The United States is ranked 5th in terms of number of college-degree holders amongst the age group of 25 to 64-year-olds. The U.S. is ranked 12th for its 25 to 34-year-olds in that same category.
The U.S. spends the most on education but is far behind countries like South Korea that has the highest number of college-degree holders with 64% of its 25 to 34-year-olds having college degrees as opposed to the 43% of the U.S. for the same age group.
The number of students getting a college degree outside their country of citizenship worldwide has increased from 0.8 million in 1975 to 4.3 million in 2011.
Fifty-three percent of these “global” international students come from Asia with the largest number of students coming from China.
The United States is ranked as the #1 host of international students followed by the United Kingdom in second place with a rising amount of students studying in Australia, New Zealand, and Spain.
The United States had one of the highest college retention and completion rates in the past but now has fallen to 14th behind Canada, South Korea, and Russia, which have much higher rates of college completion.
Academic Excellence
The United States has one of the world’s finest university systems, with outstanding programs in virtually all fields. At the undergraduate level, excellent programs exist in traditional disciplines, as well as in professional fields. At the graduate level, students have the opportunity to work directly with some of the finest minds in their field of study, with the chance to become involved with exclusive research and educational opportunities. U.S. degrees are recognized throughout the world for their excellence.
Variety of Educational Opportunities
The United States is home to several thousand colleges and universities, boasting at least ten times as many campuses as in any other country. As a result, the higher education system in the U.S. has something for everyone. Some U.S. colleges and universities stress broad educational principles; others emphasize practical, employment-related skills; and still others specialize in the arts, social sciences or technical fields. This means that no matter what you plan on studying, you will have a wide variety of programs in your particular field from which to choose.
If you’re looking for the high life, we have it. Canadians and international students in Canada enjoy a high standard of living. It’s a great place to live and work. In fact, we rank #1 in the world when it comes to quality of life. According to the World University Rankings, we also have 5 of the top 100 best student cities in the world.
Cutting-Edge Technology
Universities in the U.S. pride themselves on being at the forefront of technology, research and techniques, and in making the best possible equipment and resources available to their students. Even if your field does not directly involve science or engineering, you will have opportunities to become skilled in using the latest technology to conduct research, as well as obtain and process information. You will find ways to stay connected with researchers, teachers and experts in your field all over the world.
Opportunity for Research, Teaching and Training
You may be able to gain valuable experience through teaching and/or research while you help to finance your education in the U.S., particularly if you are a graduate student. Many graduate programs offer training and teaching opportunities that enable students to become teaching assistants to undergraduates and/or research assistants on special projects exploring different aspects of your field of study.
Flexibility
Although many programs are highly structured in that specific coursework requirements must be met, you will generally be able to find a wide variety of course choices to meet those requirements. For example, liberal arts coursework for an undergraduate program will include classes in languages and mathematics, but you will be given a wide variety of classes which fit those requirements, and the freedom to decide which classes best match your interests.
