The US education system

This page is for people considering studying in the USA and families who will send their children to school in the USA. There is no single education system governing the entire country in the USA; rules vary by state and school. Here you will find the structure from kindergarten through doctoral studies, degree types, the credit and grading systems, and how to check whether a school is trustworthy. For application steps, see 6.2 University applications; for children's school enrollment, see 6.5 Children's school enrollment.

• There is no centralized education system valid nationwide in the USA. Each state has its own agency that determines education policy.
• Curriculum, school starting age, length of education, number of credits required for a diploma, and the academic calendar vary from state to state.
• Universities are not centrally governed. Quality is overseen by independent accreditation organizations. These organizations are not government agencies; they examine schools through peer review.
• There are approximately 4,000 accredited institutions of higher education in the USA.
• Accreditation is taken into account for credit transfer, access to federal funds, and some professional licenses.

• Compulsory education generally lasts from kindergarten through 12th grade. In most states, it begins at age 5–6 and continues until age 16–18.
• Elementary school: generally 5 years. Middle school: generally 3 years.
  • In some states, such as Virginia, elementary school may last 6 years and middle school 2 years (7th–8th grades).
  • In some school districts, grades 7–8/9 are called "junior high school."
• High school: grades 9–12. A high school diploma is awarded at the end of 12th grade.
• In middle and high school, grades are generally given out of 100 and converted to letters: A (90–100), B (80–89), C (70–79), D (60–69). Below 60 is considered failing.
• Advanced Placement (AP) courses taken in high school provide an advantage in university admission; some universities count them as credits.
• Types of schools:
  • public school: free, based on address
  • private school: tuition-based; boarding schools are also in this group
  • charter school: publicly funded, admits a limited number of students
  • magnet school: mostly a free public school specializing in areas such as science, technology, or the arts
  • online public schools and religious schools
  • homeschooling: recognized in all states
• With an F-1 visa, students cannot attend public elementary or middle school; attendance at a public high school is also limited to a maximum of 12 months. Details: 2.2 Student visa (F-1).

• Community college (two-year college): awards associate degrees: Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS). Vocational and technical programs are also available.
  • Tuition is lower and admission requirements are more flexible.
  • Most do not require the SAT or ACT; international students generally only need to take an English exam.
  • Applications are often accepted throughout the year (rolling admission).
  • They can be compared to vocational colleges in Türkiye.
• 2+2 model: two years at a community college followed by two years at a four-year university. This lowers the total cost of a bachelor's degree. Check the agreement between the two schools in advance to ensure that credits will transfer.
• State (public) universities: established and supported by state governments. Their aim is to provide low-cost education to residents of that state. They are generally large and accept a broader range of students.
• Private universities: financed through donations, alumni contributions, research funds, and tuition. They are generally smaller and may be religiously affiliated or single-sex.
• Liberal arts college: awards a four-year bachelor's degree. Classes are small. Students take 25–50% of their courses in their major.
• Institutes of technology: four-year institutions focused on science and engineering.
• "College" and "university" are often used with the same meaning. In the strict distinction, a college awards only undergraduate degrees, while a university also awards graduate degrees.

• Associate degree: 2 years, generally 60 credits.
• Bachelor's degree: 4 years full-time, generally 120 credits. Depending on the field, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) is awarded.
• Master's degree: generally 30–36 credits; may involve a thesis or a final examination. Degrees include M.A., M.S., MBA, and MFA. MBA programs last 1–2 years.
• Doctorate (Ph.D.): generally 3–4 years after a master's degree; it may take longer in research fields. Coursework is completed during the first 1.5–2 years, followed by a qualifying examination and dissertation. In fields such as economics, psychology, and engineering, students may enter a doctorate directly after a bachelor's degree (integrated doctorate).
• Medicine, law, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine: in the USA, students do not enter these fields directly after high school. They first complete a 3–4-year bachelor's degree and then move on to professional school through entrance exams such as the MCAT, LSAT, DAT, or PCAT. Plan for a total of 6–8 years.
• Those studying medicine in Türkiye take the USMLE exams for residency training in the USA. See 5.7 Licensed professions.
• It is possible to transfer from abroad to a US university; however, some credits may not be accepted and the duration may increase.

• Credit: the value assigned to a course according to its weekly class hours. Each school determines the number of credits required for graduation.
• Course structure: core courses, major courses, and electives. The major is generally selected at the end of the second year.
• GPA: the grade point average is calculated on a 4.0 scale. Each letter grade has a numerical equivalent.
• Grades are determined by quizzes, midterms, finals, assignments, projects, attendance, and class participation.
• Academic year: generally runs from August or September through May.
  • semester: two terms of 16–18 weeks
  • quarter or trimester: multiple terms of 10–12 weeks
• Distance education is also available. For F-1 students, there is a limit on counting online courses toward a full course load; see 6.3 Rules for maintaining I-20, SEVIS, and F-1 status.

• Accreditation: search for the school's name in the US Department of Education's database of accredited institutions (DAPIP).
• SEVP approval: if you will study with an F or M visa, the school must be SEVP-approved. Check it using the Study in the States school search tool.
• There is no official ranking: the US government does not produce a university ranking. According to EducationUSA, the best school is the one that suits your academic, financial, and personal needs.
• Comparison tools:
  • College Navigator (NCES): searches for schools by state, field, and other criteria.
  • College Scorecard (US Department of Education): displays data on cost, student debt, graduation rate, admission rate, and post-graduation earnings; it allows comparison of up to 10 schools.
• Language schools: SEVP-approved English programs must be accredited by an organization recognized by the US Department of Education.
• Intermediaries and agencies: you do not need an intermediary to choose a school or obtain a visa. An intermediary cannot issue an I-20, guarantee admission, or prepare documents on your behalf. See 1.12 Scam warnings.

• Tuition, fees, and living expenses vary greatly from school to school and city to city. Find out the current amounts on each school's own website.
• EducationUSA recommends budgeting for tuition increases of 6–10% each year.
• Living costs are generally lower at schools in the Southern and Midwestern states and in rural areas.
• Starting at a community college and then transferring to a four-year school reduces costs.
• For scholarships and assistantships, see 6.4 Scholarships and funding.

• EducationUSA advising centers (the US Department of State's free advising network). There are six centers in Türkiye: the Fulbright Türkiye Ankara central office and Istanbul branch, the Turkish-American Association in Ankara, American Councils in Istanbul and Izmir, and EducationUSA Adana. For addresses and phone numbers, see 6.2 University applications.
• If you are in the USA: the admissions office and international student office of the school to which you will apply.
• For Turkish students: the Turkish Education Counselor's Office in Washington and education attaché offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles. See 6.6 Turkish language and Turkish culture classes.

• Enrolling without checking the school's accreditation and SEVP approval.
• Assuming that private ranking websites are official rankings.
• Assuming that community college credits will count at every four-year school.
• Thinking that you can study medicine or law directly after high school.
• Choosing a school without considering whether it is recognized in Türkiye (YÖK).
• Leaving school selection and the I-20 process to an intermediary.

• Is there an age limit for entering a university in the USA? According to EducationUSA, applicants generally must have completed high school and be at least 17 years old. Scholarships are different: Fulbright has no upper age limit, while MEB 1416 Scholarships have a birth-year requirement. See 6.4.
• Is a community college diploma useful? Yes. An associate degree can help you enter a profession or transfer to a four-year school.
• Is there a single university entrance exam? No. Each school sets its own admission requirements. Some schools do not require test scores (test optional). See 6.2 University applications.
• When do I choose my major? Generally at the end of the second year of a bachelor's program.
• Can I earn a bachelor's and master's degree together? In combined programs at some schools, graduate courses begin in the fourth year and both degrees are earned together.
• Which visa is required for vocational education? An M-1 visa is obtained for vocational and nonacademic programs other than language training. Community colleges also offer technical and vocational education in their associate degree programs. See 2.2.

• DAPIP – accredited school search (US Department of Education)
• College Navigator (NCES)
• College Scorecard
• SEVP-approved school search (Study in the States)
• EducationUSA – 5 steps to studying in the USA
• EducationUSA – "If You Want to Study in the United States," Book 1: Undergraduate Study (PDF)
• EducationUSA – Introduction to the 2+2 model (PDF)
• EducationUSA – Glossary of terms
• Fulbright Türkiye – Guide to education in the USA (Turkish)