1 Year Diploma Courses in USA - Fees, Admission Requirements
- 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
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
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 |
||
|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin - Madison |
||
| University of California - San Diego |
The University of Minnesota –Twin Cities |
|
| Northern Arizona University |
||
| The University of Pittsburgh |
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.
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
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.
- Get your I-20 form and submit the DS-160 form.
- Applicants will again have to submit an MRV fee (or application fee) of USD 185 and a SEVIS fee of USD 350.
- And appear for a student visa interview or apply for Dropbox in USA if eligible.
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
The University of Rhode Island can be considered a good institution that offers the ideal environment for students to learn & grow.
The institute secures a rank of #152 as part of the latest rankings of National Universities given by a major ranking platform. The institute also secures a US-wide rank of #147 for its undergraduate courses specialising in Business Studies as given by the same source.
Another major ranking platform ranks it #801 as part of its Global Universities Rankings 2025.
The average GMAT cutoff for MBA in USA ranges anywhere between 545 to 755. The applicants can aim for B-schools in USA accordingly.
Pick your stage and get free guidance from counsellors who've helped thousands get into top universities.
Starting research
Shortlisting colleges
Exam preparation
SOP/LOR writing
Scholarship & finance
Visa application

Here's the list of some top universities in the USA for Bachelor of Design courses offering scholarships to Indian students in 2025: