1 Year Diploma Courses in USA - Fees, Admission Requirements
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1 Year Diploma Courses in USA - Fees, Admission Requirements

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Aishwarya
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Oct 6, 2025 14:58 IST
In terms of cost, one year diploma courses are 25% lesser than regular undergraduate tuition fees. While the duration of diploma courses in USA may vary between 6 weeks to 1 year. Plus, employers nowadays look for applicant’s skills through such courses before offering them a job, hence, this is another plus point.
In times of limited timeframes, students in modern times find study options that help them upskill and in turn, help them find lucrative jobs. 1-year diploma courses in the USA are one such example for those wanting to study in the USA on-campus or off-campus. More than 160 US universities offer 400 1 year diploma courses either online or on-campus. There are also PG diploma courses offered in the USA for international students. 
1-year diploma courses in usa

In terms of cost, one-year diploma courses are 25% less than regular undergraduate tuition fees. The duration of diploma courses in the USA may vary between 6 weeks to 1 year. Plus, employers nowadays look for applicant’s skills through such courses before offering them a job, hence, this is another plus point. The article will discuss all possible aspects related to one-year diploma courses in order to study in the USA for international students. 

Table of contents
  • 1-Year Diploma Courses in the USA for International Students
  • 1 Year PG Diploma Courses in the USA
  • US Universities Offering 1-Year Diploma Courses in USA
  • All About 1 Year Diploma Courses in USA
  • Benefits of 1 Year Diploma Courses in USA
  • Jobs & Salaries After 1 Year Diploma Courses in USA
  • 1 Year Diploma Courses in USA FAQs
View More

1-Year Diploma Courses in the USA for International Students 

Since international students are eligible to pursue a diploma course in the USA it is likely that most students may go for popular areas of study. There are over 10 areas across which one-year diploma courses in the USA are offered to international students. One-year diploma courses in the USA are offered across the following areas of STEM education and non-STEM study areas: 

  • Business 
  • Healthcare 
  • Engineering & Technology 
  • Health Sciences 
  • Design & Architecture 
  • Natural Sciences 
  • Languages 
  • Tourism & Hospitality 

List of 1-Year Diploma Courses in the USA 

There are various diploma courses of one year are offered across US universities. Some of the popular 1-year diploma courses offered in the USA are as follows: 

  • Diploma in Business & Management 
  • Diploma in Entrepreneurship 
  • Diploma in Biomedical Engineering 
  • Diploma in General Medicine 
  • Diploma in Media Management 
  • Diploma in Engineering Management 
  • Diploma in Communication Design 
  • Diploma in Hotel or Hospitality Management 
  • Diploma in Sports 
  • Diploma in Game Design 







1 Year PG Diploma Courses in the USA 

Apart from diploma courses there are postgraduate diploma courses in US. These courses require students to atleast have a bachelor’s degree. Some of the popular PG diploma courses offered in the USA include: 

  • PG Diploma in Accounting 
  • PG Diploma in Hotel Management 
  • PG Diploma in Engineering 
  • PG Diploma Education 
  • PG Diploma in Digital Marketing 
  • PG Diploma in Engineering Management 
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US Universities Offering 1-Year Diploma Courses in USA 

Over 160 US universities and colleges offer international students one-year diploma courses across various study areas. Some of the top US universities offering a year long diploma course in the US are tabulated below: 

US Universities Offering Diploma Courses 

Johns Hopkins University 

University of Wisconsin - Madison 

Northwestern University 

University of California - San Diego 

The University of California – Berkeley 

The University of Minnesota –Twin Cities 

Saint Louis University 

Northern Arizona University 

Purdue University 

The University of Pittsburgh 

University of Southern California 

National University 







All About 1 Year Diploma Courses in USA 

There are various components before pursuing one-year-long diploma courses. An applicant will have to check the course availability, fees and minimum entry requirements. Some of the common details are elaborated below:

1. Fees for 1 Year Diploma Courses in USA 

The fee for pursuing a one-year-long diploma course in the USA varies between USD 10,000 to USD 12,500. Some US universities may charge international students based on course credits, hence per credit students will have to pay an average of USD 400 - USD 550. There are no scholarships as such for one-year diploma courses from US universities, hence students can maybe pay for these courses by working part-time in US or through an educational loan. 

International students planning to study these courses on-campus will have to bear an additional cost for US student visa and also spend some amount on living costs in USA as well. 

2. Admission Requirements for 1 Year Diploma Courses in USA 

Admission requirements for 1-year diploma courses in the USA for international students are -

  • Students should have passed high school or class 12 from India.
  • GPA accepted in US universities is 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale or above for admission. 
  • Some universities may require standardised test score submission of SAT or ACT.
  • TOEFL or IELTS may also be required if students come from a non-English speaking country. 3. Student Visa for 1-Year Diploma in USA

The applicants applying for 1-year long diploma courses in USA who get a letter of confirmation (or offer letter) to pursue the course, will have to apply for a student visa in USA. In this case, applicants will have to apply for an M1 visa, which is applicable for vocational studies applicants.

Benefits of 1 Year Diploma Courses in USA

There are several benefits of pursuing diploma courses in USA for international students that are one year long. Some of these include:

  • Shorter diploma courses require less time to complete.
  • A 1-year diploma course in USA for international students is more affordable than the traditional full time courses.
  • Additionally, applicants seeking internship through industry based expertise can benefit from these one-year diploma programs in USA.
  • The scope increases for high paying jobs in USA after 1 year diplomas in US.
  • For full-time diploma course applicants CPT and OPT are available. In case diplomas are STEM based can apply for STEM OPT Extension.  

Jobs & Salaries After 1 Year Diploma Courses in USA 

Students who are already qualified and then pursue a diploma or a PG diploma from the USA can have better job opportunities with a good salary hike. The following job profiles may interest students with or without a bachelor's after pursuing a diploma from the USA: 

Jobs After 1 Year Diploma Courses in the USA 

Average Monthly Salary 

Engineer Trainee 

USD 63,900 

IT Assistant 

USD 42,300 

Graphic Designer 

USD 45,612 

Creative Director 

USD 118.000 

UX Designer 

USD 64,000 

High School Teacher 

USD 50,900 

Clinical Manager 

USD 56,000 

Business Analyst, IT 

USD 80,140 

(Source: Payscale)

Thus, students can find lucrative jobs after one-year diploma courses or even PG diploma courses from the USA. Check: Popular Jobs in the USA.

if you have admission- queries, get in touch with our counsellors at https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/apply.

1 Year Diploma Courses in USA FAQs

Q. Is there any 1 year course in USA?

A. Yes, there are 1 year courses in USA like diploma courses. These one year long diploma courses in USA are offered in different areas of study like - areas of study such as business, healthcare, engineering and technology, natural sciences, languages, social science and humanities and others. 

Q. How long is diploma in USA?

A. A diploma course in USA can be 8-16 months long depending upon the field of study and the number of credits chosen to complete the course. Applicants can choose their areas of study based on their future plans. 

Q. Can I go to USA for diploma?

A. Yes, applicants can go to USA for a diploma course, provided they have completed their high school studies. Applicants can apply for M1 visa if applying for this course, since this is a skill enhancement course and lesser than 18 months, irrespective of the fact that it is a full-time course. 

Q. Which diploma is best in the USA?

A. The following 1-year diploma are best in the USA:

  • Diploma in Computer and Information Systems Security
  • Diploma in Mobile Application Development
  • Diploma in Network Administration
  • Diploma in Computer Game Design & Animation
  • Diploma in Business Administration
  • PG Diploma in Big Data Technologies
  • Diploma in Cyber Forensics and Information Security
  • Diploma in Computer Programming
  • PG Diploma in Marketing Management
  • Diploma in Medical Assisting
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Is the University of South Dakota hard to get into?
A: 

With a 99% acceptance rate, the University of South Dakota is easy to get into. The university follows an easy approach during admission. The university takes a simple admissions procedure. The high acceptance percentage does not mean that the university admits every applicant; rather, it suggests permissive admittance as compared to another university.

Students must prove themselves by scoring excellent academic scores, English proficiency requirements, and standardized test scores. Also, the university prioritizes factors, such as rigor of secondary school record, class rank, academic GPA, standardized test scores, application essays, recommendations, and more.

Q:   How long does it take for University Texas of San Antonio to send offers?
A: 

University of Texas at San Antonio sends offers to international students based on the documents submitted for admission. The turnaround time for undergraduate student applications is two weeks. After students have applied for UG courses, the university will send an admission decision in the next 4-6 weeks and they can track their application status on the official portal. 

The turnaround time for graduate student applications is 5-7 days and students can continue to track their application status based on the course applied for. 

Q:   Can Indian respiratory therapists work in the USA?
A: 

Yes, Indian respiratory therapists can work in the USA, but they need to meet specific requirements to practice there. First, they must have their credentials evaluated by a recognised credentialing agency to ensure their education and training are equivalent to US standards. 

Additionally, they need to pass the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) exams to obtain certification as a respiratory therapist in the US. Visa and work authorization requirements must also be fulfilled. Once these steps are completed, Indian respiratory therapists can pursue job opportunities and work in various healthcare settings across the country.

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About the Author
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Written by
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert
Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i Read Full Bio
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Kalyani
MBA Course in the US
Having Worked as an Academic Manager in Experiential Marketing earlier, Kalyani made her move to the study abroad vertical in 2017.Passionate about education and wanting to make a difference, Kalyani holds a B.Com d Read Full Bio
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