Study in United States from Nepal
#4 destination for Nepali students · 13 consultancies handle it
The most academically prestigious destination and the one with the most scholarship money : and the most demanding application, starting a year ahead.
At a glance
Costs & visa
| Tuition / year | Rs 27.5 lakh – Rs 62 lakh |
|---|---|
| Living cost / year | Rs 16.5 lakh – Rs 25 lakh |
| Visa fee | Rs 74,000 |
| Funds to show | Rs 55 lakh |
| Processing time | Interview slots 2–8 weeks out; decision same day |
| After study | OPT 12 months, plus 24 months for STEM |
| Work while studying | 20 hours per week on campus in term |
Demand & outcomes
| Popularity rank | 4Among Nepali students going abroad |
|---|---|
| Consultancies | 13In Nepal handle this destination |
| Popular universities | 7Targeted by Nepali students |
| Intakes / year | 3Admission start periods |
| Tests required | 4English / language exams |
| Post-study work | OPT 12 months, plus 24 months for STEMStay-back after graduation |
Rupee figures are indicative conversions of United States's own requirements and move with the exchange rate. Confirm the current amounts with the university and the embassy.
Highlights
Post-study work
OPT 12 months, plus 24 months for STEM
Part-time work
20 hours per week on campus in term
Intakes
Fall (August/September), Spring (January), Summer (May)
Top exams
IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, GRE
The honest picture
The United States rewards preparation more than any other destination. Applications open roughly a year before the intake, the best funding goes to students who applied early with strong test scores, and the F-1 visa interview at the embassy in Kathmandu is a genuine assessment rather than a formality : a well-prepared student with modest finances often succeeds where a wealthy but vague one fails.
The financial picture is also less fixed than it looks. Sticker tuition at a private US university is frightening, but need-based aid and merit scholarships for international undergraduates are real and substantial, and a meaningful number of Nepali students study in the US on packages covering most of their cost. That is largely an undergraduate phenomenon; at masters level, funding usually means a teaching or research assistantship, which is competitive and department-specific.
Plan the timeline backwards from the intake: tests eighteen months out, applications twelve months out, financial documents and I-20 six months out, visa interview three months out.
Why United States
- The deepest pool of scholarships and need-based aid for international undergraduates
- World-leading research universities across every discipline
- Optional Practical Training of 12 months, extended to 36 for STEM fields
- Flexible curricula : you can change major after arrival in a way most systems do not allow
- On-campus work from day one, and assistantships that waive tuition at graduate level
Tests United States asks for
| Test | Typical requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL Usually required | 61–80 undergraduate, 90+ postgraduate | The test US admissions offices know best. |
| IELTS Usually required | 6.0–7.0 overall | Accepted alongside TOEFL by nearly all US universities. |
| SAT | 1200+ for competitive aid | Many universities are test-optional, but a score strengthens scholarship consideration. |
| GRE | 315+ for funded masters | Required by many graduate departments, waived by a growing number. |
The visa route
Once a university issues an I-20, pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, complete the DS-160 form, pay the visa fee and book an F-1 interview at the US Embassy in Kathmandu. Bring the I-20, DS-160 confirmation, SEVIS receipt, passport, academic records, test scores and financial evidence. The interview is short and focuses on why this course, why this university, who is paying and what you will do afterwards. A Ministry of Education NOC is required before departure.
Working during and after study
On-campus work up to 20 hours per week during term. Off-campus work requires Curricular Practical Training during study or Optional Practical Training after graduation : 12 months, extended by a further 24 months for eligible STEM degrees.
Frequently asked
1 When should I start my US application?
About eighteen months before the intake. Tests first, then applications twelve months out, then the I-20 and visa interview.
2 Can I get a full scholarship to a US university from Nepal?
At undergraduate level, yes : need-based aid at well-endowed liberal arts colleges and universities covers most costs for a number of Nepali students each year. At masters level, funding usually means an assistantship.
3 What do they ask in the F-1 visa interview?
Why this course and university, how you chose it, who is funding you and where the money came from, and what you intend to do after graduating. Answer briefly and consistently with your documents.
What it costs to study in United States
Indicative first-year figures in NPR. The chart shows how tuition, living costs and one-time visa, flight and insurance expenses split; the table gives the range.
| Expense | Range / year (NPR) |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Rs 27.5 lakh – Rs 62 lakh |
| Living | Rs 16.5 lakh – Rs 25 lakh |
| Visa, flights & insurance | Rs 2.7 lakh – Rs 4.2 lakh |
"The Nepali students who do best in United States are the ones who treat the financial file as seriously as the offer letter. Tuition and living costs are only half the story: the proof of funds and a clean visa history are what turn an admission into a granted visa."
Scolar Research Team
Based on analysis of Nepali student applications
What Nepali students say about United States
"Moving to United States felt overwhelming until I broke it into steps: test, offer, NOC, visa. Keeping every cost in NPR front and centre stopped me from losing track of the budget."
Asha P.
Studying in United States
"I compared United States against two other countries side by side. Seeing the post-study work rights and the proof-of-funds requirement together made the choice obvious."
Bibek S.
Graduate in United States
Scholarships for Nepali students going to United States
Fully funded and partial awards worth checking before you self-finance. Confirm current eligibility and deadlines on the official site, as they change yearly.
| Scholarship | Coverage | Official site |
|---|---|---|
| Fulbright Student Program | Tuition + living | Visit |
Related pages
Consultancies handling United States
All 13
AECC Nepal
Dillibazar, Kathmandu
AECC Nepal is an education consultancy based in Dillibazar, Kathmandu, working with Nepali students on studying abroad. Counselling, university shortlisting, application filing, document attestation, NOC assistance and visa filing are the standard services on offer. Confirm the details and current fees with the office directly.
Broadlink Education Consultancy
Putalisadak, Kathmandu
Broadlink Education Consultancy is an education consultancy based in Putalisadak, Kathmandu, working with Nepali students on studying abroad. Counselling, university shortlisting, application filing, document attestation, NOC assistance and visa filing are the standard services on offer. Confirm the details and current fees with the office directly.
Connect Globe Edu Group
Putalisadak, Kathmandu
Connect Globe Edu Group is an education consultancy based in Putalisadak, Kathmandu, working with Nepali students on studying abroad. Counselling, university shortlisting, application filing, document attestation, NOC assistance and visa filing are the standard services on offer. Confirm the details and current fees with the office directly.
Dolphin Education Consultancy Center
Putalisadak, Kathmandu
Dolphin Education Consultancy Center is an education consultancy based in Putalisadak, Kathmandu, working with Nepali students on studying abroad. Counselling, university shortlisting, application filing, document attestation, NOC assistance and visa filing are the standard services on offer. Confirm the details and current fees with the office directly.
E-Planet Education Consultancy
Bagbazar, Kathmandu
E-Planet Education Consultancy is an education consultancy based in Bagbazar, Kathmandu, working with Nepali students on studying abroad. Counselling, university shortlisting, application filing, document attestation, NOC assistance and visa filing are the standard services on offer. Confirm the details and current fees with the office directly.
Education Tree Global
Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu
Education Tree Global is an education consultancy based in Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu, working with Nepali students on studying abroad. Counselling, university shortlisting, application filing, document attestation, NOC assistance and visa filing are the standard services on offer. Confirm the details and current fees with the office directly.