USA Education System Explained: Schools, Colleges, Degrees, Credits and GPA

The US education system consists of elementary, secondary and higher education with a lot of flexibility in academic paths. Students usually complete kindergarten through Grade 12 before entering community colleges, four-year colleges or universities. Higher education includes associate, bachelor’s, master’s, professional and doctoral degrees. Academic credits, semester or quarter schedules, continuous assessment and Grade Point Averages (GPA) are used in American universities. These differ from systems based mainly on fixed annual examinations. Students may choose majors, minors, electives and interdisciplinary courses, provided they satisfy degree requirements. A full guide of the whole structure, academic terms, grading systems, types of universities, length of degrees, admission process, tuition system and important aspects for international students.