Universities in Guam

Guam is a United States territory in the western Pacific, and its universities follow the American model of higher education. For an international student, studying in Guam means an English-language degree accredited in the US system, taken on an island in Micronesia with close links to Asia and the Pacific. The university sector is small: our directory lists one university on the island, the University of Guam (UOG) in Mangilao.

The University of Guam is a land-grant university run as a nonprofit corporation under a Board of Regents. It dates back to June 1952, when the island government set up the Territorial College of Guam as a two-year teacher-training school. A 1961 law renamed it the College of Guam and allowed it to award four-year degrees, and in 1968 it became the University of Guam. According to the university, its campus at Mangilao became the educational centre for Micronesia.

How university study works in Guam

Degrees follow the US structure: associate and bachelor's degrees at undergraduate level, then master's degrees, with study counted in credit hours. The University of Guam is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, one of the US regional accrediting bodies, and received another eight years of accreditation in 2016. UOG also holds land-grant status, gained in 1972, and is a US Sea Grant institution, which supports its research and outreach work in agriculture and marine science.

UOG offers 25 undergraduate and 15 graduate programmes. They range from the humanities and social sciences to business, education, engineering, health and the natural sciences. Examples include:

• Bachelor of Arts in Pacific-Asian Studies
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
• Master of Arts in Micronesian Studies
• Master of Science in Environmental Science
• Professional Master in Business Administration, on campus and online

The academic year follows the US semester system. The autumn semester, which UOG calls by its CHamoru name Fanuchånan, runs from August to December, and the spring semester, Fañomnåkan, follows in the new year. Teaching is in English.

Admission for international students

International applicants apply directly to the university. UOG requires a minimum TOEFL score of 500 for students whose first language is not English. Students who do not yet reach that level can start at the university's English Language Institute (ELI), which has taught English as a Second Language since 1979. The ELI's main purpose is to prepare students for university study, and it accepts adults aged 18 or over who have completed secondary education, with no previous knowledge of English required.

Because Guam is part of the United States, US immigration rules apply. Most international degree students need an F student visa. Before applying for it, a student must be accepted by an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which then issues a Form I-20 or DS-2019 for the visa interview. EducationUSA notes that recognition of credits and degrees by other institutions and employers depends on the institution's accreditation.

Costs and funding

For the 2026-27 academic year, UOG charges US$221 per credit for undergraduate study and US$299 per credit for graduate study at the resident rate. Non-residents pay more: the university's budget for a full-time non-resident undergraduate shows US$10,608 in tuition for the nine-month year, plus US$806 in fees. Food and housing are budgeted at US$7,479 for students living in the residence halls and US$17,118 for students living off campus. The halls offer single and double rooms. The university states that tuition rates are subject to change.

UOG presents lower tuition and smaller classes as reasons for students from Guam, Micronesia and other Pacific islands to study on the island rather than on the US mainland.

How to choose

• Accreditation: check that the institution and programme are accredited in the US system
• Programme: Pacific and Micronesian studies, environmental science and nursing are areas tied to the island
• Language level: whether you meet the TOEFL minimum or need a period at the ELI first
• Residency status: resident and non-resident tuition differ by about half
• Housing: on-campus residence halls or a room off campus
• Visa: time to obtain the I-20 and an F visa before the semester starts

Frequently asked questions

How many universities are there in Guam?

Our directory lists one university in Guam, the University of Guam in Mangilao. It is a land-grant university founded in 1952 as a teacher-training college.

Are degrees from the University of Guam recognised?

The University of Guam is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, a US regional accreditor. Recognition of US credits and degrees is linked to this kind of accreditation.

Do I need a visa to study in Guam?

Guam follows US immigration rules, so most international degree students need an F student visa. You first need an offer from an SEVP-certified institution and a Form I-20.

How much does a year at the University of Guam cost?

In 2026-27, a full-time non-resident undergraduate's budget includes US$10,608 in tuition and US$806 in fees, before housing and food. Resident tuition is US$221 per credit.