- When it comes to choosing a state in the USA, the quality of education, cost of living, safety, and lifestyle all shape your experience.
- This article combines university rankings and state-level data, so you can compare your options and plan your studies in the USA.
The USA has fifty states, each with its own culture and opportunities. As an international student, you’ll likely choose a state based on the university you want to attend: the degree programmes, teaching staff, and student support will play the biggest role. But what else should you think about?
In this article, we’ll also look at factors like the cost of living, safety, and lifestyle. To give you the full picture, we’ve combined insights from the Studyportals University Meta Ranking with data from US News on the best states to live in.
What to look for when choosing a state?
For international students, the most relevant factors include the quality of higher education, cost of living, safety, and student-friendly policies. Once you’ve assessed these, consider work opportunities, cultural life, infrastructure, and climate.
Here’s why each of these matters:
1. Quality of universities
With the Studyportals University Meta Ranking tool, you can see how universities perform across global rankings. Our ranking tool combines data from Times Higher Education, QS, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and US News, and lets you filter by country, state, university, and degree type. This way, you can find all the relevant degrees and universities in one place.
2. Cost of living and tuition fees
Think about tuition fees, accommodation, groceries, eating out, and transport. For tuition fees, Ivy League universities will likely be more expensive than public schools. Similarly, smaller cities offer more affordable costs than big cities like New York or San Francisco.
It’s always a good idea to plan ahead, so make sure to check if you’re eligible for scholarships in the USA. For cost of living, use websites like Numbeo to see if a city or a state is within your budget.
3. Safety and wellbeing
Besides crime rates, check how safe campuses and surrounding neighbourhoods feel at night, and what student health services are available. For this, you can use campus safety reports, university wellbeing pages, the US Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security database, or even student forums and social media groups to read first-hand experiences.
4. Policies and support
Check university websites to see if they offer international student support services, such as visa advising or orientation programmes. It’s also worth keeping an eye on US immigration rules, since national policy changes can affect international students.
5. Work and internship opportunities
As an international student, you may be eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) to work in internships during your degree, or Optional Practical Training (OPT) to gain experience in your field after graduation.
Make sure to check universities’ career pages to get a better idea of their industry connections.
6. Cultural life and student community
States like New York and California have a lot of international students and cultural opportunities, with access to world-class shows, art galleries, theatres, and more.
Other states with fewer international students still have plenty to offer. You’ll meet international and local students, enjoy a more close-knit community, and have access to campus resources, like clubs and societies.
7. Transport
The USA isn’t exactly known for being walkable, and as an international student, you might not have a car to get around. That’s why transport is an important factor when choosing a state. Big cities often offer the best systems, with comprehensive subways and buses. That said, if you’re attending a campus university, you may have everything you need on campus (dining, libraries, coffee shops, etc.), so transport is less of an issue.
8. Lifestyle and climate
Keep in mind that the USA is a big country with huge regional differences. States like Florida have a subtropical climate, with warm and humid weather, sunny summers, and a mild but rainy winter season. Places like Maine and Wyoming have cold winters with regular snowfall.
7 best US states to live in & why
Now that you know our selection criteria, let’s take a look at some of the best US states for international students.
Keep in mind that we only considered education and lifestyle factors based on current rankings, so be sure to check the latest policies and political developments on the US government’s website.
California
- Highlight: The state with the highest number of international students, according to OpenDoors data
- Universities in California: Stanford University, California Institute of Technology - Caltech, University of California, Berkeley, UCLA, and more
California is a huge state with universities like Stanford University, Caltech, and UCLA. These are some of the world’s best universities, which explains why California is the state that welcomes the highest number of international students. Beyond academics, you’ll experience vibrant cities, beautiful coasts, and a diverse culture depending on where you’re based in the state.
New York
- Highlight: The state with the second-highest number of international students, according to OpenDoors data
- Universities in New York: Columbia University, New York University, The City University of New York, and more
In NYC, you’ll have many university choices at the heart of the city, from New York University to Columbia University. Living in the city comes with endless cultural opportunities, such as Broadway shows, world-class museums, and art galleries. Outside of NYC, the state of New York has some great campus universities, such as Cornell University and the University at Buffalo.
Florida
- Highlight: Ranks first for Higher Education in the US News Best States Report
- Universities in Florida: University of Florida, University of Miami, Florida State University, Florida Institute of Technology, and more
Known as the Sunshine State, Florida is home to excellent public universities like the University of Florida and STEM-focused schools like Florida Institute of Technology. Other advantages include its warm climate and outdoor activities. It also ranks first in Higher Education in the US News Best States report, thanks to high graduation rates at public institutions.
Utah
- Highlight: Ranks as the best US state overall in the US News Best States Report
- Universities in Utah: University of Utah, Brigham Young University, Utah State University
Utah has ranked as the best state to live in for the third year in a row. Some factors are the moderate costs of living, reliable public transport in Salt Lake City, and lots of outdoor activities, including hiking, skiing, and national parks. The state’s tech ecosystem, known as Silicon Slopes, is also worth mentioning, as it has created many jobs.
Arkansas
- Highlight: Ranks first for Affordability in the US News Best States Report
- Universities in Arkansas: University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and more
Arkansas ranked first for affordability in the US News Report, meaning everyday costs like rent, groceries, and services are lower than in many other states. Besides lower costs of living, international students can explore scholarship options at universities. For example, the University of Arkansas keeps an updated list of scholarships for international students.
New Hampshire
- Highlight: Ranks first for Public Safety in the US News Best States Report
- Universities in New Hampshire: Dartmouth College, University of New Hampshire, New England College, and more
The US News Report put New Hampshire in the first spot for public safety. According to a 2025 press release by the state’s governor, New Hampshire keeps crime low thanks to professional state troopers, active local police, and strong collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies. Besides safety, international students enjoy the mountains, lakes, and New England culture.
Nebraska
- Highlight: Ranks first for Infrastructure in the US News Best States Report
- Universities in Nebraska: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska Omaha, and more
The US News’s Infrastructure Index considers factors like transport, high-speed internet, and the quality of roads. In 2025, Nebraska ranked first. For international students, the state offers well-equipped, campus-based universities like the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Quick comparison of the best US states for international students
To help you see how each state measures up, we’ve summarised the key factors for international students, including cost of living, safety, best universities, and lifestyle.
State | Cost of living | Public safety | Universities | Lifestyle |
Florida | Moderate-High | Moderate | University of Florida, Florida State University, Florida Institute of Technology | Warm climate, beach and outdoor activities, big cities like Miami and Orlando |
Utah | Moderate | Good | University of Utah, Brigham Young University, Utah State University | Mix of city and outdoor lifestyle, mountains, hiking, skiing |
Arkansas | Low | Low-Moderate | University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Smaller cities, affordable living, campus-centred social life |
New Hampshire | Moderate-High | Very good | Dartmouth College, University of New Hampshire, New England College | Safe and scenic, a mix of campus and small-town life, seasonal outdoor activities |
Nebraska | Low-Moderate | Good | University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Nebraska Omaha | Campus-based universities, smaller cities |
California | Very high | Low-moderate | Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, University of California, Los Angeles | Diverse city and coastal life, cultural hubs, strong student networks |
New York | Very high | Moderate-good | Columbia University, New York University, Cornell University | Urban life in NYC or campus life upstate, rich cultural scene |
Final words
The US states vary a lot in terms of university types, cost of living, safety, and lifestyle. Ultimately, the best state for you will align with your academic goals, financial situation, and lifestyle preferences.
A good place to start is to browse degree programmes in the USA, and then research the states that offer those programmes. Or if you have a specific state in mind, you can use the filters on Mastersportal to see if it has relevant degree programmes for you.
