work while studying20 hrs/week on campus
IntakesFall (Aug/Sep) main · Spring (Jan) · limited Summer
Master’s1–2 years (30–60 credits)
Bachelor’s4 years (~120 credits); a 2-year Associate transfers into year 3
Post-study workOPT 12 months, plus a 24-month STEM extension (36 months in total)
Term-time workOn-campus only, 20 hrs/week; off-campus needs CPT or OPT
Proof of fundsNo fixed figure: the full first-year cost printed on your I-20 (about $25k at a community college to $70k+ at a private university)
Every policy line is checked against official sources. Last verified: 22 Sep 2026.
Life in United States
Climate
Varies hugely by state: plan for real winters in the north-east and midwest
Transport
Campus shuttles; most cities need a car, so check transit before choosing housing
Healthcare
University health plan, usually compulsory and billed with tuition
Typical rent
$600–$1,500 / month for a shared apartment, far higher in coastal cities
Part-time work
On-campus only: 20 hrs/week in term
Careers here
What students build in United States
Careers with example courses at our partner universities in United States. Open one to see its career ladder and the courses.
Grows with AI
AI, data & analytics
Build and question the systems everyone else will use.
Data analyst, junior data engineer, BI analystExample courses in United States Grows with AISoftware & cybersecurity
Every AI system needs to be built, connected and kept safe.
Junior developer, SOC analyst, cloud support engineerExample courses in United States Human-centredNursing & healthcare
The careers AI supports but cannot replace.
Registered nurse, public health officer, pharmacy technicianExample courses in United States Grows with AIEngineering & robotics
Put AI into the physical world: machines, cities, energy.
Graduate engineer, engineering technologist, CAD technicianExample courses in United States Grows with AIClimate, energy & environment
The energy transition needs people who understand the science.
Environmental officer, sustainability analyst, field technicianExample courses in United States Changing with AIBusiness analytics, finance & FinTech
Numbers are automated. Judgement about them isn’t.
Financial analyst, business analyst, audit associateExample courses in United States Changing with AIManagement, marketing & supply chain
Lead people and projects in AI-powered organisations.
Operations coordinator, marketing executive, supply chain analystExample courses in United States Changing with AIDesign, UX & digital media
AI makes images. Designers solve problems for people.
Junior UX designer, content producer, game artistExample courses in United States Human-centredTeaching & early childhood
AI tutors exist. Children still need teachers.
Early childhood educator, teaching assistant, ESL teacherExample courses in United States Changing with AILaw, justice & compliance
AI drafts contracts. Lawyers carry the responsibility.
Paralegal, compliance analyst, legal researcherExample courses in United States Human-centredHospitality, tourism & events
Experiences are made by people.
Front office supervisor, events coordinator, commis chefExample courses in United StatesAlready studying in the United States?
Free help for students in the United States →Our service for your next course is free: advice, applications to our partner universities and colleges, and document checks, planned around your visa end date. Tuition and the university’s own fees are paid to the university as usual.
Checklists
Admission & student visa checklists for United States
Free for everyone. Tick items off as you go (saved on this device), keep a printable copy, then ask an adviser for a free check of your list.
- Required
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- If applicable
- If applicable
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Want a dated plan to your intake? Build your full checklist for United States.
Free adviser check
Send us your list. We’ll tell you what’s missing.
An adviser reviews your checklist for United States and replies within one working day with:
- Which “if applicable” documents apply to you
- A realistic, dated plan to your September 2027 intake
- Courses at our partner universities that fit your profile
- The common mistakes that delay United States applications
United StatesSeptember 20270% ready18 required to go
Free. Your checklist summary is sent with your message, so you don’t have to type it. We give general guidance on official checklists; we do not prepare visa applications.
Education system
How education works in United States
Elementary & middleGrades K–8, ages 5–14No leaving certificate
High schoolGrades 9–12, ages 14–18High School Diploma (+ optional AP exams)
Community college2 years, 60 creditsAssociate degree, transfers into year 3
University undergraduate4 years, ~120 creditsBachelor’s (BA / BS / BEng)
Graduate, taught1–2 years, 30–60 creditsMaster’s (MA / MS / MEng / MBA)
Graduate, research4–7 years after a bachelor’sDoctorate (PhD)
Institutions
Universities, colleges and schools
Search the institutions we work with, by type.
UniversitySoutheast Missouri State UniversityCape Girardeau
- Bachelor of Science - Computer Science
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Business Analytics
UniversityTexas State University - San MarcosSan Marcos
- Bachelor of Science - Computer Science
- Bachelor of Science - Civil Engineering
UniversityAvila University Arizona (AUA)Goodyear
- STEM Master of Business Administration - Project Management
UniversitySouth Dakota State University - BrookingsBrookings
- Bachelor of Science - Civil Engineering
UniversityCentral Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant
- Master of Public Health - Public Health - Public Health Practice
UniversityMonroe UniversityNew Rochelle
- Master of Public Health - Biostatistics and Epidemiology
UniversityWichita State UniversityWichita
- Bachelor of Science - Computer Engineering
- Bachelor of Business Administration - Accounting
- Bachelor of Science - Electrical Engineering
- Bachelor of Science - Biomedical Engineering
- Master of Science - Earth, Environmental, and Physical Sciences
- Bachelor of Fine Arts - Graphic Design
- Master of Education - Special Education - Early Childhood Unified
UniversityMercy University - Dobbs FerryDobbs Ferry
- Master of Science - Cybersecurity
- Bachelor of Science - Legal Studies
UniversityWestcliff University - IrvineIrvine
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
UniversityUniversity of IdahoMoscow
- Master of Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
UniversityKent State University - KentKent
- Master of Science - Biomedical Sciences - Cellular and Molecular Biology - Cellular Biology and Structure
UniversityColorado Mesa UniversityGrand Junction
- Associate of Applied Science - Sustainable Agriculture
- Bachelor of Arts - English - Secondary Teaching
- Bachelor of Business Administration - Hospitality Management
UniversityChatham UniversityPittsburgh
- Master of Arts - Graphic Design
UniversityNorthern Arizona University - Flagstaff MountainFlagstaff
- Master of Science - Applied Criminology
UniversityUniversity of California, Riverside - UCR University ExtensionRiverside
- Post-Graduate Diploma - Tourism and Hospitality Management
UniversityUniversity of Illinois ChicagoChicago
- Master of Science in Business Analytics
- BS in Computer Science
UniversityUniversity of Central FloridaOrlando
- Hospitality and Tourism Management (MS)
- Computer Science (BS)
UniversityRochester Institute of TechnologyRochester
- Data Science MS
- Cybersecurity BS
UniversityAmerican UniversityWashington, DC
- MS in Business Analytics & Artificial Intelligence
- BS in Business Administration
A selection of the institutions we work with. Register with us for personalised course recommendations.
Curriculum
What and how you’ll study
- Everything counts in semester credit hours: a lecture course is usually 3 credits, a bachelor’s needs about 120 and a master’s 30–60. F-1 students must carry a full load every term (12 undergraduate or 9 graduate credits).
- Grades are letters converted to a 4.0 GPA. A 3.0 is the working minimum for graduate standing and assistantships; below 2.0 means academic probation.
- The liberal-arts structure surprises most South Asian students: you take general-education courses outside your subject and often declare your major in the second year.
- Accreditation comes from independent regional accreditors (MSCHE, SACSCOC, NECHE, HLC, WSCUC), not a ministry. Check that a school is both regionally accredited and SEVP-certified before you apply.
Assessment
How you’ll be assessed
| Continuous coursework | Weekly problem sets, quizzes and labs, usually 20–40% of the grade |
|---|---|
| Midterms and finals | One or two midterms plus a final, together 40–60% |
| Papers and projects | Research papers with strict citation, group projects, a capstone or thesis |
| Participation | Formally graded in many courses: silence and absence cost marks |
| Academic integrity | Plagiarism or contract cheating can end in dismissal and loss of F-1 status |
K-12
We don’t place school-age students here
Higher education only
Luminous places school-age students in Canada and New Zealand only. On an F-1 visa a child can attend a US public school only in grades 9–12, for a maximum of 12 months, and the family must repay the district’s full cost. Public K–8 is not allowed. SEVP-certified private schools can enrol children at any grade, which is the usual route. A parent cannot get a dependent visa from a child’s F-1 — F-2 covers only a student’s spouse and children — so a parent travels on a visitor visa instead. For United States we can answer general questions, but we don’t handle school admissions here.
Where we place children →Costs & work
What it costs
| Tuition (UG) | $25k–$60k / yr (public out-of-state avg $31,880; private avg $45,000) |
|---|---|
| Tuition (PG) | $18k–$70k / yr |
| Government fees | SEVIS $350 + visa MRV $185 + Visa Integrity Fee $250 where charged |
| Health insurance | $1,500–$3,500 / yr, usually compulsory |
Sample ranges. Confirm your programme’s exact fees in your offer letter.
Self-service
True cost & proof of funds
Tuition$36,000
Living costs$18,000
Visa fee$785
Health cover$2,500
Total for 1 year$57,285≈ USD 57,285 at sample rates · Funds must match the cost of attendance on your I-20. Visa figure = SEVIS $350 + MRV $185 + Integrity Fee $250
Sample 2026 figures and exchange rates. The live calculator uses the dated policy register and daily exchange rates.
Latest news
United States: education & immigration updates
Official visa announcements and international-education news, updated automatically every day.
United States · Education sectorStudyportals and Made Impact partner to showcase personal international education stories
The PIE News ↗ (read at source)United States · Education sectorUS government warns universities to limit their authorisation of Curricular Practical Training work placements
ICEF Monitor ↗ (read at source)United States · ImmigrationDHS Proposes Additional H-1B Fee
USCIS ↗ (read at source)United States · Education sectorF-1 visa issuance drops 34% in a year as US immigration policies bite
The PIE News ↗ (read at source)United States · Education sectorUS coalition files lawsuit to challenge rule ending Duration of Status admissions for international students
ICEF Monitor ↗ (read at source)United States · Education sectorVisa delays and policy uncertainty projected to reduce foreign enrolment in the US by more than 100,000 students this fall
ICEF Monitor ↗ (read at source)United States · Education sectorUS universities sell opportunity. A $100k OPT fee could change the product
The PIE News ↗ (read at source)How we help with visas. Luminous International is an education consultancy. We are not licensed immigration consultants (RCIC) or lawyers, and we do not represent anyone to any immigration authority. We provide general guidance and document checklists. For Canadian study permits, visa guidance is free and general only. Our paid services cover admissions documents, not immigration documents. We do not offer paid visa document preparation for any destination.