Study abroad at St. Louis

St. Louis (famed as 'The Gateway to the West' and 'The Mound City') is an iconic, culturally vibrant, and booming biotechnology, healthcare, aerospace, and higher education powerhouse situated along the western bank of the Mississippi River in Missouri, home to St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL). Celebrated for the world-famous 630-foot stainless steel Gateway Arch (America's tallest man-made monument - National Park), Forest Park (a magnificent 1,300-acre urban park - 500 acres larger than NYC's Central Park - hosting the Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis Art Museum, and Missouri History Museum, all completely free admission), the historic Soulard and Delmar Loop cultural districts, and a powerhouse Fortune 500 corporate economy (Boeing Defense & Space, Emerson Electric, Centene, Bayer Crop Science US HQ, Enterprise Holdings, and the Cortex Innovation Community - the Midwest's premier 200-acre innovation hub). St. Louis is home to two world-renowned elite research universities: Washington University in St. Louis (WashU - established in 1853, elite private research powerhouse designated Carnegie R1 Very High Research Activity consistently ranked in the US Top 15 by US News & World Report with over 16,000 students on the stunning Collegiate Gothic Danforth Campus and Medical Campus, boasting 26 Nobel laureates, the prestigious Olin Business School AACSB-accredited, McKelvey School of Engineering, WashU School of Medicine / Barnes-Jewish Hospital - ranked in the US Top 5 for Medicine, and WashU School of Law), alongside Saint Louis University (SLU - established in 1818, premier Jesuit research university enrolling over 13,000 students, globally renowned for the Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology - America's oldest federally certified aviation school, Chaifetz School of Business, and School of Medicine), and University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL). Degrees are taught 100% in English with prestigious US accreditations. International students benefit from WashU's 100% need-met financial aid, generous SLU/UMSL International Academic Merit Scholarships ($10,000 to $25,000/year), free MetroLink transit for students, and direct US F-1 / I-20 Student Visa support with 3-year STEM OPT work extensions.

Tuition fees in St. Louis depend on the institution: at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU - US Top 15 / Olin Business), undergraduate tuition is approx. $62,500 to $64,500 per academic year (with WashU meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need with university grants for all admitted students). At Saint Louis University (SLU) and University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL), international undergraduate tuition ranges between $22,500 and $52,500 per academic year for Engineering, Aviation, Computer Science, and Chaifetz Business (with SLU and UMSL awarding generous automatic International Academic Merit Scholarships discounting $10,000 to $25,000/year from tuition for qualified applicants). Postgraduate Master's degrees range from $18,000 to $36,000 per year. Modern on-campus university residences (WashU: South 40 Residential Colleges, Village East, Lofts; SLU: Spring Hall, Grand Hall, Reinert Hall) cost between $800 and $1,350 per month (inclusive of meal plans, utilities, and high-speed Wi-Fi), while off-campus student apartments in Central West End (CWE), Delmar Loop, and Midtown range from $600 to $1,050 per month for shared apartments. General monthly living expenses range between $750 and $1,250 (significantly more affordable than Chicago, Boston, or New York).

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 minus scholarship awards approx. $30,000), the Office for International Students and Scholars (WashU OISS / SLU Center for Global Citizenship) 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 across St. Louis, Chicago, and nationwide).