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Cost of a year
What will a year really cost?
From the country guide: tuition, living costs and the visa fee, plus the money you must show. The part you lose if the visa is refused is marked.
In short: a first year in the United States costs about EUR 30,200 to 75,500: tuition, twelve months of living costs and the visa fee.
Last checked: 24 September 2026, against the official sources linked below.
A year in the United States
| In USD as published | In EUR | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, one year | USD 20,000 to 45,000 | EUR 18,070 to 40,660 Public university, international student |
| Living costs, twelve months | USD 13,200 to 38,400 | EUR 11,930 to 34,690 |
| Visa or permit feeNot refunded if the visa is refused | USD 185 | EUR 167 |
| First year, all in | EUR 30,160 to 75,520 | |
| Money you must show for the visa | Not published Held in your account before you apply; most of it then pays your living costs | |
If the exchange rate moves. Today 1 USD = 0.9035 EUR (rate of 13 November 2026). A 10% move either way changes this first year by about EUR 5,280, and a whole three to four-year degree by roughly EUR 15,850 to EUR 21,140. Plan with a margin, and pay large sums when the rate suits you.
Worth knowing. OPT is under formal DHS review and the usual next step, H-1B, now needs a USD 100,000 payment.
The full United States guide, with every source →
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Your first nightsA driver who meets you at the airport with your name on a sign, booked before you fly, so your first trip to your new address is sorted.
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United States: what a year costs next to
Tuition, living costs and the visa fee side by side, in your currency.
Leaves out flights, deposits and insurance unless the guide includes them. Currency: Rates by Exchange Rate API, 13 November 2026.
Questions
How much does it cost to study in the United States for a year?
a first year in the United States costs about EUR 30,200 to 75,500: tuition, twelve months of living costs and the visa fee.