Navigate the US Education System
A complete, free guide for newly arrived immigrant and NRI families — from which grade your child belongs in, to GPA and SAT scores, to what college really costs and how to pay for it.
56M
K-12 students in the US
Free
Public K-12 for all children
Oct 1
FAFSA opens each year
12 mo
Green card → in-state eligible
Interactive tools
Free education calculators
Everything is computed in your browser. Nothing is stored or submitted.
Grade Finder
Enter your child's date of birth to see which US grade they belong in, the school stage (elementary, middle, or high), and your state's kindergarten cutoff date — plus exactly what documents you need to enroll.
Open tool →📊GPA Calculator
Add your courses, letter grades, and credit hours to get your unweighted 4.0 GPA and your weighted GPA with AP/IB and Honors bonuses — plus how your number compares to what top colleges expect.
Open tool →✏️SAT Guide
Move the sliders for your Math and Reading & Writing scores to see your total SAT score, approximate national percentile, and the tier of colleges where that score is competitive.
Open tool →💰Tuition Calculator
Project the full four-year cost of college by school type, with tuition inflation, room and board, books and fees, financial aid, and an estimated monthly loan payment — built on 2024–25 national averages.
Open tool →🏛️College Rankings
Sort and filter the top US universities by ranking, acceptance rate, and in-state or out-of-state tuition — with category lists for computer science, engineering, business, value picks, and affordable public schools.
Open tool →In-depth guides
Read the guides
Long-form, regularly updated explainers written for immigrant families.
How Much Does College Cost in the USA? 2025 Guide for Immigrant Families
Public, private, Ivy, community college — what each really costs, who qualifies for in-state tuition and FAFSA, and how immigrant families actually pay for a US degree.
Read guide →US School System Explained for Immigrant Parents: K-12, Grades & Enrollment (2025)
Free public K-12 for every child, how grade placement works, the different school types, the documents to enroll, ESL support, and IEPs — explained plainly for newly arrived parents.
Read guide →SAT and ACT 2025: Complete Guide for Immigrant & International Students
The new digital SAT format, SAT vs ACT, what scores mean, registration and fee waivers, free prep, TOEFL requirements, and how test-optional really works — for immigrant families.
Read guide →Best US Universities for Indian Immigrant Students — STEM, Rankings & Scholarships (2025)
Top US universities for Indian immigrant students in CS and engineering, the most affordable public flagships, scholarships, and how OPT and the community-college transfer path work.
Read guide →Frequently asked questions
Is public school free for immigrant children in the USA?
Yes. Public K-12 education is free for all children living in the US regardless of immigration status — this was settled by the Supreme Court in Plyler v. Doe (1982). Schools cannot ask about your immigration status or deny enrollment based on it. You only need proof of address, your child's age (birth certificate or passport), and immunization records.
What grade will my child be placed in?
US grade placement is based on age, using your state's kindergarten cutoff date (most commonly September 1). A child generally starts kindergarten the fall they turn 5 by the cutoff. Use our Grade Finder to estimate the grade, then confirm with the district — schools assess newly arrived students individually and may adjust placement based on prior schooling and English level.
How much does college cost in the USA?
For 2024–25, average published tuition is about $11,610/year for public in-state, $30,780 for public out-of-state, $43,505 for private nonprofit, and around $68,000 for Ivy League schools. Community college averages just $3,900/year. Room and board adds roughly $13,000–$19,000 a year. Our Tuition Calculator projects the full multi-year cost including inflation and aid.
Can green card holders get in-state tuition?
Generally yes. Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) can qualify for in-state tuition after meeting the same residency requirement as citizens — typically living in the state for 12 months. H-1B and H-4 families are often charged out-of-state rates, though some states (California, Texas, New York) have exceptions. F-1 students pay out-of-state rates and aren't eligible for federal aid.
Who is eligible for FAFSA and federal financial aid?
US citizens and eligible non-citizens — including green card holders, refugees, asylees, and certain other statuses — can file the FAFSA for federal grants and loans. Students on F-1, H-4, or other temporary visas generally cannot receive federal aid, but may qualify for institutional scholarships or state Dream Act aid (in CA, TX, NY, IL, WA and others). FAFSA opens October 1 each year at studentaid.gov.
What GPA and SAT score do US colleges expect?
It varies enormously by school. The most selective universities admit students with near-4.0 GPAs and SAT scores above 1500, while most four-year colleges accept GPAs around 3.0 and SAT scores near 1200. Many schools are now test-optional. Use our GPA and SAT tools to see where your numbers land and which tier of colleges they fit.