US Education System 2024: Know Grading Scale & Top Colleges

• It includes primary education.
• This course is specially designed for children aged 5 and 6.
• It runs for 6-7 years and covers K-5 or kindergarten through 5th or 6th grade.
• Here, the main focus is to develop fundamental skills in subjects like English Language Arts (ELA), maths, science, and physical education.

• It includes middle-level education.
• This course is designed for children aged 11-14 years.
• It typically runs for 2-3 years and covers grades from 6-8.
• Its main focus is on core subjects like English, Maths, Science, and Social Studies.

• It includes Secondary level education.
• Their course is specifically designed for children aged 14-18 years.
• It mainly runs for 4 years and covers grades from 9th to 12th.
• The High School curriculum focuses on quality education in core subjects like Science, English, and Social Studies.
• Moreover, after graduating from High School, students will be given a diploma or certificate. After that, they may move to college or university for higher education.

• It includes Tertiary level or Post secondary education.
• Students aged 18 & above can apply for a college or university program to begin their post high school education.
• It mainly runs for 3-4 years depending on the Bachelor’s degree program.
• Hence, students can opt for various paths like colleges, community colleges, technical and vocational colleges, and even online institutions.
• Further, post completing graduate courses, students can enroll for a master’s and doctoral degree.

There are 4 types of Associate Degrees in the US:

1. Associate of Arts (AA)
2. Associate of Applied Arts (AAA)
3. Associate of Science (AS)
4. Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

• This degree can also be part-time.
• Tuition Fees for an Associate degree are generally less compared to a Bachelor’s degree.

Top 5 Colleges to Pursue Associate Degree in the USA:

1. Mitchell Technical Institute
2. Fort Scott Community College
3. Rend Lake College
4. Cochise College
5. Coastline Community College

These are the types of Bachelor's Degree available in US for international students:

1. Bachelor of Arts (BA)
2. Bachelor of Science (BS)
3. Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

• It’s a full-time degree where you cannot get the part-time option.

Top 5 Universities For Bachelor’s Courses in the USA:

1. University of Chicago
2. Harvard University
3. Stanford University
4. University of California, Berkeley
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Master’s Degree (Professional)
(1 - 3 Years)

You can begin a Master’s Program in Professional studies in distance learning, on-campus, or blended mode.

Top 5 Universities to Pursue Master’s Degree (Professional) in the USA:

1. University of Louisville
2. Rochester Institute of Technology
3. Johns Hopkins University
4. Purdue University
5. Eastern Virginia Medical School

These degrees are generally awarded in traditional humanities, arts, and science fields.

Top 5 Universities to Pursue Master’s Academic Courses in the US:

1. Duke University, Durham
2. University of California, San Diego
3. University of Illinois, Urbana
4. Purdue University, West Lafayette
5. Michigan State University, East Lansing

• These degrees can be completed in Blended, Distance Learning, and On-campus mode.
• Doctoral or PhD programs must be completed under the supervision of a faculty advisor.
• PhD degree is only awarded on the successful completion and submission of a dissertation before a panel discussion of faculty members in the college.

Top 5 Universities to Pursue Doctoral or PhD programs in the US:

1. Lakeland University
2. Seton Hall University
3. University of South Carolina Aiken
4. Case Western Reserve University
5. Nova Southeastern University

• It is counted as the nation’s oldest public research university.
• Depending on the course or subject, an undergraduate degree costs you in the range of $5,000 - $25,000.
• Meanwhile, you can also get support with a range of scholarships, including need-based and merit-based grants, to help qualifying students.
• Lastly, average tuition fee for international students in USD: $17,000 - $23,000

Popular Courses:

1. MS in Computer Science and Engineering
2. Masters in Data Science and Applications
3. MS in Management Information Systems

• It is a public university based in Gainesville, Florida.
• It is considered one of the largest universities in the USA with an admission of over 50,000 students every year.
• Meanwhile, tuition fees for international students range from $30,000 - $32,000 (in USD).

Some Popular Courses Offered:

1. MS in Information Systems and Operations Management
2. MS in Computer Science
3. MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering

• It is a public university located in West Lafayette, Indiana.
• It is counted among “R1: Doctoral Universities” states very high research activity for PhD students.
• Also, the tuition fee for international students ranges from $30,000 - $32,000 (in USD)

Top Courses Offered:

1. MS in Computer Science - Thesis
2. MS in Engineering Management
3. MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering - Thesis Track

• It is also a public research university based in Houston, Texas.
• Today, it is counted as the third largest university in Texas with a global alumni base of approx. 300,000.
• Meanwhile, the average tuition fee for international students ranges from $18,000 - $22,000 (in USD).

Some Popular Courses Offered:

1.  MS in Industrial Engineering
2.  MS in Computer Science
3. MS in Engineering Data Science

• It is counted as one of the highly-ranked public universities based in Florida state.
• It is also ranked among the top universities in the US because of its rigorous academic programs, including business, arts, education, and engineering.
• Also, as an international student, you can expect an average tuition of around $20,000 - $30,000 (in USD).

Top Courses Offered Are:

1. MS in Information Systems and Operation Management
2. MS in Computer Science
3. MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering

• It is considered the highly respected public research university based in Austin, Texas.
• This university has its own 18 colleges, offering a wide range of UG, PG, and doctoral programs.
• Meanwhile, the tuition fee for international students ranges from $21,000 - $25,000 (in USD).

Some of the Popular Programs Offered are:

1. MS in Computer Science (Course Work)
2. MS in Business Analytics
3. MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering

• India follows a 10+2 system, which includes 10 years of primary and secondary education, plus 2 years of senior secondary education.

• The American education system follows the K-12 approach. Here, students will have 12 years of primary and secondary education.

• The grading system in India is percentage-based. Marks are calculated out of 100.
• Also, different education boards such as RBSE use percentages while CBSE uses a 9-point grading system.

• The grading system of the US is based on letter grades, ranging from A to F.
• A represents excellent, while F indicates failure in the exam.

• In India, entrance tests like JEE or NEET must be taken after completing schooling to get admission to engineering and medical courses.

• To enrol in a US graduate program, you must appear for entrance tests like SAT or ACT.
• Meanwhile, GMAT or GRE for post-graduate level courses.

• In Indian colleges, admissions are granted on the basis of entrance tests and cut-off marks.
• However, for some courses, personal interviews might be conducted.

• To gain admission to a US college is really tough. They focus on the overall assessment of applicants.
• It includes entrance tests, SOP, LOR, essays, and extracurricular activities.

• India uses traditional teaching methods.
• It includes lecture-based learning, while the main focus is on finishing the syllabus based on the course.
• Students are highly competitive here, and they are more into achieving higher grades to secure 1st place in the class.
• Also, the courses offered by the colleges are limited and don’t involve trending subject topics in the curriculum.

• The teaching method in US colleges is based on interactive learning.
• Meanwhile, professors encourage students to actively participate in classroom activities, debates, brainstorming sessions, etc.
• Also, the classroom size is generally smaller which builds a strong relationship between the mentors and students.

• These aids are available to students who can’t afford to pay their tuition fee but are highly skilled and hold good grades in their previous courses.
• Meanwhile, many US universities do offer full scholarships to international students. These are categorized as full or partial waivers. Some are listed below:

1. The Wien International Scholarship (Brandeis University) - Full Waiver
2. Swarthmore Scholarship Grant (Swarthmore College) - Full Waiver
3. Foundation Fellowship (Georgia University) - Full Waiver
4. Karsh International Scholarship (Duke University) - Full Waiver

• Such aids are granted to scholars on the basis of their academic scores, any standardized test results, extracurricular activities, etc. 
• These grants could be government or private organization funded. Some include:

1. Fulbright - Nehru Fellowships
2. Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program
3. AAUW International Fellowships
4. Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship for Indian Students

(Feel Free to Reach out to Gradding.com for more information)

• These are mostly available to candidates who show good academic records, English test results, any volunteering activity, etc.
• Some scholarships available for international students are:

1. Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships
2. Tata Scholarships for Cornell University
3. Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship

• Students who want to earn a sports scholarship must demonstrate exceptional athletic skills in their choice of sports game.
• Other than this, they must meet the minimum GPA requirements, and score well in standardized and English tests.
•  Meanwhile, 3 top organizations in the USA that are in charge of the sports scholarships at several institutions. These are:

1. NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Scholarship
2. NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) Scholarship
3. NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Scholarship

• These opportunities are available only on campus. Teaching assistantship in US institutions means being an assistant to a professor. 
• While being a research assistantship in the USA means helping a professor in research-related work.