How to Find Your Dream Graduate School in the US

We all know the whole world loves idolizing the American college experience. From movies and TV shows like Animal House and Greek to full-on cultural phenomenons like the Pitch Perfect series, the world loves American undergraduate life...or, at least, “Greek” American undergraduate life. 

But what about US graduate life? Aside from the glorious Elle Woods and her journey through law school, there isn’t a lot of hype about post-undergraduate studies. We’re here to change that! Read on to learn our advice on finding your dream USA graduate school.

Why find US graduate programs?

The USA has some of the best graduate programs in the world. From MBA programs at UPENN or Harvard to MSN programs at Johns Hopkins or Duke, there are a ridiculous amount of top-tier graduate degree programs that call the USA home. If you’re looking for a competitive graduate degree program, chances are the USA has more than a handful in your chosen field!

Beyond just the rankings of these US graduate school programs, the higher educational school system in the US is among the widest and most inclusive systems around the world. Students come to the USA not just for the superior academics, but also for all of the bells and whistles that come with being in an academic environment. The typical US university goes far beyond just a classroom and can include more student clubs, extracurricular activities, volunteer opportunities, and experiential learning opportunities than you know what to do with. It makes for an incredibly well-rounded academic experience at USA graduate school!

10 tips for finding the best graduate schools in the USA

With a ridiculous amount of schools and a huge geographic area to cover, it can be super overwhelming to start the process of applying to a USA graduate school. Let’s dive into some of our top tips to help narrow down your search!

1. It’s not all about ranking

We know everyone wants to go to the best program within their field, but there is more to finding your dream school than just its rank. Think about the overall fit of the program as you’re making your initial graduate school USA list. Does it have the right academic culture? Is the program size the right balance for you? Does the program have high percentages of graduates getting jobs? Identify what your top criteria are for “the right fit” for your future US graduate programs and work from there to narrow down the list!

2. It’s not all about the program, either

While the “fit” of the program is definitely 90% of the battle, you can’t forget about the rest of the university! You’ll probably be spending the bulk of your time in your program’s facilities and with your program’s participants, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t part of the university as a whole. You could enroll in a kickass program with lots of high-fliers and exciting opportunities, only to find that everyone else you meet on campus is a dud and the rest of the campus facilities are underdeveloped. You won’t feel proud to be part of this academic community if you don’t connect with it!

Don’t choose an underdeveloped campus! Choose a gorgeous library like this instead.

3. Weigh the structure of the program

Do you work best in huge lecture halls or more intimate class settings? Are you looking for a vibrant, multicultural class from all over the world or do you want the “all-American” feel during USA graduate school? Do you want to be in school year-round to get it over with or do you want the summer off so you can travel home?

There are no right or wrong answers to questions like these, it’s all about personal preference and what type of academic environment will get you to your goals. Be sure to weigh factors like accessibility to professors to ask questions/review the material more in-depth, if there will be opportunities to learn about diversity and have unique outside-the-classroom experiences, and what the academic schedule looks like.

4. Compare costs accurately

Each USA graduate school has their own way of calculating tuition and subsequent program costs, and can lead to a wide variation depending on the type of program and school. A two year graduate program at a private school can cost you significantly more than a three year program at a public school (and honestly vice versa depending on the rank of the program), so this financial component will probably be on the forefront of your mind as you make your decision.

Don’t run for the hills quite yet, though! Seeing the overall price tag can usually be misleading, so it’s crucial to ask what these costs include. A lot of US graduate school expenses include housing in a grad student dorm/apartment, orientation, software for your program, health insurance, any program excursions or outside-the-classroom projects, and even internships/experiential learning opportunities.

You probably won’t need every single item the school is offering, so you can cancel these costs out. On top of this, some of what they’re offering could actually be cheaper than paying separately, so think holistically about the price tag. Rent might be crazy expensive if you look independently, so going through the university could potentially save you quite a bit of money during graduate school in the USA!

5. Consider financial aid

While we’re on the subject of the cost of your US graduate program, let’s talk about paying for it! Just because a graduate program at a private school can cost you significantly more than a program at a public school, it doesn’t mean it has to cost more. It’s not uncommon in the US for someone to go to a private school for cheaper than a public school, thanks to a wonderful gift called financial aid. Talk to someone in the financial aid office about what is available for international students and if there are scholarships you can apply for, too!

You, too, can be a happy, benefited stick figure!

6. Pick the right geographic area

Not to state the obvious, but the US is an enormous country...50 states have to fit somewhere! A lot of international students come to the US thinking it’s all like NYC and San Francisco, which can lead to a huge shock upon arrival. That’s not to say there aren’t a ton of large metropolitan areas because there definitely are, but the US also has everything from rural universities nestled between mountain ranges to beach-side schools in hip, coastal paradises. 

If you want to be in a city, you definitely can be, and if you want to be somewhere totally different, you absolutely can as well! Beyond just picking the right school for you, you also need to pick the right location. Don’t assume that certain types of US graduate programs will all be in the same type of region. For example, did you know that some of the best agricultural graduate programs are in the middle of large cities? Who’d have thought?!

University of California, San Diego boasts amazing architecture and urban environment, and it’s still just up the hill from beautiful beaches!

7. Consider geographic advantages

For international students considering graduate school in the USA, there’s a lot more to factor in about your new location than just urban vs. rural. Are there regions that are considered hubs for cheaper international flights back to your home country? Or what about areas that speak your native language that you either want to seek out for more comfort or want to avoid for better immersion? Since the US has no official language, there are lots of places where English is not the primary language spoken, so this could be either a good or a bad thing depending on your goals!

8. Don’t forget about cost of living

Unfortunately, tuition and program costs aren’t the only bills you’ll be paying! One huge advantage of certain regions of the US that cannot be understated is the cost of living. This can vary substantially throughout the country and frequently goes against what most people assume. Rural states can sometimes be more expensive to live in than urban areas, so really do your research. Vermont, for example, is one of the least populated states but has one of the highest costs of living in the country, with the tuition costs even at its public universities mirroring this expense. Do. Your. Research.

9. Use all the resources you can

We live in the age of everything being available at our fingertips, so don’t go about this process in the dark! Talk to people who have already done this graduate school USA game, read and watch everything you can about the various universities with the right degree field for you, read online program and university reviews, and talk to career/university counselors. There are a ton of resources out there to help you, including our own MyGoAbroad tool, so be sure to take advantage of them.

There’s no such thing as too much research!

10. Decide based on your goals and not your emotions

You might totally love the idea of coming to Manhattan and living your own version of the American Dream for a few years while you attend graduate school in the USA, but if the location and/or the school is not going to ultimately get you what you need to boost your career, then you’re making a romantic decision where you should be making a goal decision. The most important factor to finding your dream school is how successful you’ll be after graduating in whatever manner you quantify success. (Not to mention, too, if one of your goals is to graduate as close to debt-free as possible, you shouldn’t be going anywhere near Manhattan. Your wallet will thank us!). 

[Browse ALL US Graduate Programs Now!]

Next steps to find US graduate programs

Ready to skip over the pond for super awesome student adventures in Sheldon Cooper’s home country? Here are some things that might help you decide whether American colleges for international students is right for you.

Sheldon is cheering you on!

• Decide where to go. Figuring out where to attend graduate school in the USA isn’t easy. The gorgeous Pacific Northwest? A university in New York that people from home have heard of? Don't let ANYTHING hold you back—choose a place that's right for you.
• Choose from the best colleges in the USA. Pay attention to past participants’ reviews, program/university reputation, location, and your ease of getting credits. Some schools or providers may even provide contact info for student ambassadors or past international students if you want the REAL dirt. Here’s our guide to choosing between university programs abroad.
• Plan your finances. Sort out funding before you go to afford daily essentials and splurge in travel (in addition to program costs and airfare). Do your research to have an idea of how much your degree abroad program will cost.
• Get prepared for studying abroad for your entire degree—and make a mental plan for how you’re going to stay safe.

Party (*ahem*—attend graduate school) in the USA!

When all is said and done, what makes your dream school your dream school is that it’s yours. What works for one person might not be the best option for you, so do your research and narrow down the list based on your personal criteria. Whether you’re headed for the Big Apple, The Aloha State, or anywhere in between, there is definitely a graduate school in the USA right for you!

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