Best value schools in North America for Asian students
By Asian Correspondent Nov 24, 2011 6:29PM UTCIT IS no secret that tuition is an expensive proposition for many students. In South Korea today many students are protesting the rising cost of tuition and participating in demonstrations for fees to be cut in half. It is a major, unavoidable issue for anyone who wants a decent education and isn’t the child of a king or a Wall Street titan.
This issue is particularly important for Asian students completing their degrees in North America. The cost of tuition at Canadian and American universities and colleges continues to skyrocket to levels rarely heard of in Asia. North American students fret over their looming student loan debts, but they have the advantage of access to in-state tuition and the possibility of living with their parents during school. Budget-conscious international students rarely have such opportunities to save money, so finding the right balance of quality and price is critical.
Pic: Cambrian College.
Return On Investment
Overall, choosing the right university is like choosing an investment. The money spent on your education should produce a good return on investment not only in terms of your starting salary or how much smarter you become, but also in terms of location, quality of life, the people you meet, and how well it launches your career. This leaves you with a lot to consider as you choose a school.
Of course, there are great benefits wherever you study in North America. A degree from a North American university or college is often highly respected back home, as employers know that the education received is excellent. North American schools carry a certain prestige, which is important in Asian nations where educational prestige can be all-important. Furthermore, students graduating overseas are known to have high English ability and cultural fluency, and have proven they are capable of entering challenging new environments and finding success in them.
Academically, education in North America can be of tremendous value because of the typically small class sizes that foster close interaction with professors, and the demanding curriculums that challenge students to grow intellectually and find new ways of seeing the world. North American educators demand strong critical thinking skills and clear, precise written communication. By rising to meet these challenges, students develop into the creative problem-solvers and communicators that employers want.
Pic: Humber College.
Career building
And then there are the career-building opportunities. Universities located near large North American cities provide a wealth of internship opportunities. Every city has a large number of employers ready to bring in interns who get to learn the ropes of the business and build their resumes. Asian students can be in demand for their language and cultural knowledge, giving them a leg up over American and Canadian students. The internships they can secure range across all industries, from media to software development to engineering and beyond. More and more companies see value in bringing in interns, and many interns use the opportunity to gain knowledge about their future careers that simply cannot be obtained any other way. And needless to say, an internship at a well-known American or Canadian company looks great on any resume.
Students who graduate from North American schools often qualify for temporary work visas, good for as long as two years. This gives them an invaluable opportunity to work overseas. Graduating in North America provides the chance to meet directly with recruiters and employers. In comparison, trying to find an overseas job while in your home country leaves you unable to directly check out potential employers and be sure that the job is the right one for you. In addition, by attending a North American school you will have a built-in network of contacts and professors who can write recommendation letters and help you steer the right course in your early career.
Student Life
Beyond academics and building their early careers, students get the benefits of life on a North American campus. Schools compete to provide comfortable living experiences for their students, starting with beautiful campuses that have a wide variety of amenities. Students on a North American campus have access to gyms, student lounges and so on. This makes the four-year experience not only intellectually stimulating, but a lot of fun as well. And don’t forget, this is America! Adventurous students have some of the world’s most amazing landscapes and cities on their doorstep.
The schools below represent a list of North American schools that offer Asian students an excellent price-to-quality ratio. Costs do vary, but they all feature quality programs and faculty, campus amenities, and, perhaps best of all, even domestic students love them for their reasonable tuition rates.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE, USA
The location alone makes UCIrvine a sought-after place to study. Pic: UCIrvine.
In the US, finding a university that offers a high-value education is all about pinpointing public schools that can contend with their private counterparts. The University of California, Irvine is a perfect example. It is listed as a Public Ivy university and easily ranks as one of the finest public schools in the nation.
However, this is still a public university, which means its prices don’t approach those of private universities. For prospective students in Asia, UCI offers one of the most attractive value-for-money options on the market today.
While competitively priced, UCI’s value proposition isn’t just about the money. It is recognized internationally for its outstanding quality of research, scholarship and teaching, and for its commitment to diversity. Add to this its modern campus and enviable location in Orange County, California, and it emerges as one of the best value places to study in North America. Read the full profile…
UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA
The University of Saskatchewan boasts an impressive list of alumni. Pic: University of Saskatchewan.
Little testifies to a university’s quality and prestige like a long list of highly acclaimed graduates. Strong academic programs, accomplished faculty and modern facilities are all part of the equation, but the best metric by which prospective students can gauge a school’s clout is its alumni.
The University of Saskatchewan is a good example of this. It is a medium-sized institution with a student body of about 15,000 full-time students. But the list of graduates who have gone on to make significant contributions to society is substantial. To date, U of S claims two Nobel Prize winners, one Canadian prime minister, an Oscar winner, and four Olympic gold medalists.
This Canadian university is also a leading destination for international students, particularly those from Asia who are looking for a high value-for-money option in North America. Not only does it deliver a top notch education, tuition fees and cost of living are well below that of most universities in the US. Read the full profile…
THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA, USA
Modern facilities as surprisingly low tuition fees make The University of West Alabama a popular choice. Pic: UWA.
The University of West Alabama (UWA) is an up-and-coming US university that offers Asian students a chance to take advantage of surprisingly low tuition fees while receiving a high standard of education.
UWA’s student population has grown by more than 250 percent in the last decade, giving administrators cause to invest in the campus and classrooms. This is an ideal situation for today’s students, as they are greeted with brand-new facilities, modern labs and a few cutting-edge programs. The result is a modern university with traditions dating back to the early 19th century. Today’s students are capitalizing on the school’s storied reputation as well as its extensive and modern course offerings.
One of the few things at UWA that has not expanded rapidly is the tuition costs. This is a well-respected school, but it offers students substantial value for money, with costs coming in at less than half of studying at many other US universities. Read the full profile…
Humber College combines a great location, thorough course offerings and affordable tuition fees. Pic: Humber College.
Thorough but affordable course offerings coupled with Toronto’s low cost of living make Humber a top pick for Asian students interested in studying in North America. More than 850 international students enroll in its certificate, diploma, bachelor’s and postgraduate programs each year. It is one of only 12 Vanguard Learning Colleges in North America (selected for excellence in education) and has a 92% satisfaction rate among employers.
More than 150 full-time programs across 40 fields of study and 16 degree programs offer international students a range of options. All programs are developed by experts from education and the workplace, combining theory, practical learning and work placements so graduates are work-ready and immediately employable.
Tuition fees at Humber are significantly lower than most US or Canadian universities and Toronto is an enviable place to study. The selection of restaurants, entertainment venues and outdoor facilities here can rival those of any big city. And Toronto has been found to be significantly cheaper than North American and European capitals. Read the full profile…
RUTGERS – THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY, USA
Rutgers can be even better value for international students than their US counterparts. Pic: Rutgers.
All three campuses of this American public university in the state of New Jersey are within a 45-minute bus or train trip of New York City. Almost needless to say, that gives Rutgers students a great chance to obtain one of the vast numbers of internships available in one of the world’s busiest and most dynamic cities.
The campuses themselves have the beautiful old buildings of the classic American university, but the student lounges are fully updated to modern life. Inside the classroom, the vast number of courses available allows you to build exactly the academic experience you are after.
And best of all? As a public university, the tuition at Rutgers is quite reasonable. International students pay precisely the same tuition, fees, and room and board as would any American student from outside of New Jersey. And by obtaining a diploma overseas and building their language skills, they actually get better value for their money than those American students.
Studying at Cambrian College offers a number of financial perks for international students. Pic: Cambrian College.
Cambrian College is one of a number of Canadian schools that are providing exciting and affordable education options for Asian students. While Ivy League universities will always be there for those who can afford them, schools like Cambrian College are making a North American education a very real possibility for thousands of international students.
Tuition fees are less than half the cost of attending many US universities and can result in significant savings over the duration of a student’s third level education. Studying at Cambrian College also offers a number of other financial perks for international students. Students are permitted to work off campus so they can help finance their studies as they go. And by North American standards, they also enjoy a very reasonable cost of living.
Cambrian specializes in theoretical training backed up by practical experience, preparing students for the workplace and successful careers. For those interested in going on to further studies, the college can act as a perfect springboard to a university degree for international students, with partnerships with universities in Canada, Australia and the US. Read the full profile…
Pic: American University.
Despite its location in the American capital of Washington, DC, the aptly named American University offers surprisingly competitive tuition rates for a high quality education.
The campus is located on the outskirts of the city, but the nearby subway station will whisk you downtown in no time – and once there, there are an enormous number of organizations who take on AU students as interns every year. Indeed, it can be difficult to stroll downtown without noticing the large number of signs for national organizations headquartered in the city. If you have any interest in nonprofit or government work, you could hardly be in a better place for school.
As a large school, AU offers a wide range of programs and is frequently visited by distinguished scholars and guest speakers. Student life is one of studying by day and enjoying the evenings, as the city-like campus offers plenty of amenities and an array of entertainments beckon just a few subway stops away.
Most Popular
Trending
