Study in the USA from Pakistan

Studying in the United States from Pakistan means a university application with TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5, an I-20 issued once you prove you can pay, and an F-1 interview at the US Embassy in Islamabad. Tuition runs $25,000 at state universities to $65,000 at private ones. Government fees now total $785 — the $350 SEVIS fee, the $185 visa fee, and the $250 Visa Integrity Fee introduced in 2025. Graduates get 12 months of OPT, or 36 for STEM degrees.

Check if you qualify Document checklist

United States at a glance

Updated Sept 2026

Checked against official government sources on 14 September 2026. PKR conversions use the open-market rates of that date: £1 = PKR 379, $1 = PKR 279, C$1 = PKR 205, A$1 = PKR 202, €1 = PKR 325. Figures set by governments and universities change every intake — confirm before you apply.
Main intakes	Fall (August) is the main one · Spring (January) · limited Summer
Undergraduate tuition	$25,000 – $45,000 public · $40,000 – $65,000 private
Living cost	$12,000 – $20,000 per year
English requirement	TOEFL iBT 79+ · IELTS 6.5 · Duolingo 105–120
Standardised tests	SAT/ACT increasingly optional · GRE or GMAT for many Masters
Visa type	F-1 student visa
SEVIS I-901 fee	$350, paid before the interview
Visa application fee (MRV)	$185, paid before the interview
Visa Integrity Fee	$250, collected when the visa is issued
Total government fees	$785
Work during study	On-campus only, 20 hours per week
After graduation	12 months OPT · 36 months for STEM degrees

What US universities want from a Pakistani applicant

After FSc / HSSC

Direct entry to a four-year bachelor's degree. There is no foundation year requirement as in the UK. Competitive universities look for 80%+ in FSc; state universities admit well below that.

Standardised tests

Most universities went test-optional after 2020 and many have stayed that way, though several selective ones have reinstated the SAT. A strong SAT still helps merit scholarship chances even where it is optional.

After a Pakistani bachelor's

A 4-year HEC-recognised degree with a 3.0 CGPA is the standard Masters entry. A 2-year bachelor's plus a 2-year Masters from Pakistan is usually treated as equivalent to a US bachelor's.

Financial documents

Unlike the UK, you must prove funding before the university issues the I-20, not at the visa stage. Budget for a full year's tuition plus living costs in provable funds.

What it costs

Per year

Indicative annual costs. Public in-state rates do not apply to international students; the figures below are the international rate.
Item	Local currency	Approx. PKR
Tuition — public state university	$25,000 – $45,000	PKR 7.0m – 12.6m
Tuition — private university	$40,000 – $65,000	PKR 11.2m – 18.1m
Living, room and board	$12,000 – $20,000	PKR 3.3m – 5.6m
Health insurance (mandatory)	$1,500 – $3,000	PKR 418,000 – 837,000
SEVIS + MRV + Integrity Fee (one-off)	$785	PKR 219,000

PKR conversions are approximate and move with the exchange rate. Use them for planning, not for budgeting to the rupee.

From application to F-1 visa

7 stages

Apply to universities directly or through the Common App, with transcripts, English score, statement and references.
Receive an admission offer, then submit financial documents — a bank statement or sponsor affidavit covering the first year.
The university issues Form I-20. Check every detail on it against your passport before you go further.
Pay the $350 SEVIS I-901 fee and keep the receipt.
Complete the DS-160 form online and pay the $185 MRV fee. Budget separately for the $250 Visa Integrity Fee, which is collected when the visa is issued.
Book your interview at the US Embassy in Islamabad or the Consulate in Karachi or Lahore.
Attend the interview. Be ready to explain your course, how it fits your plans, who is paying, and why you will return to Pakistan.

The F-1 interview is about intent, not paperwork. Refusals under section 214(b) come from answers that do not hang together — a course unrelated to your background, a sponsor whose income does not match the bank balance, or vague plans after graduation. Rehearse the reasoning, not a script.

Working after your degree

Optional Practical Training gives you 12 months of work in your field of study. If your degree is on the government's STEM designated list, you can extend it by a further 24 months, for 36 in total — which is why so many Pakistani students pick computer science, engineering and data-related programmes. Beyond OPT you need an employer to sponsor an H-1B, which is allocated by lottery and is genuinely uncertain. Plan your degree on its own merits, not on an assumption that you will stay.

Before you apply

Two things decide whether a the USA application works: whether your documents are attested correctly, and whether your English score meets both the university and the visa requirement. Get those wrong and nothing else you do matters.

The Pakistani attestation chain — IBCC, HEC, MOFA and embassy, in order
Undergraduate document checklist
Postgraduate document checklist
English test requirements by country

United States — common questions

5 answers

How much bank balance is required for a US student visa from Pakistan?

Enough to cover the first year of tuition plus living costs shown on your I-20 — commonly $40,000 to $80,000 depending on the university. Unlike the UK there is no fixed 28-day holding rule, but consular officers do look at whether the money appeared recently and whether the sponsor's declared income could plausibly have produced it. Budget the $785 in government fees on top; the $250 Visa Integrity Fee is new since 2025 and students working from older cost guides are routinely caught out by it.

Can I get a full scholarship to study in the USA from Pakistan?

Full funding is common at PhD level, where departments fund students through teaching or research assistantships. At undergraduate level, need-blind full aid exists at a small number of highly selective universities and is extremely competitive. Partial merit scholarships of $5,000 to $25,000 a year are far more realistic and far more widely available.

Is IELTS or TOEFL better for US universities?

Both are accepted almost everywhere. TOEFL is the more established in the US and a few universities still state a TOEFL preference. IELTS is more widely available in Peshawar and many students find the speaking section easier because it is face to face. Check the specific requirement for each university on your list before booking.

What happens if my F-1 visa is refused?

A 214(b) refusal is not a ban. You can reapply, and many students succeed on a second attempt. Reapplying only makes sense if something has materially changed — a clearer study plan, better documented finances, a stronger explanation of your ties to Pakistan. Reapplying with the same file and the same answers usually produces the same outcome.

Can my spouse come with me on an F-1 visa?

Yes, on an F-2 dependent visa. Your I-20 must show additional funds for them. An F-2 spouse cannot work in the United States and can only study part-time, which is a significant consideration for married applicants.

Check these figures yourself

Official sources

US Department of State — Student visaF-1 process, DS-160 and interview
US ICE — I-901 SEVIS feeThe SEVIS fee and how to pay it
Study in the States (DHS)I-20, status rules and OPT

Every figure on this page was taken from these sources on 14 September 2026. Governments revise fees, thresholds and rules without notice, and we would rather you verified a number than took ours on trust. If you find something out of date here, tell us and we will correct it.

Compare with other destinations

4 more

Is the USA the right choice for you?

Bring your transcripts and your English score. We will tell you in one sitting whether this destination is realistic for your profile, and what it would cost you end to end.

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