How Much Does It Cost to Study in the U.S.?
Apply for the ALLEX Scholarship Program to Cover Full Tuition, Room and Board Expenses!
The U.S. is home to many of the world’s top-rated universities, renowned for their excellence and unique programs. However, studying in the U.S. is expensive for both domestic and international students. The first step to minimizing the cost of studying abroad is understanding how much it costs to study in the U.S. With this knowledge, you can create an informed plan and get one step closer to making your study abroad dream a reality.
Don’t give up on your dream of studying abroad! The good news is that the ALLEX Foundation offers a scholarship program for Chinese-, Japanese- and Korean-speaking students to study in the U.S. and teach their native language in exchange for tuition, room and board (food).
In this article, we will explain the cost to attend university/graduate school in the U.S., and how you can apply to the ALLEX scholarship program for the 2023/24 academic year.
Table of Contents
What are the costs of studying abroad?
How much does it cost to attend a university/graduate school in the U.S.?
ALLEX Foundation and ALLEX Scholarship Program
What Are the Costs of Studying Abroad?
When studying abroad, there are many costs beyond tuition fees that you will need to cover. These include study abroad program fees, rent and daily living expenses, food, textbooks, transportation, health insurance, and entertainment, among others. If you are on a student visa, you will not be allowed to work a part-time job off-campus, so it is crucial to understand these costs and prepare financially before your departure.
What Is the Cost to Attend a University/Graduate School in the U.S.?
Undergraduate Tuition at 4-Year Universities
American universities can be divided into public and private institutions. The cost of attending an undergraduate program at public/state universities is comparatively lower than at private institutions because public universities receive government funding. However, for international students, public universities can be as expensive as private ones due to “non-resident fees.” Residents of a particular state typically pay lower tuition than non-residents.
Let’s take a look at the undergraduate tuition for some universities in the U.S.
Cost of Graduate School
Public Institutions: The tuition fee for graduate studies at a public institution is around $5,000-$25,000 per year. Other expenses will be around $20,000〜$40,000.
Private Institutions: The tuition fee for graduate studies at a private institution is around $25,000〜$45,000 per year. Other expenses will be around $35,000～$55,000.
Tuition depends on many factors such as degree program, type of university, and location. For example, an MBA is one of the most expensive degrees with average tuition at approximately $35,000 per year.
As an international student, you will also need to keep in mind that your country's currency exchange rates can also affect overall cost.
You might be thinking at this point: there is no way that I can afford to attend a university or graduate school in the U.S.
Again, you don’t have to give up on your study abroad dreams.
There are many students who have had the same dreams and worries, yet they were able to pursue studying abroad.
The key is finding out the resources and opportunities that you can use to minimize the cost.
ALLEX Foundation and ALLEX Scholarship Program:
A scholarship program for Chinese-, Japanese- and Korean-speaking students, covering tuition fees, room and board expenses
Have you ever heard of the ALLEX Foundation and its scholarship program?
Since 1988, more than 1,000 ALLEX scholars have earned their Master’s degrees or second Bachelor's degrees from more than 230 universities in the U.S.
ALLEX students who successfully completed the Teacher Training Institute.
The ALLEX Scholarship Program covers full tuition, room and board expenses.
ALLEX students will be awarded scholarships covering full tuition, room and board while teaching their native language as instructors after participating in the Teacher Training Institute summer program.
I don’t have any language teaching experience. Can I still apply for the program?
Absolutely, yes! We welcome all candidates to apply to the ALLEX Scholarship Program. Before becoming an instructor, you will develop your skills as a language teacher by participating in the Teacher Training Institute (TTI). The TTI is held each summer and led by professors and experts in the field of East Asian language pedagogy.
Note: The Teacher Training Institute was held at Washington University in St. Louis until 2020. Due to the pandemic, the program will be in hybrid format for the 2022/23 program year (online training for 4 weeks and two weeks in-person training at Cornell University). The location for the 2023/24 program will be announced in January 2023.
The ALLEX Scholarship Program is not just about funding.
The ALLEX Scholarship Program provides students with the full experience of teaching, learning and living on an American university campus, while pursuing their educational goals.
International students sometimes find it a challenge to fully experience living in the U.S. They end up making friends only with students from their home country or other international students. Communicating with native English speakers can be challenging in the beginning. However, you won’t improve unless you develop relationships with native English speakers and gain confidence.
ALLEX students get a great head start by teaching native English speakers. Students interested in learning your native language will most likely share other common interests with you. You can build relationships with them and boost your communication skills and confidence very quickly. As you teach, you will be able to share experiences with each other as you both go through the journey of learning a new language!
Language students taking an ALLEX instructor’s class
Here is part of a message from an ALLEX scholar, Ai Nakayama (‘17-19)
“I was a teaching assistant for sophomore students for 2 years. All students were very passionate and hard-workers, and I can’t recall how many times they helped me keep going for the 2 years. Even though I wasn’t an experienced teacher, all the students relied on me and called me “Sensei” (Teacher in Japanese). That made me so happy and I still remember the moments. There was a time when some students couldn’t finish preparing for an oral test and we all worked together until midnight to get prepared. Other times we all sat down and talked at the language table or just tutored each other. I remember laughing together in class as students shared their dreams about going to Japan… I made countless memories with students here at Mississippi, too many to even list here.”
There are two types of ALLEX Scholarship Programs that you can choose from.
① TEACHING ASSOCIATE PROGRAM (TAP, 2-year program) - Earn a Master's degree or second Bachelor's degree.
The TAP Program might be right for you, if you:
want to get a scholarship for tuition, room and board;
want to earn a Master's degree within 2 years to advance your career;
want to pursue doctoral degree after finishing the Master’s program;
want to earn a second bachelor's degree within 2 years to advance your career; or
want to earn a second bachelor's degree and pursue a doctoral degree after finishing the program.
② TEACHING FELLOW PROGRAM (FP, 1-year program)
The FP Program might be a good fit for you, if you:
want to study abroad at an American university/graduate school and get a scholarship for tuition, room and board;
want to get experience in teaching your native language to native English speakers;
want to improve your English skills;
want the experience of attending a university in the U.S.; or
want to earn a Master's or doctoral degree in the future.
How Much Does it Cost to Enroll in the ALLEX Foundation Scholarship Program?
The ALLEX Scholarship covers full tuition, room and board. Some partner institutions also cover health insurance and provide a small stipend.
There are other costs such as the ALLEX Foundation program fee, teacher training fee, airfare, and visa.
However, you will still save a majority of the cost compared to the normal cost of studying abroad in the U.S.
Support you will receive from the ALLEX Foundation
You may be asking yourself if the ALLEX Scholarship Program is really for you and if it really fits your career goals. It is normal for you to feel uncertain about this kind of decision because studying abroad can be a life changing event.
When you have any questions or concerns, ALLEX’s team will be always there for you. They will do their best to answer your questions and lead you in the right direction.
Here is part of a message from an ALLEX scholar, Hidetoshi Kadota (‘18-19)
“ALLEX’s staff assisted me to figure out if the program matched my goal and career. The staff was very considerate about students’ decisions even before they applied for the program. If you are interested in applying for this scholarship program, I highly recommend you to do so. I truly believe that you will have the most amazing two years you can ever imagine just like I had”
Application Deadline for the 2025/26 Academic Year: October 15, 2024
The ALLEX Scholarship Program is accepting applications now for the 2025/26 academic year. Please click the button below to download ALLEX Scholarship Program brochure.
The program brochure includes information on:
Details of the program
What is the criteria of an ideal candidate?
Requirements to apply
Testimonials from ALLEX Foundation graduates (135 students)
Frequently asked questions and answers
No Age Limit for This Program
ALLEX accepts students of all types of backgrounds and age groups and has helped many complete the program and take their career to the next level.
Please Join the Online Information Session — The Best Way to Learn about the Program.
The ALLEX team will explain the details about the program and its application process, share tips about application, and answer your questions. Please click the button below to register!
The ALLEX Program Welcomes Your Application!
Higher education costs have been on an upward trend for the last two decades. In addition to high tuition prices, paying for housing, food, transportation, books and other school-related fees can add thousands of dollars to college expenses.
These costs are the top reasons why international students give up on studying abroad in the U.S.
Please do not give up on your dream yet. If you are looking for scholarship programs and have the commitment to achieve your goal, please apply for the ALLEX Foundation Scholarship Program.