Do you dream of studying in the United States? Are you Brazilian? This guide will help you understand the American higher education system and provide you with tops about how to apply to US universities from Brazil.

How many students apply to US universities from Brazil?

Every year, the Institute of International Education (IIE) publishes statistics on international students studying in the United States.  In 2022, IIE reported that there were nearly 15,000 Brazilian students studying at American universities. Of these, approximately half were studying for their undergraduate diploma. This makes Brazil among the top 15 countries in the world sending students to study in the United States.

What kinds of universities exist in the US?

There are over 4,000 institutions of higher education in the United States.  These can be divided into at least three main categories that might be of interest to Brazilian students. 

Community colleges, also known as junior colleges

These are 2-year institutions that offer Associates degrees in a wide variety of academic disciplines. Community colleges also offer technical and vocational training. Some of these colleges are private, but most are public (meaning that they are supported by local and state governments). 

Public four-year colleges and universities 

Every one of the 50 states in the US has several public universities.  These offer Bachelor’s degrees, and may also offer Masters degrees, doctoral degrees, and other professional degrees.  Some of these public universities may be focused on particular disciplines (most often science and engineering). Two leading examples of this sort of specialized public university include Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. Most public universities, however, offer a wide range of degree programs, including diplomas in the arts and sciences, engineering, and business. 

Private four-year colleges and universities

Most of the oldest universities in the United States were formed by private entities and religious groups. These include Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Dartmouth, and Columbia. These, plus many a few others, were founded while the American colonies were still subject to British rule. Some private universities offer a wide range of degree programs, including Bachelor’s, Masters, and doctorates. Some, however, offer only undergraduate or Bachelor’s degrees.  These are generally referred to as “colleges” though some of these private institutions call themselves “universities” even if they do not offer advanced degrees.  

What subjects can Brazilians study in the United States?

Brazilian students can study just about anything they like either as undergraduate or graduate students. The range of programs is nearly infinite.  However, here are some of the most popular kinds of degree programs offered. 

Arts and sciences.  These are the traditional academic disciplines, which not only include the arts (e.g., literature, art history, music) and sciences (chemistry, physics, geology, biology), but also the social sciences (psychology, economics, sociology). 

Business. Brazilian students interested in entrepreneurism, marketing, management, accounting, or real estate may want to elect to study business. Most students elect to study business either at the Bachelor’s or Masters level (also known as an MBA).  Some undergraduate institutions are highly focused on business education, including Babson and Bentley. 

Engineering.  Brazilian students can pursue engineering studies either at a public university like the University of Michigan or the University of Colorado.  Or they can study engineering at more specialized public universities like the Colorado School of Mines or the Illinois Institute of Technology.  Some private universities also specialize in science and technology studies, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).  Some smaller undergraduate colleges also offer engineering degrees, including Swarthmore and Lafayette Colleges.  Or you could study engineering in the Ivy League, including Brown, Harvard, and Dartmouth. 

Arts. Brazilian students can pursue degrees in fine arts, music, drama, dance, or film. These disciplines are offered at many comprehensive universities, whether public or private. However, Brazilians interested in the arts can attend specialized institutions that focus on one or more art forms, such as Juilliard or the Manhattan School of Music.

 

How do do you apply to US universities from Brazil?

The application process for entrance to American universities is generally quite different than in other countries, especially when it comes to undergraduate education. 

Brazilians applying to American universities for undergraduate degrees must first demonstrate their academic abilities. This is done by submitting the academic record for the last four years of secondary school (in the US, this is called the “transcript”). In addition, students may be asked to submit scores on standardized tests (the SAT or ACT) and one or more letters of recommendation from teachers and school counselors. 

Beyond that, Brazilian students will also present other activities and accomplishments outside the classroom. This might include sports, the arts, volunteer service, employment, family responsibilities, hobbies, academic research, internships, or other involvements. The most selective universities will want to see evidence of excellence in at least one of these general domains. 

The application process itself can be quite confusing for Brazilian students who want to study in the USA. While different universities have slightly different processes, here is a general outline of the steps required to apply to American universities.

• Choose the universities to which you will submit your application
• Perform as well as possible in secondary school by taking the most difficult subjects available to you in your areas of interest
• Develop and expand your accomplishments outside of school
• Take required tests such as the ACT or SAT
• Take a language proficiency test
• Request letters of recommendation from teachers and school officials
• Submit your academic record and other documents to universities
• Prepare for interviews, if they are offered by the university
• Apply on the university website or platform, such as the Common Application
• Pay application fees

Note that the deadlines for applications to American universities may be up to one year before entry. That is, deadlines can be as early as October 1 for entry to university in September of the following year. For the most selective universities, the early round of applications is due in November, and the normal deadlines are generally in January for entry the following September. Thus you cannot decide at the last minute to apply to an American university.  You must prepare your applications well in advance.

 

How difficult is it to apply to US universities from Brazil?

The difficulty of getting into American universities depends on the type of university you would like to attend.  Community colleges are generally the least difficult, as they are generally open to all.  However, you will need to demonstrate minimum academic competency and the ability to pursue studies in English. 

Admission to four-year universities, whether public or private, can be either easy or difficult, depending on the university. Some have admission rates of 80-90% or more, so as long as you meet the minimum academic and English language requirements, it is not difficult to gain admission to these universities.

However, some American universities are very, very selective, and have admission rates as low as 3%.  Some of the most selective private universities include the eight universities fo the Ivy League, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, University of Chicago, and Duke.  Public universities, too, can be very difficult to get into, including the University of Michigan, the University of California-Berkeley, University of Virginia, and University of North Carolina. 

Things can become even more complicated and competitive when applying for certain kinds of academic disciplines, including computer science, engineering, or economics, as these are among the most competitive programs. Similarly, it can be more difficult to get into business programs at some universities. 

While American universities welcome Brazilian students, they also welcome students from every other country. However, the majority of students at any American university will be American citizens. At some of the most selective universities, international students make up only about 10-15% of the total undergraduate population (the University of Southern California and New York University generally admit a larger percentage of international students). 

It’s important to understand that the average admission rates published on various websites may or may not reflect YOUR chances of admission. If you are uncertain about your own chances of admission to a top American university, you may want to get professional advice. 

 

How much does an American university cost?

Generally speaking, American universities are more expensive than in other parts of the world. These are the average costs of attending different sorts of universities according to the Education Data Initiative. Note that international students would be expected to pay the “out-of-state” price at a public university, as they are not residents or citizens of the particular state in which the public university. In some cases, international students may, in fact, pay somewhat more than the out-of-state price. 

Note that the prices in the tables below are average prices.  Some of the more selective colleges and universities can be much more expensive.  For example, New York University costs nearly $100,000 per year.  Also note the cost of attendance includes most–but not necessarily all–expenses that a student might incur while studying in the US.  Generally the “cost of attendance” includes lodging, meals, health insurance, technology or other fees, books and supplies, and average travel costs.

 

PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

Institution Type	Cost of Tuition	Cost of Attendance**
4-Year In-State	$9,377	$26,027
4-Year Out-of-State	$27,091	$44,807
2-Year In-State	$3,501	$3,439

 

PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES

Institution Type	Cost of Tuition	Cost of Attendance**
4-Year Nonprofit	$38,768	$54,501
4-Year For-profit	$17,825	$32,895
2-Year Nonprofit	$17,735	$33,007
2-Year For-profit	$15,627	$27,246

**Cost of Attendance does not account for potential lost income nor student loan interest. SOURCE:  Hanson, Melanie. “Average Cost of College & Tuition” EducationData.org, June 25, 2023, https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-college

 

Can Brazilian students get scholarships to attend US universities?

It is possible for Brazilians to get scholarships to attend American universities. There are two types of scholarships. First there are scholarships based on the financial need of the student. Unfortunately the majority of American universities do not provide this sort of scholarship to Brazilian students.  Only the top-ranked schools offer scholarships to Brazilian students based on their need, and of course, these are among the most difficult universities to get into. 

Second, there are scholarships based on the talents and merit of the student.  While top tier universities like the members of the Ivy League do not provide any scholarships based on merit, many other colleges and universities do.  Most of those that do provide merit scholarships to Brazilian students are private universities, as public universities reserve their merit based scholarships for residents of that particular state. 

Navigating the costs of studying in the United States is one of the reasons that professional guidance can be important. 

 

Who can help apply to US universities from Brazil?

Many Brazilian students–especially those aiming for the top tier of American universities–engage with professional advisors to help them navigate the complicated admissions process.  A professional advisor can help you identify–from among thousands of possibilities–the colleges and universities that suit you best. They can also help you prepare in advance for your applications: some families hire a consultant 3 or 4 years before entry to university so that they can prepare to be competitive for top tier institutions. Further, they can help you with the fairly complex admissions requirements and help ensure that your application presents you in the best possible way. Finally, they can help you with the personal statements and other pieces of writing you may have to complete as part of your application.  Most students–no matter what country they are from–have difficulty in understanding the purpose of these writing assignments and in properly structuring responses that will have the desired result.

The team of professional consultants at Great College Advice is very experienced in helping Brazilian students –and other international students–to apply to competitive universities in the United States. We are a small team of experts who work one-on-one with students as they prepare for university, select the right colleges to suit their educational needs, and complete the complex applications. We have a very strong record of supporting talented Brazilian students who succeed in being accepted to top tier universities.

If you think professional guidance might help give you an advantage, connect with us for a free consultation.  We’d be happy to meet you and explain our process of guiding students toward their own American educational dream.