Study in USA for Indian Students: Find Universities, Costs, Courses, Scholarships & Placements

Studying in USA is a highly desirable option for international students due to its groundbreaking research, innovation, and entrepreneurial opportunities. While it is next to impossible to find the real factor that drives the student’s passion towards the country, there are several reasons that make US a preferred destination for international students. From being home to the top 16 universities out of the major 50 top universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2024) to an endless variety of courses, diverse environment, and employment opportunities to choose from, USA as a country is a package that offers it all.

USA ranks 1st globally in attracting international students for higher education, followed by UK and Canada. Annually, more than a million students aspire to pursue education in USA, as indicated by an IIE survey. According to the latest Open Doors Report, USA had 1,057,188 international students in the academic year 2022-23, which is 12% more than the previous year. This is the fastest growth in over 40 years. These international students make up 6% of all US higher education students.

Indian Students in USA increased by 35%, reaching an all time high of 268,923 in 2022-23. Furthermore, India has become the top country hosting international graduate students in USA for the first time since 2009-10, surpassing China. The US Embassy and consulates in India issued a record-breaking 140,000 US visa between October 2022 and September 2023. During this time, the Department of State globally issued a near-record number of nonimmigrant visas, exceeding 10 million.

Study in USA for Indian Students: Quick Facts

Study in USA: Top Universities for Indian Students

Mentioned below are some of the top universities in USA reputed across the globe along with their acceptance rate and QS World University Rankings 2024:

Why Study in USA?

USA has been a favored study abroad destination for higher education among candidates across the globe for ages. According to the U.S. News & World Report, out of the 100 Global Universities, around 41 top universities are in USA.

To learn what makes USA such a hit among the students, let's discuss the advantages of studying in USA in detail.

• Top Universities: The United States of America is home to some of the high-ranked and top universities across the world for higher education. Times Higher Education ranks 15 American universities among its world’s top 20 universities. MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and UC Berkeley are the top 4 universities in the world according to QS World Ranking.
• Flexible Education System: The Credit transfer system allows greater flexibility in the US education system. Students at an undergraduate level are motivated to explore various domains and choose a major of their choice by the end of the second year. Offering a range of conventional and non-conventional majors and minors to the flexibility of choosing which, when and how many classes to attend each semester makes for a highly strengthening system that allows each individual to grow and adjust as per their strengths and weaknesses.
• Diverse Range of Courses: The country offers over 2 million programs through 4- and 2-year universities in USA providing Bachelor’s and Master's courses along with other programs including Doctoral, Vocational, Associate, and Certificate courses.
• STEM OPT: USA provides a variety of degrees that are ‘STEM eligible’ which allows international candidates a confirmed opportunity of staying back in the country for additional two years post completion of their degrees. Students pursuing STEM courses in USA gain practical training, beyond the standard allowance of one year, while they can simultaneously work for a US-based organization.
• Research and Innovation: USA is at the forefront of Research and Development in the world. According to NSF, total money spent on research and innovation by Universities was around 97.8 billion dollars in the year 2022.
• Employment Prospects: After the degree completion, 62% of international students secure job placements in USA. The median salary range after a four-year degree in USA is nearly 61,000 to 120,700 USD (50.61 lakhs to 1 crore INR) at the mid-career level.

Popular Courses to Study in USA

While USA offers a diverse array of programs in almost every possible and imaginable field, there are few favorites among the international candidates which top the list of almost every aspirant. According to a recent report, more than 50% chose to study STEM courses in USA.

Among them, math and computer science became the top choice for international students in 2022/23, with over 23% students studying this field. Engineering was also popular, with over 19% students choosing it.

Other popular fields of study included business and management (15%), social sciences (8%), physical and life sciences (8%), and the fine and applied arts (5%). Some of the top courses that you can apply for if you are an international applicant include:

If you're looking for leading research and innovation opportunities in the field of neuroscience, climatic changes and other trending domains, the bachelor's programs at universities like MIT, Yale, UCLA, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Colorado Denver and Washington State University shall definitely form the part of your list.

How to Study in USA? Step-by-Step Guide

A 6-step application process along with before and after measures are as compiled below:

1. Research the options: Since USA is home to some of the great and most prestigious top universities in the world, it is highly essential that you do thorough research regarding the factors that matter the most to you while making this vital decision.
2. Plan your finances: Studying in USA costs vary - a bachelor's degree ranges from $15,000 to $55,000 USD (12.47 to 45.73 lakhs INR) per year, while a master's program is around $15,000 to $30,000 USD (12.47 to 24.94 lakhs INR) yearly.
3. Prepare your application: Plan your application way in advance. Work on your overall student profile and give major emphasis to letters of recommendation, personal essay, statement of purpose, and the interview process.
4. Look for standardized exams to study in the US: To study in the US, international applicants usually need to show English proficiency via IELTS/TOEFL/PTE or similar tests. Additional exams like GRE/GMAT or SAT/ACT might be necessary.
5. Apply for USA visa: After getting an offer and the I-20 form from the university, the next step is applying for a student visa at the nearest US Embassy or consulate.
6. Be ready for departure: Once the visa is approved, pack your bags, inform your university and get ready for a flight to your dream destination.

When to Study in USA: Application Cycle

US universities observe a semester-wise application cycle to study in USA. Admissions take place in 3 semesters.

Cost of Studying in USA

According to the US News and World Report, you can expect to pay an average of 42,162 USD (35 lakhs INR) just for tuition and fees for private universities in USA. For public universities, it is around 23,630 USD (19 lakhs INR) for international students. The basic cost of living and tuition fee to study in America and an estimated cost of expenses required to survive an academic year is tabulated below.

Cost of Living in USA

Other additional charges that form the list of expenses for international students comprising the cost of living in USA is as follows:

Study in USA with Scholarship: Funding for Indian Students

Universities in USA are highly generous when it comes to offering financial aid to academically bright and deserving candidates. Since there is a range of options to choose from, the country offers a perfect match for every budget and background.

The available scholarships for international students in USA are broadly categorized as merit and need-based which are discussed as follows:

• Merit-based scholarship: Offered to meritorious students with excellence in the field of academics or non-academic. Impressive GPA and test scores like SAT/ACT and TOEFL/IELTS/PTE also form the ground for these awards.
• Need-based scholarships: Provided on the basis of financial need to the outstanding students whose family income is insufficient and couldn’t cover the educational costs of the institute.

While the number of need-based aid available for international students might be limited, there are many merit-based awards for the world’s brightest to study in USA with a scholarship.

Scholarships for International Students to Study in USA

Some of the top studentships available for candidates seeking to study in America are mentioned below.

Check out below a list of popular scholarships for Indian students in USA:

Jobs after Studying in USA

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. economy will create 4.7 million new jobs between 2022 and 2032. Of those, 45% of all expected new jobs are likely to be in health care and social assistance. As per BLS 2022-32 latest reports, a projected employment change in the US by major occupational groups by the end of 2032 is as mentioned in the table below.

Since salary trends are one of the important factors you might want to consider when opting for a program, some popular jobs in USA in demand with their estimated salaries are compiled as follows (BLS, 2022-32):

SOURCE: US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Part-Time Jobs in USA

For students considering part-time jobs while studying in USA, there are two options: working on-campus or off-campus. During semesters, they are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week. During vacation or after completion of studies, they can work full-time. Currently, the minimum wage is $7.25 (600 INR) an hour, set by the federal government. Every state can decide their own minimum pay rules, so the lowest pay could be anywhere between $7.25 and $15 (600 to 1,240 INR) an hour, depending on the state. Some of the top part-time jobs in USA along with average hourly pay are given below:

To conclude, every country has its perks and disadvantages and USA is no exception. Even though the pandemic continues to rise across the globe and with political scenarios worsening across the country, the United States has managed to keep its prestige alive and is always counted among the top study-abroad destinations.

Because let’s face it, there is only one Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford and these are not just the names but a brand in the world of academics. Hence, if you are an international applicant hoping to enroll overseas, the United States of America can be a fine choice to be considered in your list of worthy destinations for higher education.