How Brazilian students and families can explore U.S. colleges and universities

For Brazilian families

Compare net price, not sticker price

Brazilian families weighing U.S. study usually balance cost against program fit and English-language readiness. Because international students are generally not eligible for U.S. federal aid, affordability comes from merit scholarships open to international applicants, lower-net-price public universities, the community-college transfer path, and comparing net price across schools. CampusPin's job is the discovery and comparison layer.

CampusPin does not provide F-1 visa advice, scholarship guarantees, or admissions predictions. Visa and SEVIS questions belong to the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov), USCIS (uscis.gov), the SEVP program (studyinthestates.dhs.gov), and each institution's designated school official (DSO). EducationUSA (educationusa.state.gov) runs free, official advising in Brazil. This guide focuses on the academic and affordability decisions families can make beforehand.

Common Brazilian-applicant paths

Frequent search patterns

STEM and business. Engineering, computer science, and business are common goals. Use the program filter on /results to narrow to schools that report the program, then verify accreditation and any direct-admit policy on each departmental page. /programs/computer-science, /programs/engineering, and /programs/business give the comparison frameworks.

Community-college transfer (2+2). Cost-focused families often complete an associate degree at an SEVP-certified community college, then transfer to a four-year university to finish the bachelor's. Confirm SEVP status and a real articulation agreement before enrolling. /questions/can-international-students-start-at-a-community-college-and-transfer covers the details.

English-readiness planning. Some applicants build in time for an English-proficiency test or a pathway/intensive-English program. Confirm whether a school accepts conditional admission and which tests it requires on its admissions page.

A first session

How to start a U.S. college search from Brazil

1. 1Open /results and set a realistic four-year cost ceiling before any other filter.
2. 2Decide whether to weigh the 2+2 community-college path — if so, include community colleges.
3. 3Add a program filter (computer science, engineering, business) if direction is set.
4. 4Pin 8–12 schools and open /compare on subsets of four, reading net price first.
5. 5Open each shortlisted school's international-student page, financial-aid page, and English-proficiency policy.
6. 6Verify F-1 visa, SEVIS, and proof-of-funds requirements with travel.state.gov, studyinthestates.dhs.gov, and the school's DSO.
7. 7Use the free EducationUSA Brazil advising centers and /advisor to pressure-test the shortlist before applying.

Frequently asked questions

Answers students and families ask first

Can Brazilian students get scholarships at U.S. universities?

At many institutions, yes, though availability and amounts vary and competition is high. Some schools offer merit scholarships to international applicants, and a small number offer need-based institutional aid. International students are generally not eligible for U.S. federal aid. Confirm each school's international-aid policy directly.

Do Brazilian students need TOEFL or IELTS?

Most U.S. colleges require an English-proficiency test (TOEFL, IELTS, or the Duolingo English Test) for Portuguese-speaking applicants, though some waive it with prior English-medium education or offer conditional admission with a pathway program. Confirm each school's policy.

Is the community-college transfer path a good option for Brazilian students?

For cost-focused families it often is. You complete a lower-cost associate degree at an SEVP-certified community college, then transfer to a four-year university to finish the bachelor's. Confirm the four-year university accepts the specific credits through an articulation agreement, and that the community college is SEVP-certified to issue I-20s, before enrolling.

How much does it cost a Brazilian student to study in the U.S.?

There is no single figure — it depends on the school, public vs. private, and any scholarship. International students typically pay non-resident or private tuition plus living costs and health insurance, and must show proof of funds for about one year to get the I-20. Compare each school's published cost of attendance and net price; CampusPin's /tools/net-price-estimator helps.

How does CampusPin handle safety information?

School profile pages show Clery Act campus security data and FBI Uniform Crime Report area context, which answer different questions — read both. When safety is a major factor, also read each institution's official annual security report directly.