United States sources
The official sources and calculation rules behind the United States country page. Values remain in U.S. dollars and are removed from display when published evidence cannot be read or is no longer verified.
Salary benchmark
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Method
- The lower bound annualises the all-occupation median hourly wage of USD 24.51 using 2,080 full-time hours. The upper bound is the published all-occupation mean annual wage of USD 69,770. The annualised median, USD 50,981, is used as the ranking value.
- Coverage and limits
- A national median-to-mean wage benchmark for all occupations, not a percentile range or a promise of graduate earnings. Occupation, state, experience and working hours can materially change pay.
Student living costs
College Board
- Method
- The 2025–26 national low budget of USD 24,240 and moderate budget of USD 36,180 are divided by 12. The displayed monthly range is USD 2,020–3,015 and the midpoint is used for country comparison.
- Coverage and limits
- Planning guidance for independent, off-campus students. Tuition is excluded. It is not an on-campus boarding price or a city-specific market average.
Annual tuition range
College Board
- Method
- The calculation dataset stores USD 31,880 as the 2025–26 average published tuition and fees for public four-year out-of-state students and USD 45,000 for private nonprofit four-year students.
- Coverage and limits
- A national undergraduate planning range before scholarships and institutional aid. Programme, institution and degree-level prices vary widely.
Minimum wage
U.S. Department of Labor
- Method
- The calculation dataset stores the federal floor of USD 7.25 per hour. State or local minimum wages may be higher and should replace the federal value in location-specific calculations.
- Coverage and limits
- Covered nonexempt employment under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Exceptions and student-specific subminimum-wage certificates may apply in limited cases.
Academic year
EducationUSA, U.S. Department of State
- Method
- The country page summarises the common August-to-May academic year and notes semester, quarter and trimester calendars, with selected January and summer entry points.
- Coverage and limits
- National overview only. Each institution and programme remains the final source for intake dates.
Strong fields and work opportunities
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Method
- Broad study fields are shown where related occupations have strong projected percentage growth or large projected numbers of new jobs, including nursing, software, data, cybersecurity, renewable energy and health administration.
- Coverage and limits
- National projections are discovery signals, not job-placement, salary, licensing or visa guarantees.
Student visa fee and work limit
U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Method
- The calculation dataset stores the USD 185 F student-visa application fee and the general F-1 on-campus limit of 20 hours per week while school is in session.
- Coverage and limits
- Visa issuance fees may vary by nationality. Employment eligibility depends on F-1 status, school authorisation, employment type and individual circumstances.
Representative institutions
U.S. Department of Education
- Method
- The country page shows a concise representative set of universities and colleges across several states. It is not a ranking or a complete provider directory.
- Coverage and limits
- Representative national list used for country exploration.
Last reviewed 5 August 2026. A national benchmark describes its source population or stated planning scenario; it does not predict an individual's salary, expenses, admission or visa outcome.