U.S. Department of Education: Promoting Educational Excellence for all Americans

USNEI

Institutions & Programs

Please go to Studying in the United States [MS Word, 94K] for important information that you should consider before choosing a school or program.

There are over 124,000 public and private schools in the United States; over 2,000 postsecondary non-degree career and technical schools; and over 4,000 degree-granting institutions of higher education. Of the higher education institutions, over 1,600 award associate degrees and some 2,400 award bachelor's or higher degrees. Over 400 higher education institutions award research doctorates.

This large and diverse array of accredited educational institutions is complex, but there are ways to make it manageable and to locate appropriate institutions and programs for your needs.

Some essential tips for locating an appropriate institution include answering questions such as those grouped below.

  1. Academic questions: What do I want to do with my education and life, and what subject(s) interest me? If I am entering higher education at the graduate level, in what specific subject specialization do I want to conduct research? Have I checked to be sure that the institution in which I am interested offers the program I want ? Is it accredited by a recognized accrediting agency? Have I checked with experts in that field about the institution and its program, regardless of whether I or my friends have heard of it or whether it appears on some commercial or popular ranking list?

  2. Lifestyle and learning style questions: What are my interests, values, and needs? Will the school or higher education institution I am interested in, and its community, accommodate my needs? Will its teaching style, requirements, and support services help me to succeed? Does the school or community have a significant number of international students? If I am bringing dependents (family) with me, will they find the support and services they need?

  3. Practical questions: Is the school or institution affordable? Have I checked to see if it provides scholarships, other types of funding, or campus work for which I may be eligible and which will not compromise my visa status? Are my qualifications sufficient to give me a chance at admission? And, have I reviewed what it may cost to live in the community where the school or institution is located?

A Word About Rankings

Neither the U.S. Department of Education nor USNEI provide or endorse any of the popular rankings of U.S. institutions. Rankings are frequently based on test scores, opinion surveys of academic leaders, faculty publications in selected journals, awards in popular disciplines or public research funding totals. These figures may be statistically accurate, but they are selective aggregations that overlook important subject specializations, types of research, and legitimate institutional and cultural differences. We do not believe that statistical ranking surveys can substitute for questions such as those listed above. Every subject, specialization, institutional atmosphere, local community, and personal set of needs and qualifications is different and will result in different answers to the question "What is the best school or institution for me?"

Locating U.S. Primary and Secondary Schools

NOTE: It is important to read and understand U.S. regulations on non-U.S. citizens attending U.S. primary and secondary schools before you search for schools, as well as to select a school that is approved to host international students.

Legal Requirements for F-1 (Student) Visa Holders in Public Schools provides important information on the restrictions governing school-age students seeking to attend U.S. public schools.

NCES Public School Search is a database allowing you to search for state-approved and accredited public schools.

NCES Private School Search is a database allowing you to search for state-approved and accredited private schools.

SEVIS Approved Schools Map shows information on primary and secondary schools approved to host non-U.S. visitors as well as other types of institutions. It is important to be sure that any school you are interested in attending is on the SEVIS list, which is updated regularly.

Locating U.S. Postsecondary Schools and Higher Education Institutions

It is important that any career and technical education school or higher education institution that you select be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency. Accreditation by a recognized agency allows credits and degrees earned to be recognized by institutions, employers and state licensing boards outside the home state or territory as well as by recognition authorities in other countries. The following searchable databases contain only institutions and programs accredited by recognized accrediting agencies.

ED Database of Accredited U.S. Institutions and Programs is a database of accredited postsecondary career and technical schools, higher education institutions, and specialized programs located inside the territorial United States.

CHEA Database of Institutions and Programs Accredited by Recognized U.S. Accrediting Organizations provides the ability to search for accredited U.S. institutions and branches located outside as well as inside the territorial United States.

College Opportunities Online Locator (COOL) is a database of accredited postsecondary career and technical schools, higher education institutions, and specialized programs searchable by state, degree level or program.

SEVIS Approved Schools Map shows information on primary and secondary schools approved to host non-U.S. visitors as well as other types of institutions. It is important to be sure that any school you are interested in attending is on the SEVIS list, which is updated regularly.

Locating Academic Programs

First-professional degree programs as well as several other professional programs of study are accredited by specialized programmatic accrediting agencies. Programs in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences are usually found in comprehensive institutions rather than specialized institutions, and comprehensive institutions are accredited by regional accrediting agencies as part of the academic evaluation of such institutions.

Academic disciplinary associations play a strong role in setting and maintaining research and educational standards in specific academic subjects. These associations represent the faculty and students in their fields, often have extensive international ties, and may sponsor scholarships and awards as well as research projects.

It is important to be sure that you select a program of study located at an accredited institution, a specially accredited program if the subject is in a professional field that has a specialized programmatic accrediting agency, and consult disciplinary associations for programs that do not possess specialized accrediting agencies.

Go to Postsecondary Accreditation [MS Word, 85K] for links to recognized accrediting agencies, all of which have directories of their accredited institutions and/or programs.

American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is a national organization of academic associations in the visual and performing arts, humanities and social sciences as well as some scientific and professional associations. The site provides direct links to the websites of all member and affiliated associations.

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is a national organization of academic associations in the theoretical and applied natural and biological sciences, as well as some behavioral and social science disciplines. The Affiliates directory provides links to the websites of all member associations.

National Research Council (NRC) Career Guides provides extensive resources for graduate studies in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, applied sciences, and biomedical sciences.

 

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Last Modified: 02/21/2008