Study abroad at Columbia

Columbia (CoMo) is the quintessential American college town in central Missouri, celebrated for the historic Columns on Francis Quadrangle, Jesse Hall dome, vibrant downtown arts and music scene (True/False Film Fest), and recognized as 'Athens of Missouri' and one of America's best small cities to live and study. Columbia is home to the prestigious flagship campus of the state: the University of Missouri (Mizzou - founded in 1839, the first public university west of the Mississippi River, an elite member of the Association of American Universities AAU and Carnegie R1 research powerhouse with over 31,000 students). Mizzou is world-famous as the home of the Missouri School of Journalism (founded in 1908 as the world's FIRST journalism school, operating the renowned 'Missouri Method' of hands-on professional newsrooms with NBC-affiliate KOMU-TV and the Columbia Missourian), College of Engineering (ABET-accredited leader in Computer Science, Bioengineering, and Nuclear Engineering operating the nation's most powerful university nuclear research reactor MURR), Trulaske College of Business (AACSB-accredited), School of Medicine, and College of Veterinary Medicine, alongside Columbia College and Stephens College. Degrees are taught 100% in English with prestigious US accreditations. International students benefit from classic Big Twelve/SEC university spirit, low cost of living, high safety, and direct US F-1 / I-20 Student Visa support with 3-year STEM OPT work extensions.

Tuition fees in Columbia for international undergraduate students at the University of Missouri (Mizzou) range between $31,500 and $34,500 per academic year for Engineering, Computer Science, Journalism, and Business (with automatic International Merit Scholarships awarding $5,000 to $10,000/year for eligible international students with qualifying GPAs, reducing net annual tuition). Postgraduate Master's and PhD programs range between $17,000 and $28,000 per year (with extensive funded graduate teaching assistantships GTAs and research assistantships GRAs providing full tuition waivers plus monthly living stipends). On-campus university residence halls (Mark Twain, Gateway Hall, Johnston) cost between $700 and $1,150 per month (inclusive of meal plans and utilities), while off-campus private student apartments in Downtown Columbia, East Campus, and Grindstone range from $550 to $950 per month. General monthly living expenses range between $750 and $1,250.

International students require a US F-1 Student Visa. Upon academic admission and verification of financial documentation (bank statement certifying first-year tuition and living expenses), Mizzou's International Center issues the official Form I-20. The student pays the SEVIS I-901 fee, completes the DS-160 online visa application, and attends the F-1 visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate. STEM graduates qualify for a 24-month OPT extension (total 36 months of US employment authorization).