EB5 Affiliate Network has created a FREE international student guidebook specifically for students from the Bahamas: Studying in the U.S.A. – A Guidebook for Students from the Bahamas.

Our easy-to-use guide shows students how to navigate each and every step of their college process including finding the right institution, applying to universities, and the student visa process. The informative guide also gives invaluable advice on everything from U.S. medical care and banking to conversing with Americans. You will find document and packing lists to check off every step of the way, so you will never find yourself without the required documentation. It even breaks down key differences between the cultures of America and the Bahamas.

Download Studying in the U.S – A Guidebook for Students from the Bahamas

The number of students coming from the Bahamas to study in the United States is only expected to increase. This guidebook will make the process more streamlined and straightforward than ever before. Receiving a degree from a world-renowned American university is not just a previously thought unattainable dream; it is a reality for thousands of students from the Bahamas every year. With this free guide from EB5 Affiliate Network, we can help make your dream come true.

Background on International Students From the Bahamas

The Bahamas is one of the top Caribbean countries for the number of students receiving a college or university education in the United States.

The number of Bahamian students enrolled in U.S. higher education is higher than almost all other countries in the Caribbean including the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Barbados. According to the Institute of International Education, there were approximately 2,500 students from the Bahamas enrolled in U.S. higher education institutions during the 2019/2020 school year. Among all Caribbean nations, only Jamaica had more students in the United States than the Bahamas.

The Bahamas’ Presence in the Global Economy

As of 2019, the Bahamas has an estimated population of 393,244. The Bahamas has the second highest per capita GDP in the Caribbean with a GDP growth rate of 1.2% in 2019. Tourism is the top industry in the Bahamas employing approximately half of the island’s work force. Financial services comes in a distant second contributing 15% of GDP with manufacturing and agriculture rounding out the bottom two.

Trend of Bahamian Students Studying Abroad in the United States

With a population of almost 400,000, an estimated 2,500 students are currently studying in the United States which accounts for about 0.006357% of the Bahamian population.

The number of Bahamian students enrolled has remained relatively high despite a significant expansion in higher education opportunities available in the Bahamas as well as online educational opportunities through higher learning platforms including Coursera.com, edx.org, and udemy.com. Universities in Nassau are even attracting their own international students from all over the Caribbean.

There is one problem negatively impacting growth of international students from the Bahamas receiving a U.S. education and that is because the cost of a U.S. education has increased substantially over the past 20 years. According to the Wall Street Journal, U.S. university tuition has increased 500% since 1987. And the number of international students attending U.S. universities skyrocketed 85% from 2005 to 2015.

The average cost of a four-year undergraduate degree from a state college or university in the United States ranges from $22K per year for a public university to $50K for a private university. Both public and private institutions on average charge between 3-4 times tuition for international students compared to U.S. permanent residents (Green Card holders) and citizens.

Pathway to Lower Tuition Costs for International Students from the Bahamas

With permanent residency (Green Card) status conferred by an EB-5 immigrant visa, international students from the Bahamas can see the cost of their U.S. education drastically decrease from the international tuition rates to the local “in-state” rates at both public and private universities.

Permanent residency (Green Card) status also provides Bahamian students with substantially higher admission rates for undergraduate and graduate programs as well as access to select scholarship awards and grants.

Bahamian students should never give up their dream of receiving a world-class education in the United States. No matter what visa they choose, EB5 Affiliate Network has a way to help make that dream come true.