What You Need to Know About the US Education System

There is no centralized education system in the United States that applies to all states. Each state has its own governing body that sets educational policies. While this education system provides overseas students with a wide range of options, it might be difficult to grasp the system from afar and pick among so many options. Students who desire to study at American institutions will be able to make a more informed decisions if they have more knowledge about the American education system.

In the United States, primary and secondary education lasts 12 years. The student can apply to higher education institutions (community colleges) or universities that give two years of study with the high school diploma gained at the end of this term. Kindergarten education lasts 1-3 years before entering primary school. Primary school in America begins at the age of six and continues until high school. Secondary schools are high schools that offer instruction across three years or four years. High school education in the United States is a 12-year program that begins in first grade and concludes in 12th grade.

Higher Education Programs

Undergraduate Education: A student who has completed high school (12th grade) can continue his education at a university. In the United States, several universities are sometimes referred to as “colleges.” The term college used here is for four-year institutions or schools in America. Students can continue their education beyond high school in a variety of subjects at schools (Community College or Junior College) designed to equip personnel for vocational education and earn an Associate Degree. Students can also continue their studies after high school at four-year universities. The degree earned at the conclusion of this four-year school is known as a bachelor's degree. To finish their undergraduate degree, students typically need to complete 120 credits. Depending on their subject of study, students who successfully finish their studies obtain a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) or Bachelor of Science (B.S) diploma.

Higher education institutions in the United States are classified as follows:

Community Colleges or Junior Colleges are examples of two-year education programs. These are the schools that offer two years of vocational education following high school and award an associate degree diploma. Students earn an Associate of Arts (A.A) or Associate of Science (A.S) degree after completing 60 credits of coursework. The most essential aspect of community colleges is that they allow students to transfer to four-year universities (2+2 transfers) provided they satisfy the requisite average.

Technology Institutes: Technology Institutes are one of the most common educational institutions in the USA. In all respects, they are institutions that provide co-education to four-year universities. Although they began as organizations dedicated to scientific and engineering education, they gradually expanded to include social science instruction.

Liberal Arts Colleges: These are art institutions that also provide a four-year bachelor's degree. They are usually located far away from communities and provide specialty training beyond the first two years.