Study in Los Angeles

Known as the ‘Creative Capital of the World’, Los Angeles has become a popular study abroad destination among international students. It is ranked #31 among the best student cities in the world as per QS Best Student Cities 2022. Its urban environment, cultural diversity, beaches, rich nightlife and presence of top universities makes it a perfect place for students to live and study. This blog brings to you a comprehensive guide to studying in Los Angeles.

Why Study in Los Angeles?

1. Quality Education- With some of the top-ranking universities like Caltech, UCLA and the University of Southern California, Los Angeles provides quality education to its international students
2. Diverse Environment- You’ll find people from different cultures speaking different languages all across LA. Universities have international students from various nationalities and are welcoming too.
3. Vibrant Culture- It’s also one of the most vibrant cities and students never get bored here. You can explore the beaches, museums, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, the nightlife and music culture
4. Amazing Weather- Los Angeles is known for its Mediterranean weather and is sunny almost all year round. They say that LA has about 284 sunny days a year. 

Also Read: Top Universities in USA

Top Universities in Los Angeles

California Institute of Technology

The California Institute of Technology is a private research university in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California. The university is known for its strength in science and engineering and is one among a small group of institutes of technology, ranking #6 in the world and #4 in the United States. Caltech was founded as a preparatory and vocational school by Amos G. Throop in 1891. It is the most attractive destination for one interested in science and engineering. The notable alumni of this institute include Frank Borman, who commanded the 1968 Apollo 8 Mission, C. Gordon Fullerton, who piloted the third space shuttle mission and orbited the earth in Skylab, Allen E. Puckett, chairman emeritus, Hughes Aircraft Co.

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) 

UCLA is a public research university, founded in 1919, in Los Angeles. It is well known because of its performance in the Olympics since 1920. The university ranks #40 in the world and #24 in the United States. The university is organised into 6 undergraduate colleges, 7 professional schools and for professional health science schools ranked 3rd in California and 5th in the USA, some of the alumni members of this university are Nobel Peace Prize winners like Ralph Bunche – recipient of the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize, Robert Bruce Merrifield – recipient of 1984, Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Ardem Patapoutian – recipient of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Medicine.

University of Southern California 

Ranking #112 in the world and founded in 1880 by Robert m. Widney is the oldest private research university in California. The university is composed of one Liberal Arts School, the Dornsife college of letters, Arts and Science and 22 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools, enrolling an average of 19500 UG and 26500 PG students. The university has produced famous personalities like Tom Selleck, Forest Whittaker, The Honourable Mark Ridley-Thomas PhD ’89, Kevin Feige a film producer.

Other Prominent Universities in Los Angeles

• California State University, Los Angeles
• California State University Long Beach
• California State University, Northridge
• University of California – Los Angeles Campus
• Los Angeles Mission College
• Los Angeles City College
• The Los Angeles Film School
• Loyola Marymount University
• Occidental College
• Los Angeles Valley College
• Los Angeles Trade Technical College – LATTC
• East Los Angeles College
• Marymount California University
• Platt College-Los Angeles
• Mount Saint Mary’s University
• California Institute of the Arts
• California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
• California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
• Woodbury University
• American University of Health Sciences
• Southern California Institute of Architecture
• California University of Management and Sciences
• Pacific States University
• Beverly Hills Design Institute
• Southern California Institute of Technology
• Whittier College
• Phillips Graduate University
• EL Camino College
• Azusa Pacific University
• Mt. San Antonio College
• Mt Sierra College
• Southwestern Law School

Application Process

International students applying to universities in Berlin must follow a well-researched guide before starting their application process:

Step-1: Shortlist Courses and Universities

The primary step in the application process is to shortlist courses and universities according to your academic profile and preference. You must meticulously explore the prospective courses available at the academic institutions in Los Angeles. You can even use our AI powered Course Finder to shortlist the course as per your interests and requirements and the best-fit universities abroad. 

Step-2: Know Your Deadlines

The next step is to know the exact deadlines of universities and colleges in Los Angeles you are planning to apply to. International students have to take the application process well in advance (one year to 6 months before the actual deadline). This ensures that students can fulfil all the college requirements such as SOP, letters of recommendation, English proficiency tests, funding/scholarship options, and accommodation.

Step-3: Check the Requirements & Eligibility Criteria

Once you have selected a program as well as a university, the next thing is to go through the prescribed eligibility criteria and other requirements. Gather all the required documents like academic transcripts, entrance test scores to submit them to your shortlisted universities in Los Angeles. You will also need to provide English proficiency scores like IELTS, TOEFL, etc. 

Step-4:  Compile Your Documents

The next step is to compile all the required documents and test scores for the application process. This means students should start writing their SOPs, getting letters of recommendation from teachers and supervisors and arranging their financial statements along with other documents like test scorecards. 

Step-5: Send your Application to the Chosen University

Before sending your application to the university, you must recheck all the requirements and documents needed to complete the application process. Then after applying, once you receive the decision of the University, you have to accept the offer by following the instructions provided in the letter. 

Documents Required

Here is list of standard documents required to submitted at the time of applying:

• Passport 
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
• Entrance Exam Scorecards – GRE/ GMAT/ LSAT/ MCAT
• English Language Proficiency Test Scores
• Statement of Purpose (SOP) 
• Experience Letters (if any)
• Application confirmation copy
• Essays
• Certificates for extra-curricular activities 
• Proof of Funds 
• Research proposal/ Portfolio/ Project Description (for specific courses)

Cost of Studying in Los Angeles

Studying and living in Los Angles  can be expensive and the estimated breakdown of cost of living is as follows:

Tuition and fee	$43,900 – $50,000 (INR 32,51,936- 37,03,800)
Health insurance	$2,700 (INR 2,00,006)
Accommodation	$14,000-$17,000 (INR 10,37,071- 12,59,300)
Books and Supplies	$1,300 (INR 9,62,994)
Personal/transportation	$2,000- $2,800 (INR 1,48,153- 2,07,414)
Food	$3,573 (INR 2,64,675)

Employment in Los Angeles

Ranked #17 in an employment activity, finding a job in Los Angeles is not difficult but can be challenging. It is among the biggest business hubs and a great place to kick-start your career. High paying jobs in LA  include jobs in entertainment, tech, trade, design, tourism, healthcare, IT, medicine, etc. 

USA Student Visa

USA Student Visa is mandatory for nationals of any country aspiring to study in the States. Students will generally need a student F or M visa for a full course of study, whether it’s a bachelor’s, master’s, or research. Here are the different types of USA student visas:

F1 VISA

Students applying for undergraduate/graduate programs that require studying for more than 18 hours a week need to apply for an F1 VISA. Children or accompanying those students need an F2 VISA.

F1 VISA Requirements:

• A valid passport with a validity date of at least six months beyond your staying period
• Recent passport size photograph
• Confirmation page of DS-160
• Form I -20
• Payment of application fees Application as a non-immigrant
• Additional requirements by the college

It allows you to work for one year after you finish your studies and after that one year, you need to apply for a work visa.

M1 VISA

It is reserved for vocational and technical schools,i.e, students that go to the States for vocational training. The application process is similar but it doesn’t allow students to stay after completion of their course.

J1 VISA

The J1 Exchange Visitor Visa is for students who are travelling to the USA for an exchange program or for short-term study programs.

Are you planning to study in Los Angeles but not sure where to start from? Contact our Leverage Edu experts for end-to-end guidance from application to Visa process. Call us at 1800 57 2000 to book your FREE 30-minutes counselling session today.