Higher and Professional Education

The United States has a variety of options for young people and adults to receive higher education or acquire a profession. They include community colleges, universities, vocational schools, adult schools, occupational centers, and classes of continuing professional education. This page contains and overview of these programs and how to pay for them.

Community Colleges

Community colleges are an easy and affordable way to receive basic higher education. Community colleges offer 2-year associate degree programs of wide variety, from marketing and communications to graphic design to vocational nursing and paramedic training. It is also possible to take classes in a community college without the goal of attaining a degree.

Community colleges do not have admission exams or competition. All you need to start attending a college is to sign up, select classes for the semester and pay tuition. Foreign students may additionally need to take an English test to establish that their level of English is sufficient to understand the instruction. Community colleges do not require a school diploma, thus even people who did not graduate high school can attend a community college.

Tuition

Because most community colleges are public institutions run by the state, they give preference to state residents who pay taxes in the state. Residents of the same state where the college is located pay in-state tuition which ranges from $1,500 to $8,500 per year depending on the state. Out-of-state residents pay out-of-state tuition which ranges from $10,000 to $20,000 per year depending on the state. Financial aid may be available to cover full or partial cost of the tuition as more fully discussed below.

Many community colleges have non-credit English as a Second Language (ESL) classes that are free of charge. “Non-credit” means these classes do not count towards earning an associate degree.

Establishing Residency

To prove state residency, the student must have an eligible immigration status and show that the student has been living in the state for a certain period of time (one year in most states) and intends to stay in the state.

Not all states allow students on humanitarian parole, including Uniting for Ukraine, or in the TPS status to establish residency. Refer to this chart to find your state rules and see https://www.higheredimmigrationportal.org/states/ for more detailed information on your state’s policy. If your state does not allow students in your status to establish residency, you will have to pay out-of-state tuition. Students on F-1 visa cannot establish state residency.

Universities

Universities, sometimes also colloquially referred to as “colleges”, offer more comprehensive bachelor’s, master’s and doctor’s degrees.

Undergraduate Degree

A bachelor’s degree is awarded after a 4-year undergraduate program that provides fundamental education with a “major” – a subject in which the student specializes. There is a wide variety of majors, from literature, history, political and social sciences to exotic subjects like toxicology or oceanology.

Admission to universities is competitive: the better the university, the higher the competition. For example, “ivy league” schools which are regarded as the best in the nation accept only 3-5% of applicants. Universities accept students based on a combination of school grades, a personal essay, information about the student’s extracurricular activities and letters of recommendation. Some but not all universities require students to submit their SAT or ACT test scores – these are standardized tests measuring the student’s knowledge of high school material. Foreign students must additionally submit a TOEFL or IELTS score showing their level of English proficiency. While excellent school grades are essential, universities give preference to well-rounded students with experience in volunteer work or other activities contributing to society.

Public universities, like community colleges, offer discounted rates to state residents. Many of the best universities are private and do not distinguish between in-state and out-of-state residents. University tuition can range from $10,000 to $60,000 per year. Most universities offer financial aid to admitted students in the form of federal, state or university-based grants and scholarships, which can be need-based or merit-based. Many universities waive tuition for students from low-income families. Students who do not qualify for grants, scholarships or tuition waiver, can apply for student loans. These programs are more fully discussed in the Financial Aid section below.

It is also possible to transfer to a university from a community college. Students of modest means often choose to study for two years in a cheaper community college and then transfer to a university for two more years to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Community colleges impose extra requirements on such transfer students to make sure they complete courses required to meet the university transfer standards.

Graduate Degrees

Master’s and doctorate programs are 3 to 4-year graduate programs geared towards giving students practical skills in a particular field of work. Some of the most popular degrees are Master of Business Administration (MBA), Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Juris Doctor (JD).

Admission to master’s and doctorate programs is similar to the undergraduate admission and is based on a combination of the grades in the bachelor’s diploma, the applicant’s resume, a personal essay and letters of recommendation.

Tuition in an in-person master’s or doctorate program can range from $40,000 to $80,000 per year. Some schools offer cheaper online programs. Many schools offer partial or full scholarships for most desirable students or students in extreme financial need. Student loans are available to cover the remainder of the tuition.

Professional Education

Adult schools, also known as vocational schools or occupational centers, offer short-term programs meant to teach adult students a particular profession, from accounting to cosmetology to appliance repair. The programs can range from several weeks to two years in length. Similar programs of continuing professional education (CPE) can be found in colleges.

The cost of professional education programs ranges from zero to several thousand dollars. Some schools are government-funded, some may be paid for through the WIOA program more fully discussed in the Financial Aid section.

Many adult schools also offer free ESL classes for immigrants.

Financial Aid

Higher education and professional education can be expensive, but there are grants, scholarships and loan programs that can help you pay for your or your children’s studies. A few most popular options are discussed below. If you have been admitted to a particular school or college, the best way to find out about all financial aid options available to you is to inquire at the school’s Financial Aid department.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA, is a centralized way to apply for federal grants and loans covering tuition for eligible students with financial need.

Normally, only U.S. citizens, green card holders, or students eligible for a green card are eligible for FAFSA. The U.S. government made an exception for Ukrainian humanitarian parolees paroled before September 30, 2024 – this category is also eligible. Uniting for Ukraine arrivals paroled after September 30, 2024, and TPS holders without valid humanitarian parole are not edible for FAFSA.

Through FAFSA, eligible low-income students can obtain a federal grant named Pell Grant up to $7,395. This grant is enough to cover all or a major part of the 2-year in-state tuition in a community college. Pell Grant is given to undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need and who have no prior bachelor or higher degree (i.e. who are attaining their first higher education). Pell Grant need not be repaid.

FAFSA also offers federal loans to those eligible students who do not qualify for Pell Grant or whose tuition is not fully covered by Pell Grant. These loans have relatively low interest rates and favorable repayment terms. The repayment term starts after the education program is completed.

State Financial Aid for Immigrant Students

Some states, including California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia, offer state financial aid to immigrant students who are ineligible for federal aid through FAFSA. Usually, to be eligible for state financial aid, the student must have attended a high school in the state for two or three years and graduated it. California, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Utah allow public universities to offer private institutional aid or scholarships to students who pay in-state rates or graduate from their high schools, regardless of their immigration status.

See https://www.higheredimmigrationportal.org/states/ for more information on each state’s policy.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

WIOA is a complex initiative meant to help adults and young people with significant barriers to employment to attain better jobs. WIOA has an adult program that can pay for professional education such as paralegal, medical technician or CDL training for people over 18 years old. It also has a youth program that helps low-income children and adolescence with poor English skills attain college education or career training.

Immigrants who are employment-authorized are eligible for WIOA. Men 18 to 25 years old must be registered for Selective Service to be eligible for WIOA.

WIOA is administered on the county level. Google “WIOA” and the name of your county to find the agency in your county that accepts applications.

State and Local Financial Aid

Some states, cities and schools offer their own need-based or merit-based financial aid to immigrant residents. For example, California has College Promise Grant that allows all low-income state residents to attain an associate degree in a community college for free. New York has a similar state program for state residents called TAP. Many universities likewise allow students from low-income families to study for free.

Inquire at the school financial aid department to find out which state or local financial aid options are available to you.

Scholarships for Higher and Professional Education

Global Scholarships offers a detailed guide to scholarship opportunities for international students, including refugees and displaced persons. The platform features various university scholarships worldwide for undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies.

One of the offerings on this platform is the $3,000 Scholarship for International Students, which provides financial assistance to students worldwide, including those with refugee status. This scholarship can cover expenses for different levels of education.

To find a scholarship on the Global Scholarships website, follow these steps:

1. Visit Global Scholarships.
2. Select Your Country or region to view available scholarships.
3. Filter by Level of Study (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) to narrow down your options.
4. Review the Eligibility Criteria for each scholarship to find the best fit for your needs.
5. Apply Directly through the links provided.