Studying in the USA from Chile: Admission, Visa, and Cost Guide

The path from Chile to a US campus

Studying in the United States from Chile runs through four stages: build a school list and apply, get your academic records evaluated and prove your English level, receive your Form I-20 and get an F-1 visa, then arrive and register. Each stage has its own paperwork and timeline, and skipping ahead rarely saves time since US schools and the US government process these steps in a fixed order.

What US universities want to see from a Chilean applicant

Admissions offices want the same core file from any international applicant: your academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and proof of English proficiency if your prior schooling was not in English. Many schools also request a course-by-course credential evaluation so admissions staff read your Chilean grades on a scale they recognize.

Some competitive programs still ask for SAT, ACT, GRE, or GMAT scores, though many schools have dropped these requirements in recent years. Check each program's current testing policy directly, since it varies by school and changes by intake year.

Choose the right kind of US institution

US higher education includes public and private four-year universities, private liberal arts colleges, and two-year community colleges that often lead into a four-year degree through a transfer agreement. Community college first, then transfer, costs less overall and gives you a lower-stakes way to adjust to US academics before a bigger university. Ask any school you consider whether it holds SEVP certification to enroll F-1 students, not every US school does.

Get your Chilean credentials evaluated

Use a NACES member agency to convert your Chilean transcript into a US-style evaluation. NACES is a trade association founded in 1987, and its current roster lists 18 active member agencies, according to NACES .

You do not need to live near an evaluator, member agencies work with applicants electronically from anywhere. Order your evaluation early, most schools want it submitted alongside your application, not after an admission offer.

English proficiency requirements

Most US universities ask for a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test score if you were not taught in English through secondary school. Minimum scores differ by school and by program, so check the admissions page for each university on your list rather than assuming one score works everywhere.

Book your test early. Score reports take weeks to reach the university, and a low first attempt still leaves time for a retake if you plan ahead.

Get free advising in Santiago

EducationUSA Santiago, based at Universidad Mayor, gives Chilean applicants free one-on-one advising and structured group programs. Its Undergraduate College Club runs more than 20 sessions on school selection, testing, essays, and financial aid, and its six-session Graduate College Club covers CVs, recommendation letters, and essay review, according to the center's program page . The center also offers paid transcript translation for $20-33 and test-prep materials for $33.

Fund your studies before you apply for a visa

Your Form I-20 only gets issued once your university certifies you have enough money for at least one year of tuition and living costs.

Chilean students commonly combine Fulbright Chile, Becas Chile through ANID, university scholarships, and family funding to reach that total. Search EducationUSA's financial aid database for scholarships open to international applicants, and send any award letters to your international admissions office as soon as you receive them so the school updates your certified funding.

Realistic cost of studying in the US from Chile

Public US universities charge two tuition rates, one for state residents and a higher rate for everyone else, and international students always pay the higher rate. Private universities charge one flat tuition rate to all students.

Add housing, meals if not included, mandatory health insurance (most schools require you to buy their plan unless you show a comparable policy), and books to any tuition figure you see quoted. Use each school's own net price calculator or search College Scorecard for a school's average annual cost, since totals vary widely between a public state university and a private research university.

Housing while you study

Most first-year international students live in on-campus dorms, which typically include a meal plan and put you close to classes and other new students. Upperclassmen and graduate students often move to off-campus apartments, alone or with roommates, once they know the area. Factor a security deposit and, in most cities, a lease that runs longer than a single academic term into your housing budget.

Health insurance is not optional

Nearly every US university requires F-1 students to carry health insurance that meets its own minimum coverage rules, either through the school's own plan or a comparable outside policy you submit for a waiver.

Confirm your school's insurance deadline and waiver process before you arrive. Missing it usually means automatic enrollment in the school's plan at its full cost.

From admission to Form I-20

Once you accept an offer and your school confirms your funding, the international student office issues your Form I-20. This document carries your SEVIS ID and is what you need to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, complete your visa application, and eventually enter the United States. Read every field on your I-20 for accuracy, name spelling, program dates, and funding figures, and ask your school to correct any mismatch before you schedule your visa interview.

Apply for your F-1 visa

With your I-20 in hand, pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, complete the DS-160 online application form, pay the visa application fee, and schedule your interview at the US Embassy in Santiago. Fee amounts and current wait times change, so confirm both at the official SEVIS fee portal and the embassy's own appointment page before you plan your timeline, as of August 2026. Bring your passport, I-20, DS-160 confirmation page, financial evidence, and academic records to the interview.

When to book your flight

Your visa and I-20 program start date set the earliest date you enter the United States. Book your flight only after your visa is approved and stamped in your passport, and confirm the entry window your port of entry officer applies based on your program start date. Keep a printed copy of your I-20 and admission letter in your carry-on for the immigration check on arrival.

Build your timeline

Start standardized testing and your school list 12-18 months before you want to start classes. Submit applications 9-12 months out, respond to admission offers and lock funding 6-9 months out, then move through the I-20 and visa steps as soon as your school issues the document. Consular appointment availability shifts, so book your interview slot as early as your embassy calendar allows.

After you arrive: check in with your school

Your international student office will have you confirm your SEVIS record and complete an orientation soon after you arrive, and exact steps vary by school. Follow your school's instructions exactly and keep your I-20, passport, and visa stamp together. You need all three for future travel, work authorization requests, and any status update during your program.

Keep a document file for your whole program

Save digital and paper copies of your I-20 history, visa, passport bio page, and admission letters in one place from day one. You will need copies of these documents again for internships, a change of program, or a future US visa renewal, and rebuilding them later from Chile takes far longer than keeping them organized as you go.