Study in the USA from Germany: Costs, Scholarships, Visa

Quick answer

To study in the USA from Germany you need an F-1 visa for a degree or a J-1 visa for most exchange semesters; the visa-free ESTA does not allow full-time study. The cheapest route is an exchange through your German university’s partner agreements, where you normally keep paying your home tuition and cover only living, insurance and visa costs. A full degree at a US university costs roughly $39,000 to $73,000 a year in tuition alone at the three universities we checked.

• Compare your options by city with the Odisea orientation test.
• Already know the route? Jump to what the visa costs or the scholarships open to Germans.

The gap between the routes is the whole story. A semester at a partner university can cost you a few thousand dollars in living costs. The same semester as a free mover, paying US tuition, can cost more than a year of living in Germany.

Route 1: exchange through your German university

Your international office nominates you; the US university then admits you and issues the DS-2019 you need for the visa. At Arizona State University, UT Austin, Boston University and Georgia Tech, the exchange agreement means you pay your home university, not US tuition. Living costs, insurance and visa costs are still yours.

Places are limited and depend on which US partners your faculty has, so ask your international office first. The detail of the J-1 route is in our J-1 exchange and degree guide.

Route 2 and 3: free mover or full degree

Tuition for non-residents is the big number. These come from each university’s own cost page for 2026-27:

• UT Austin, nonresident undergraduate: tuition $42,554 to $51,106 a year by college, total cost of attendance $64,204 to $72,916.
• Arizona State University, international undergraduate: base tuition $39,062 plus fees, with ASU’s own estimate for the full year at $69,906.
• Boston University: tuition $73,024 plus $1,570 in fees, $95,334 billed with housing and food, and $98,419 total cost of attendance.

Cheaper options exist, but check each university’s cost page. The University of Houston lists about $27,776 a year in out-of-state tuition and fees, and the University of North Texas about $21,133 to $22,521. Use the cost calculator to turn these into a monthly plan.

What living costs look like in a US city

Rent and budget ranges below are from the Odisea city guides (planning ranges, not quotes). Five months excludes flights, visa and insurance.

Compare more cities in the US country guide, and see student housing before you pick a neighbourhood.

Scholarships and funding for Germans

• Fulbright Germany study scholarship: for German students at graduate level, full-time on site in the US for at least four months. The 2026-27 round advertised up to $31,000 for living costs, with tuition waivers at network universities. The deadline for 2027/28 was 1 September 2026, so the next call is probably around the same time in 2027; confirm on fulbright.de. Whether Bachelor students qualify differs between university announcements, so ask Fulbright.
• Fulbright travel grant: for 4 to 9 months at a US partner university of your German university. Applications have been due between November and January, per Göttingen’s overview.
• DAAD PROMOS: partial funding through your university for stays of up to a few months. One university lists the USA at €550 a month; another says rates are €350, €450 or €550 by country, with deadlines on 1 June and 1 December. Dates and rates differ by university. Apply through your international office.
• Auslands-BAföG: covers study abroad in the USA and can refund tuition fees up to €5,600 (raised from €4,600 in July 2022), plus a travel grant and a health insurance supplement. Apply at least six months before leaving, to the BAföG office responsible for the USA. Check the amounts at bafög.de.
• Sports: athletic scholarships exist but come from US coaches recruiting you. They are not part of exchange programmes.

Compare your funding with the budget in the study abroad budget guide.

Visa: F-1 or J-1, step by step

1. Get your form. The university issues an I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) once you are admitted.
2. Pay the SEVIS fee. $350 for F-1, paid at FMJfee.com before you book the interview. For J-1 it is $220.
3. Complete the DS-160 and pay the visa application fee, commonly $185 for F-1. Check the current fees on travel.state.gov before you pay, because they change.
4. Book the interview at the US Embassy in Berlin or the Consulates General in Frankfurt or Munich. Interview waivers ended for nearly all F-1 applicants from 2 September 2025, and slots fill fastest before autumn.
5. Travel. You can enter up to 30 days before the start date on your I-20.

ESTA is for tourism and business stays of 90 days or less. Do not use it to start a semester. Budget at least $535 for the SEVIS and visa fees of an F-1, before flights.

Credits and health insurance

Agree your courses in a Learning Agreement before you leave; US credit hours are converted by your own university, not by a general rule. Our Learning Agreement service and the ECTS credits explainer help with this. For insurance, US universities set their own rules: Boston University requires qualifying insurance or sells its plan, and ASU’s cost estimate includes about $2,765 for health insurance. Read the exchange health insurance guide and ask the host which cover it accepts.

Where to go next

• United States country guide
• Boston, Austin and Houston city guides
• UT Austin and Boston University
• The J-1 exchange and degree guide
• Meet future classmates in the student WhatsApp groups for your city.

Frequently asked questions

Studieren in den USA: was kostet es?

An exchange costs your living budget (about $1,400 to $3,200 a month in the three cities above) plus insurance and visa fees. A full degree adds $39,000 to $73,000 a year in tuition at the universities we checked.

Can I study in the USA as a German student?

Yes. German citizens do not need a visa for short tourist stays but must hold an F-1 or J-1 visa to study full-time. Apply through your university’s exchange office or directly to the US university.

Is studying in the USA easier than in Germany?

Not in cost or paperwork. Exchange places are limited and a full degree needs admission, a visa and funding. Compare your options with the orientation test.

Can I get a scholarship for an Auslandssemester in the USA?

Yes: Fulbright Germany, DAAD PROMOS through your university, and Auslands-BAföG. Each has its own deadline, so start at least six months ahead.

Can I study in the USA on ESTA?

No. ESTA covers tourism and business stays of up to 90 days. For credit-bearing study you need an F-1 or J-1.