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USA Education System

The US education system is decentralized, with control shared between local/state governments for public schools and independent boards for private schools. Private schools are more expensive due to less government funding. The Department of Education accredits schools and programs to ensure quality. Students have several options after high school like 2-year or 4-year undergraduate programs, graduate programs, or non-degree options. Admission is based on factors like GPA, test scores, essays, and interviews. Undergraduate students take courses across disciplines before specializing, while graduate students specialize earlier and complete theses.

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76 views2 pages

USA Education System

The US education system is decentralized, with control shared between local/state governments for public schools and independent boards for private schools. Private schools are more expensive due to less government funding. The Department of Education accredits schools and programs to ensure quality. Students have several options after high school like 2-year or 4-year undergraduate programs, graduate programs, or non-degree options. Admission is based on factors like GPA, test scores, essays, and interviews. Undergraduate students take courses across disciplines before specializing, while graduate students specialize earlier and complete theses.

Uploaded by

Vali Si Ionel Ilie
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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USA Education System

Choosing a US School: Private vs Public


Studying in the United States has many advantages, but before you
pick which program best meets your needs, you will first want to
learn about the U.S. education system. There is a wide range of
choices and opportunities, and you should have all of the
information you need to make a decision that is right for you.
Role of U.S. Government in Education
Unlike in many other countries, the United States central government does not control the educational system.
Rather, the higher education systems are either: 1) controlled by independent groups of people, or trustees (in the
case of private schools); or 2) shared between local and state governments (in the case of public schools). A major
difference between these two types of schools is the cost. Private schools are generally much more expensive to
attend than their public school counterparts, mainly because the private schools must rely on sources outside of the
government for their funding. Please see What Will an Education in the US Cost? for more information on the costs of
public vs. private schools.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Education reviews and recognizes “accrediting agencies” that in turn ensure the
quality of the school and their programs. Most colleges and universities have what is called “regional
accreditation” from an agency that oversees that particular part of the country where the school is located. You will
want to make sure that the school you choose has accreditation, meaning that it has met specific academic,
administrative and financial standards. Accreditation also ensures that your degree will be recognized by other
educational institutions and employers.

Certain fields of study will also have “program accreditation” in addition to regional accreditation. For example, the
Accrediting Board of Engineering and Technology accredits engineering programs. Your overseas educational
adviser can help you find out if program accreditation exists in your field of study.

What Are My Options to Earn a Degree?


Education is mandatory in the United States until the age of 16, and the majority of students do finish high school.
After completing 12 years of primary and secondary school, students often begin post-secondary learning, or higher
education. The first level of higher education is undergraduate study; beyond an undergraduate degree a student
may choose to receive a graduate education, also known as postgraduate work. Traditionally these programs are
undertaken on campus, however there is a growing number of accredited online college degrees that are appearing
for students from all around the world. They can offer some fantastic benefits to international students.
If you are debating the two-year degree option versus a four-year undergraduate course of study, you will want to
think carefully about your goals. Some employers prefer candidates who have studied a full four years, particularly in
competitive fields where there may be many students vying for jobs. Other professional fields may have a need for
employees with only two years of study under their belts. You need to do your research to make an informed choice.

Additionally, some other non-degree options exist outside of the traditional university setting which students should
explore as another option.

Applying to Schools
Although admission policies vary from one school to the next, most determine admission based on several common
criteria, including a student’s high school course of study, high school Grade Point Average (GPA), participation in
extracurricular activities, SAT or ACT exam scores, a written essay, and possibly a personal interview.

When looking at a potential student’s high school records, the university admissions office will consider whether the
student has taken courses in high school that will prepare them for more difficult coursework. The admissions office
will also consider the student’s GPA. A GPA is a quantitative figure averaging a student’s accumulated grades.

University admissions officers also like to see applications from students who have taken part in extracurricular
activities, such as theatre or art clubs, scholastic clubs, or athletic teams. Participation in these kinds of activities
demonstrate that the student has learned valuable skills such as teamwork and leadership.

Most high school students in the US take either the (SAT Reasoning Test) or the (ACT) during their final year of high
school. These are standardized quantitative exams. Each school sets a minimum SAT or ACT score that a student
must achieve in order to gain admission.

Universities will often require that applicants write an essay as part of their application. Each admissions office
determines the length and content of the essay. For tips on writing an admissions essay, check out our Essay Writing
Center. The applicant may also be required to have a personal interview with a representative from the admissions
office.

Check out our Application Process section for more information.

Undergraduate Study
University students who are pursuing a Bachelor’s degree are called “undergraduates.” Most universities offer
undergraduate students a liberal education, which means students are required to take courses across several
disciplines before choosing one major field of study in which to specialize. Undergraduate students will often ask
each other, “What is your major?” meaning, “What is your major field of study?”

Courses at most universities are only one semester long. Each course is assigned a number of credit hours,
generally based on how much time is spent in class. Most courses are three credits, but some might be one, two,
four, or five credits. All degree programs require that their students completely a minimum number of credits before
they are eligible for graduation. Most Bachelor’s degree programs do not require students to write a final thesis.

Graduate Study
Students who are pursuing a Master’s or Doctoral degree are called “graduate students.” Graduate and professional
programs are specialized, meaning students have one field of study from the beginning.

Students continue to take courses at the graduate level, and a final thesis is required for most programs. Doctoral
students take courses until they have earned enough credit hours to attend their qualifying exams, which are usually
taken over several days and often include both a written and oral component. After doctoral students pass their
qualifying exams, they are advanced to candidacy and can begin writing their dissertation. Before the degree is given,
the candidate’s completed dissertation must be orally defended before the candidate’s faculty committee.

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