American Education System: A Brief Overview

Study levels in the US

The US education system is divided into the following study levels: 

1. Primary or elementary school - Six-year-old US children enter elementary school and study there for five or six years. 
2. Secondary School - This consists of Junior or Middle school and High school. US children who finish elementary school enter Secondary School and are awarded a certificate or Diploma on graduating from High School (12th Grade). 
3. Higher Education - Post High School, US students can enter College or University that is known as “Higher Education”. Higher Education in the US is further classified as follows:
   • Associate degree - This is a job-oriented 2-year program that helps students launch their careers. This is equal to the first two years of a four-year Bachelor’s program. Students who have completed high school can enter this program. 
   • Bachelor’s Degree - This is a 3 or 4-year undergraduate program that typically consists of core courses, electives, majors, and minors. Students who have finished High School can enroll for this degree. 
   • Master’s Degree - In the US, there are two kinds of Master’s degrees, i.e. Academic Master’s and Professional Master’s. The Professional Master’s program is for 1 to 3 years while the academic Master’s degree is for 2 years. The academic Master’s is awarded in conventional areas such as arts, humanities, and science. Students enrolled in a Master’s program are required to complete a research paper as part of their curriculum. Post the Academic Master’s degree, students can apply for a Doctoral program in the US. The professional Master’s degree on the other hand helps students enter into a particular profession with specialized knowledge in a field. 

Types of institutions

The following institutions provide Higher education in the US:

1. Colleges - Colleges in the US provide undergraduate degrees. These are smaller than Universities. Students who complete college can gain admission to University in the third year and get an undergraduate degree. Most colleges in the US are community colleges and are cheaper than Universities. 
2. Universities - Universities in the US offer Master’s, Doctorate, and Post-Doctorate programs. Universities in the US can either be Public Universities or Private Universities. Public Universities are run by the State Government while Private Universities combine For-Profit and Not-For-Profit Universities. Universities can further be classified as Ivy League universities, public ivies, special institutions, Land Grant Universities, and Research Intensive institutions. Ivy league universities consist of the top 8 colleges in the NorthEast. Apart from being in the top 8, these private-research Universities are also among the oldest universities in the country, and admission to these is extremely competitive. Public Ivies are a group of 30 public universities that could be state-funded. The cost of education at these universities is lower than the Ivy League. Specialist institutions provide degrees in special areas such as music, applied arts, visuals, etc. Land Grant Universities are big universities that are public-funded while research-intensive institutions provide the best of research education. 

Academic year

Schools in the US begin in autumn, typically in August or September and continue till May or June. 

Fee Structure 

The fee structure largely depends on the type of University or college and the program the student is pursuing. MBA courses are the most expensive in the US while engineering and medicine degrees cost less than MBA but higher than other programs. 

Financial aid 

Both US and international students are eligible for a host of financial aids that help cut down their cost of higher education. Governments, educational institutes, and private organizations have a motley of aids for deserving students. Financial aid in the US could be need-based financial aid, scholarships, grants or fellowships, Teaching & reserach assistantships, athletic scholarships, or administrative scholarships.