The United States’ colleges and universities are home to the largest number of international students in the world. In fact, in six of the last seven years, more than 1 million international students have chosen to study abroad in the U.S. There are many reasons why the U.S. is a popular destination, including:

• Academic reputation
• Career opportunities
• Social and multicultural lifestyles
• Flexibility and independence
• Strong support resources

The U.S. offers a breadth of options when it comes to schools. Institutions across the country differ in size, purpose, and personality — but they all place importance on maintaining programs that are friendly and receptive to international students.

Many international students studying in the U.S. highlight the flexibility of the education system as a major benefit. 

A recent report found that about half of the top-rated global universities are located in the U.S. Additionally, more than 5,000 institutions of higher education in the U.S. provide a broad range of undergraduate and graduate-level programs across many disciplines. You can choose your courses, majors, areas of study, and structure programs to meet your individual needs and preferences.

Technology rules

Given the growing significance of technology in the professional world, it’s important to note that many of the world’s leading technological degree programs can be found at U.S. schools, such as:

• University of California, Berkeley
• The University of Texas at Austin
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Stanford University

What to study

One advantage of the United States is the variety of degree programs available. No matter what you want to study — the arts, engineering, history, business, science, and everything in between — you can find a school that offers it. Some universities even let you create your own major! And if you’re still undecided on what you want to study, then the U.S. is a great place to be — with so many different options available, you can take a variety of classes to figure out what interests you and which major to pursue.

The U.S. experience

With its multicultural population, the U.S. provides a welcoming environment for students from other countries. Many schools have special programs, clubs, and advisors to welcome you and ease your transition to campus life.

United States colleges and universities also offer unrivaled opportunities for social and cultural exploration and participation in music, the arts, sports, entertainment, and other activities.

Getting there

The key to admission for international students to any of these schools is demonstrating your English-language proficiency. The best way to do that? By taking the TOEFL iBT^® test, the gold standard of English proficiency exams. It measures 100% academic English content, and it’s preferred by 9 out of 10 universities in the United States. (It’s also accepted by 11,500+ institutions in more than 160 countries.) 

Once you’ve aced your TOEFL iBT test, it’s time to decide where to send your scores. No matter which school you choose, you’re on the road to an exciting adventure. 

Learn more about the journey to studying abroad.