The United States of America is considered one of the best study abroad destinations among international candidates. More than 900,000 students enroll every year in the universities of the USA as they provide quality education and academic structure to international students. There are more than 4,000 universities and colleges that offer admission to students in a wide range of courses. Popular universities including Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton University rank among the top 10 universities in the USA.

Studying in the USA is always a dream for most international candidates across the world. However, the costs of studying abroad for candidates differ a lot based on the type of lifestyle and cities staying for. The average cost of living in USA for an international student in the popular cities of the US is between 9,600 USD to 14,000 USD on yearly basis. The article below discusses some of the best student cities for international students in the US.

Best Student Cities in USA by QS

According to Overall Student City Rankings, Boston in the US stays at the top position among the top students-loving cities in the US. Below we have given a list of some of the topmost cities of the US based on their QS Rankings

QS Rankings 2022 City Student View Student Mix Affordability
9 Boston 96 93.2 27.4
16 New York 95.6 83.9 23.6
24 San Francisco 85.2 83.3 24.1
31 Los Angeles 86.1 73.8 22.9
41 Chicago 67.7 75 27.3
56 Atlanta 63.8 72.2 35.4
62 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 50 65.2 27.2
74 Pittsburgh 42.4 65.2 35.9
79 San Diego 59.5 71.8 36.3
92 Baltimore 15.9 70.7 28.7

Living in these popular cities of the USA may provide the candidates an adequate industry exposure with diverse student culture and will enable them to partake in an experiential learning process that help them to grow at their personal as well as industrial level.

Boston

Boston is the hub of the World’s ranking universities in the world i.e. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University surround the students with the world's best and brightest students and academics. It is also considered as the economically fastest-growing city across the world. Apart from it, the city is also renowned for its pubs and bars along with its fondness for sports. These are some of the reasons that make it the stronger contender for students.

Top Universities in Boston

Mentioned below are some of the universities of Boston with their QS World University Rank 2022:

The city is amongst the best in the US in terms of career opportunities. Many of the biggest companies and industries employed graduates in sectors such as trade, manufacturing, biotechnology, and life science. The table below provides a brief overview of the city for international candidates:

Parameters Particular
Cost of living 850 USD per month
Salary Prospects 80,000 USD
QS Employer Activity Ranking 2nd
Average international fees (at ranked unis) 50,700 USD
Transportation Train, bus, etc
QS Student View Rank 6th

New York

Ranking at the 16th position in the university rankings in the category of Best Students Cities index, New York is the most popular city for international students in the category of desirability with a high quality of life. The most famous Statue of Liberty is located in New York City. It is the home of the iconic architecture and the bright lights of Broadway to the cultural hub of Harem. The city is also famous for its rich culture and amazing off-campus social life home for students. Columbia University and New York University are the best-ranked universities in the world.

Top Universities in New York

Mentioned below are some of the universities of New York with their QS World University Rank 2022:

New York City is a global hub of many industries, most notably finance and the New York Stock exchange. IBM and New York Times are the biggest companies in the city. Below we have some of the parameters related to the city:

Parameters Particular
Cost of living 1,358 USD per month
Salary Prospects 63,183 USD
QS Employer Activity Ranking 9th
Average international fees (at ranked unis) 40,000 USD
Transportation Metro, train, bus, ferry, trams
QS Student View Rank 7th

San Francisco

This city is famous for its Golden Gate Bridge and is located alongside the Pacific Ocean on the west coast of the US in California. The city provides a great lifestyle for international candidates studying abroad. The city has a separate reputation for its great internships, placements,best-recognized, and employment opportunities for students as it is the home of some of the biggest companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook. The living costs of an international student are also much cheaper as compared to other cities.

Top Universities in San Francisco

Mentioned below are some of the universities of San Francisco with their QS World University Rank 2022:

Candidates who are looking to stay in San Francisco after completing their course are a great choice for them. As the city is the home of hundreds of innovative companies in technology sectors such as Apple, Facebook, and IBM. Some of the other parameters of the city are given below:

Parameters Particular
Cost of living 1,238 USD per month
Salary Prospects 55,627 USD
QS Employer Activity Ranking 11th
Average international fees (at ranked unis) 45,100 USD
Transportation Metro, train, bus,
QS Student View Rank 21st

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is popular for its creative industries which take the majority of their wealth. The city is ranked as the 31st best student city in the US. It is home to some of the best-recognized universities of the world i.e University of California ranks under the top 50 best universities in the world as per various ranking surveys. Apart from it, the city is also famous for its sun, beaches and its Muscle Beach.

Top Universities in Los Angeles

Mentioned below are some of the universities of Los Angeles with their QS World University Rank 2022:

Whatever the area of interest, Los Angeles is likely to be a strong offering in fields such as business, science, fashion, medicine, sports, and technology. It is the second-largest metropolitan city in the US and the southern Californian climate adds bonus with its sunshine. Some of the other parameters are given in the table below:

Parameters Particular
Cost of living 1,063 USD per month
Salary Prospects 52,977 USD
QS Employer Activity Ranking 17th
Average international fees (at ranked unis) 50,600 USD
Transportation Metro, train, bus, taxis
QS Student View Rank 19th

Chicago

Chicago is also named a windy city and is known for its impressive architectural facades, cultural heritage, its diverse multicultural community, and entrepreneurial spirit. The city is located on the shores of Lake Michigan, and various iconic sites such as the Navy Pier, the field museum of Natural History, and the Millenium Park. The University of Illinois, University of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago are some of the well-recognized universities of Chicago.

Top Universities in Chicago

Mentioned below are some of the universities of Chicago with their QS World University Rank 2022:

The graduates of Chicago are highly sought after by their employers. It is a major financial center and the second-largest central business district in the United States of America. Boeing, JP Morgan Chase, and the Walgreens Boots Alliance are some of the popular employers in Chicago. Some of the other parameters are given below:

Parameters Particular
Cost of living 1,025 USD per month
Salary Prospects 43,263 USD
QS Employer Activity Ranking 25th
Average international fees (at ranked unis) 42,800 USD
Transportation Metro, train, bus, taxis
QS Student View Rank 59th

Atlanta

Atlanta, the capital city of Georgia, is the largest city in the US. The city offers a diverse cultural environment, quality of life, and effectiveness in producing top study experiences for international students. Being developed in a business environment, it offers plenty of opportunities in the career fields in which a student can pursue or after completing their academic studies. The Universities in Atlanta also provide support to students all over the world, assisting them in getting the best universities and colleges. Some of the universities are

Top Universities in Atlanta

Mentioned below are some of the universities of Atlanta with their QS World University Rank 2022:

Home of popular companies such as CNN television network, Coca-Cola world headquarters, and Delta Airlines. Some of the other important parameters about the city are given below:

Parameters Particular
Cost of living 743 USD per month
Salary Prospects 45,968 USD
QS Employer Activity Ranking 58th
Average international fees (at ranked unis) 36,600 USD
Transportation Bus, train, tram, ferry, bicycle
QS Student View Rank 65th

Philadelphia

Home to several famous universities and colleges and is one of the oldest American cities in the US. The Liberty Hall is the most famous sight in the city. The city is known for being a vibrant and dynamic city of Philadelphia with various restaurants and museums. It is also famous for its prestigious universities such as the University of Pennsylvania which is a major research center of Philadelphia and Drexel University. Some top universities of Philadelphia are given below:

Top Universities in Philadelphia

Mentioned below are some of the universities of Philadelphia with their QS World University Rank 2022:

The city has become a foodie's favorite, however, the city's cuisine is associated with the pleasures of steak and cheese. Technology, e-commerce, design, education, healthcare, finance, tourism, etc are some of the biggest industries in Philadelphia.

Parameters Particular
Cost of living 1,696 USD per month
Salary Prospects 40,270 USD
QS Employer Activity Ranking 40th
Average international fees (at ranked unis) 46,400
Transportation Bus, train, tram
QS Student View Rank 80th

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is one of the top study abroad destinations for international students. According to reports, it ranks 15th out of 118 metros for its shares in foreign students studying in the city. It is also one of the second largest cities in America. The universities of Pittsburgh compensate for their high tuition fees along with offering a strong quality of life, a diversified student population, and a chance to study in a world-renowned university. Some universities of Pittsburgh city are

Top Universities in Pittsburgh

Mentioned below are some of the universities of Pittsburgh with their QS World University Rank 2022:

Some of the parameters about the city are given below:

Parameters Particular
Cost of living 1,101 USD per month
Salary Prospects 42,693 USD
QS Employer Activity Ranking 64th
Average international fees (at ranked unis) 45,900 USD
Transportation Bus, train, tram, metro
QS Student View Rank 93rd

San Diego

San Diego is another Californian option among international candidates and located on the southwest coast of the US, that touches the border of Mexico. The city is named America's Finest City with its attractive beaches and various tourist destinations. The city is also popular for its universities as the famous 'The University of California' is situated here as well as some other research institutions that help in the growth of the Biotechnology field in the city. Some of the top universities of San Diego are

Top Universities in San Diego

Mentioned below are some of the universities of San Diego with their QS World University Rank 2022:

There are a lot of job options for the graduates in this city, particularly in the healthcare and tech industries. International trade plays a major role by contributing to the San Diego economy, as it shares its border with Mexico. Some of the other parameters are given below:

Parameters Particular
Cost of living 2,512 USD per month
Salary Prospects 41,893 USD
QS Employer Activity Ranking 114th
Average international fees (at ranked unis) 18,700 USD
Transportation Bus, taxi, cycling, walking
QS Student View Rank 72nd

Baltimore

Baltimore is located in the northeast of the US and is one of the largest cities in the state of Maryland. The city has a rich history as the city exhibits examples from each one of the eras of architecture from more than two centuries and the most popular Washington monument. The city is known for its major seaport and is referred to as the Charm City and the Land of Pleasant Living in the US. Some of the universities of Baltimore City are

Top Universities in Baltimore

Mentioned below are some of the universities of Baltimore with their QS World University Rank 2022:

The employment opportunities have been positively influenced by its higher education with a variety of jobs candidates in the city in fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Some of the other important parameters about the city are:

Parameters Particular
Cost of living 1,180 USD per month
Salary Prospects 39,441 USD
QS Employer Activity Ranking 73rd
Average international fees (at ranked unis) 40,700 USD
Transportation Bus, train, tram, bikes
QS Student View Rank 113th

Every city in the US has the well-recognized uniqueness that separates it from other cities of the country. While Boston is known for its universities in the US, on the other hand, New York is renowned for its splendor and lifestyle. Every international student is unique in their way and their lifestyle, as well as needs, is also different from others. Hence, candidates who want to study in US universities and migrate there must carefully reflect on their needs, aspirations, and future goals.

FAQs

Ques. What city in the US has the best education system?

Ans. As per the recent survey of the United States, Ann Arbor, Michigan is ranked as the most educated city in the country followed by San Jose, Washington DC, and San Francisco.

Ques. Can I get a fully funded scholarship in the USA?

Ans. Full Scholarships are the holy goal of funding opportunities, covering nearly everything for the full three or four years of universities. Full scholarships are very rare, and those that are accessible are extremely competitive.

Ques. Why the USA is the best place to study?

Ans. The US brags of some of the popular universities, a great deal of which consistently rank on the world university rankings. American institutions are additionally known to have high academic guidelines, follow thorough practices to keep up with quality, and are all around supported to have the option to provide excellent education to their students.

Ques. How can I study in the USA for free?

Ans. With the assistance of scholarships from universities, government, and private institutions, getting your degree in the USA for free is profoundly conceivable. The scholarship providers can be exceptionally selective to their beneficiaries. Subsequently, you ought to apply for however many grants as you can to expand your chances of getting accepted.

Ques. Why is Chicago better than NYC?

Ans. Chicago has a lovely lakefront, with more than 20 miles of parks and seashores. New York has seashores, yet they're a long way from the main part of the city, and New York's river frontage is big wins or big losses. Lake Michigan gives an exceptional, background to the Chicago horizon, practically like in Rio.

Ques. What are some of the best universities in the US?

Ans. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University, Harvard University, Columbia University, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) are the top universities in the US.