There are between eight and 18 American universities across the Middle East and North Africa, depending on the criteria used for inclusion. American universities are private institutions, and, despite having “American” in their names, they are not affiliated with the U.S. government.

There is no governing body over all American universities in the region, and each institution is free to develop its own curriculum and mission. However, there are some criteria they all share, such as a focus on critical thinking and the American liberal arts approach.

As Michelle Evans, student life coordinator at the American University in Cairo, puts it, “The mission and values of an American university is to cultivate a well-rounded, independent thinker who is ready for the challenges of the world.”

American universities differ from public, national universities and from other private universities in the Arab region in many ways. When considering attending an American university, there are a few important things to keep in mind.

1. American universities focus on depth and breadth. Compared with national universities, where students tend to take classes only within their discipline, says Evans, a unique feature of an American-style liberal arts education is that students are exposed to courses and ideas outside of their field of study, and usually take core general education courses before specializing within their majors.

“Degree programs are characterized by depth within the field of study and breadth attained through the general education program,” says Miriam Kiwan, director of strategic communications and media at American University of Sharjah. “At AUS, students have the possibility to take courses in a range of areas. For example, students may take a course in water resources engineering in the morning and a painting class in the afternoon.”

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2. They attract diverse faculty and students. Both the faculty and student bodies at American universities tend to be diverse, with faculty often holding terminal degrees from North American academic institutions. Evans at American University in Cairo, where the faculty hail from 29 different countries, says “the diversity of the faculty lends to global perspectives on topics and research that can’t be found easily at public universities.”

Lebanese American University journalism student Yasmina El Sabeh also finds the diversity at LAU to be an asset. “The biggest advantage of attending an American-style university is to learn to accept people from other backgrounds, mentalities, religions and even nationalities, as well as improving your skills in English, since it is an international language,” she says.

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3. Accreditation is an important factor. Some American universities in the region are accredited in the U.S. The U.S. government does not accredit schools, but there are major nonprofit organizations in the U.S. that do so. Accreditation by one of these organizations brings broad recognition to a degree and is helpful for students planning to pursue additional higher education in the U.S., as transferring credits from one school accredited by a U.S. accrediting organization to another is relatively easy.

However, “not all institutions that have ‘American’ in the title are accredited in the United States,” says Kiwan, so it is important for prospective students to decide whether accreditation by an American accrediting organization is a priority and then to do their research. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation keeps a database of all academic institutions and programs accredited in the U.S. by recognized organizations.

4. The admissions requirements are different from those at national universities. Unlike at national universities, where placement is often based solely on the results of a comprehensive high school exam, admissions offices at American universities consider the “total person” by evaluating an applicant’s statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, transcripts, extracurricular activities and standardized test scores.

English language proficiency is a key admissions requirement for all American universities. Classes are taught in English, and applicants must demonstrate their ability to succeed in an intensive all-English environment by attaining the required scores on the TOEFL or IELTS language exams. Many American universities also require the SAT exam, a college entrance test.

5. There are options to help you pay for an American-style education. Compared with the affordable costs of national universities in the Middle East, an education at an American university in the region can be prohibitive, ranging from around $10,000 to well over $25,000 per year. Merit-based scholarships and need-based financial assistance are typically available, though they tend to be competitive.

Payment deferral plans and work-study options, which provide students the opportunity to supplement their income by working a part-time job on campus, can also ease the financial burden. In addition to university financial aid, there are a number of outside scholarships funded by the U.S. government and other sources, such as the Empower Scholarship, Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship Program, Leadership for Education and Development Program and the University Scholarship Program. Check university financial aid websites for details.

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Overall, American universities in the Arab region allow students to gain the benefits of an American-style education while remaining close to home. “Students should also keep in mind that applying for an American university does not mean forgetting about their Arab origins,” says LAU sophomore El Sabeh. “They are in fact combining two cultures, through two languages, two mentalities and an unlimited number of ideas.”

See the complete rankings of the Best Arab Region Universities.