Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Research your options and define your priorities. Contact the EducationUSA advising center nearest you and browse college search engines online. Check to see if the schools your are considering are accredited.
Colleges offer only undergraduate degrees while universities offer graduate degrees as well, but the terms are often used interchangeably.
In general, you must have completed high school and you must be at least 17 years of age.
The academic year usually runs from August through May with breaks for holidays. Most universities use either the semester system (two terms), the quarter system (students attend three out of four total terms), or the trimester system (three terms).
Undergraduate programs follow high school and lead to an associate (two-year) degree or a bachelor (four-year) degree. Graduate programs follow a bachelor’s degree and lead to a master’s or doctoral degree.
Yes, but they are highly selective and require a heavy courseload across a total of six years of study.
In a joint-degree program, students begin a graduate program in their fourth year of college, earning both degrees upon graduation.
MBA programs typically last one to two years.
With permission of the International Student Office, international students may work on campus up to 20 hours/week their first year and can apply to work off-campus in subsequent years.
Essentially there is no difference.
Distance education occurs when a student and an instructor are in different places. Learning occurs by mail, telephone, internet, or by other means.
Yes. To find accredited online distance learning programs, please search the Distance Education Accrediting Commission website.
Yes, although you may lose some credits and require extra time to complete your degree.
You must fulfill the requirements of a freshman applicant, as well as any supplemental information required by the transfer institution.
Community colleges are typically state-supported and provide the first two years of a four-year undergraduate degree.
Community colleges offer lower costs, easier admission policies, close ties to state schools,and many of the required courses connected to a degree.
The transfer process varies for each school. It is best to target the four-year institution early and determine what is needed to transfer.
Search the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Post-secondary Education website to see if an institution is accredited.
For specialized program accreditation, see “Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education,” available from American Council on Education.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission identifies ways to avoid college degree scams.