- About Country
- Why This Country ?
- Universities & College
- FAQ
About Country
USA is a coveted destination among international students, known for its ground-breaking research, innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities. USA ranks 3rd in the world in attracting international students to study abroad after Canada and UAE. Every year, more than 1.1 million aspirants (as per IIE survey), seeking to study in the top ranked universities in USA.
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 17 institutes out of the major 50 top universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023) to an endless variety of courses, diverse environment, and employment opportunities to choose from, the USA as a country is a package that offers it all.
Capital : Washington, D.C.
National language : English
Religion (2021) :
- 63% Christianity
- 40% Protestantism
- 21% Catholicism
- 2% other Christian
- 29% no religion
- 1% Buddhism
- 1% Hinduism
- 1% Islam
- 1% Judaism
- 2% other
- 2% unanswered
Area • Total 9,833,520 km
Population • 2023 – 333,287,557
GDP 2023 : $26.855 trillion
Driving side : right
Calling code : +1
ISO 3166 code : US
Internet TLD : .com, .us
Why This Country ?
Choosing a country to study miles away from home is a dream for some and a lifelong investment for many. In this context, the USA has been a favored 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 48 top universities are in the United States.
To learn what makes the USA such a hit among the students, let’s discuss the advantages of studying in the USA in detail.
- Top Universities: The United States of America boasts of a lion’s share when it comes to some of the high-ranked universities for higher education across the world. Times Higher Education ranks 15 American universities among its world’s top 20 universities. MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and Caltech 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 institutions providing Bachelor’s and Master’s courses along with other programs including Doctoral, Vocational, Associate, and Certificate courses.
- STEM OPT: USA provides a plethora 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 22 billion dollars in the year (2015).
- Employment Prospects: After the degree completion, 62% of international students secure job placements in the USA. The median salary range after a four-year degree in the USA is nearly 61,000 to 1, 20,700 USD at the mid-career level.
Populer Universities & College
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Stanford University
Harvard University
California Institute of Technology
University of Chicago
University of Pennsylvania
Princeton University
Yale University
Cornell University
Columbia University
Johns Hopkins University
University of Michigan- Ann Arbor
University of California- Berkeley
Northwestern University
New York Universtiy
University of California- Los Angeles
Levels of Study of the U.S. Higher Education System
As one completes school, one has to undertake an undergraduate degree. Then, one must pursue a postgraduate. Finally, one can choose Doctoral and Research Programs if one wishes to further research.
- Undergraduate
This generally spans four to 4 years, and an individual can enrol in a community college or a university. Moreover, a student can study in a community college for the first two years and then transfer to a college and continue a four-year course.
In the initial years, an individual will develop a knowledge of various disciplines before choosing a particular field. One must select their major by the third year.
- Postgraduate
A student will write a thesis for two years in the postgraduate program. To be eligible for admission, one must have their latest GMAT\ GRE score, work experience, Letter of Recommendation, LSAT scores, proof of financial stability, Statement of Purpose and Immigration details.
- Doctoral and Research Programs
After completing the postgraduate degree, one can opt for a PhD that lasts for 3-4 years. Many universities also offer admission to PhD courses directly after their Master’s.
Type of Educational Institutes
The educational institutes are characterized according to the infrastructure, funding, curriculum and teaching methodology. These are the following type of institutes:
- Private colleges or universities
- Community colleges
- Public institutes- State College or University
- Institute of Technology
More than 4,000 institutions that are accredited comprise the U.S. education system. The difference between each of these institutions are explained below:
- Private colleges or universities
The tuition fees at private institutions tend to be comparatively high than any state-regulated college or University. Besides, these have a better staff-to-student ratio and hence, a higher amount of resources. However, they are smaller in size and espouse diversity and inclusivity.
For instance, the Ivy League are prestigious private institutes due to the quality of academic standards and competitive eligibility parameters. Some well-known names are Harvard University, Yale University, Brown University, Cornell College, and Princeton University.
- Community colleges
These colleges offer 2-year programs, and students can pursue a certificate course or associate degree. After that, students tend to transfer to four-year colleges or universities and complete their degrees.
- Public Institutes
The State government regulates these institutions, and the tuition fees are very affordable. Furthermore, residents can also avail of discounts at their state universities.
- Institute of Technology
These offer a four-year degree in science and technology, which may be short-term or graduate programs.
Characteristics of the U.S. Educational System
The Educational Department U.S. ensures that the educational institutes are adequately maintained. They design their curriculum keeping this in mind. However, it has other distinctive characteristics that are discussed below:
- Research-Oriented
The U.S. universities have a research-oriented curriculum. As a result, many students wish to pursue further research.
- Federal Involvement is Limited
The Federal Department hardly interferes in the Education system in the U.S. These institutions have the authority to taking significant decisions by themselves.
- On-Campus Student Life
The USA is known for its inclusivity and diversity. The students can also invest themselves in extra-curricular activities.
- Employment opportunities
The USA offers ample job opportunities for its students. It is home to MNCs such as Google, Citigroup, FedEx, Amazon, Apple, Walmart, Microsoft, Ford, etc.
- Variety of programs
There are a plethora of programs available for its students. This is why the U.S. boasts the maximum number of international students globally.
- Leading Universities are Situated in the USA
According to the Q.S. Rankings, 2022, 5 out of the top 10 institutes in the world are located in the USA. As it is evident, the education system in the U.S. prepares students for employment and earning the desired figure.
FAQ : Frequently Asked Questions about studying in UK
Ques. Can I go to the USA after 12th?
Ans. Yes, Indian students can pursue higher education in USA after completing 12th. Students can choose from various certificate, diploma, foundation or bachelor’s courses in USA ranging from 2 to 4 years. Some of the popular courses opted by Indians high school graduates purusing studies in USA after 12th are:
- Medicine
- Law
- Business and Management
- Social Sciences
- Engineering
- Computer Applications
The eligibility requirements and admission process varied from courses to course and university to university. For more details, click here
Ques. Does USA colleges offer student housing?
Ans. Yes, majority of the universities in the USA offer on-campus student housing facilities to their students. The student accommodation in USA colleges can cost anywhere between 9,800 USD to 14,400 USD.
Ques. Which is #1 college in the USA in 2023?
Ans. According to QS World University Rankings 2023, Massachusetts Institute of Technology is currently the #1 university in the world, followed by Stanford University (#3) and Harvard University (#5).
Ques. Is IELTS and TOEFL compulsory to study in USA?
Ans. In most of the universities in USA, international students with a non-English primary language need to demonstrate their proficiency in English. TOEFL is the highly accepted English proficiency test, accepted by the US universities, followed by IELTS, PTE, Duolingo and few others.
Ques. How much does it cost to study in USA?
Ans. The cost of studying in USA varies for Indian students, based on their choice of program. The estimated tuition fees for varies courses is tabulated below:
| Course | Estimated Tuition Fees (USD) | Estimated Tuition Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| English Language Studies | Upto 1700 USD a month | Upto 1.29 Lakhs INR a month |
| Community Colleges | 6000 USD to 20000 USD per year | 4.5 Lakhs to 15.2 Lakhs INR per year |
| Bachelors degree Courses | 20000 USD to 40000 USD per year | 15.2 Lakhs to 30.5 Lakhs INR per year |
| Masters degree Courses (excluding MBA) | 20000 USD to 45000 USD per year | 15.2 Lakhs to 34.5 Lakhs INR per year |
| Doctoral degree | 28000 USD to 55000 USD per year | 21.4 Lakhs to 55.3 Lakhs INR per year |
Admissions
Ques. What are the requirements to study in USA?
Ans. The general admission requirements to study in USA includes academic transcripts with a GPA of 3.0 (~83-86%) or higher on a scale of 4.0. The supporting documents required include standardized test scores (SAT/ACT/GRE/GMAT), SOP, LOR for USA, proof of financial availability, immigration documents, CV, portfolio and proof of professional experience (if required).
Ques. How many days will it take to get admission in USA?
Ans. The US universities take 6 to 8 weeks to process the admission applications. Once selected, the students are notified by the universities via email about the decision and the further procedure for admission.
Ques. Is the GRE waived for admission to USA in 2023?
Ans. GRE scores are waived by a few universities in USA with conditions requiring excellent academic performance and other admission criteria like professional experience.
Intakes
Ques. What are the main intakes in USA?
Ans. The 3 most common intakes in USA are Fall, Spring and Summer with Fall being the most popular semester among all. Besides, some of the universities in USA observes a rolling admission policy keeping their admission window open throughout the year.
Ques. When should I apply for college admission in USA?
Ans. Ideally, Indian students are encouraged to apply for the fall intake in the US universities as the maximum number of students are accepted during this intake. Furthermore, students get the opportunity to choose from the maximum variety of programs offered in the fall intake only.
Courses
Ques. Which is the best course in USA?
Ans. USA being one of the best countries to study abroad offers top-notch education across a plethora of disciplines. Some of the most popular courses in USA are Business and Management, Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Data Science, Information Technology, and many more.
Ques. What courses are in demand in USA?
Ans. The most in-demand courses to study in USA are Pharmacology, Computer Science, Information Technology, Health Science, Engineering, Business Administration, Management, Finance, Human Resource, Education and Psychology.
Ques. What exam is required for MBA in USA?
Ans. Prospective students need GMAT exam scores for MBA in USA.
Ques. Which exam is required for MS in USA?
Ans. GRE exam scores are required for MS in USA.
Ques. Is MBA worth it in USA?
Ans. Yes, an MBA in the USA is worth it if the student works in the Business or Management field or establishes a new company. On average, MBA graduates in the USA earn an average base salary of 91,000 USD annually.
Scholarships
Ques. Can I study in America for free?
Ans. Yes, it is possible to study in USA for free by achieving fully funded scholarships in USA by demonstration of academic merit or financial need. Students can also secure admission to the tuition fee universities in USA.
Ques. How can I get full scholarship in USA?
Ans. The scholarships in USA are mostly merit-based or need-based. Although it is hard to achieve scholarships in USA as an international student, but, it is not impossible. Meritorious students with academic excellence and professional experience can avail one of the numerous scholarships for international students in USA.
Job Opportunities
Ques. What is the Salary of MBA fresher in USA?
Ans. The average base salary of an MBA fresher in USA is 91,000 USD per annum.
Ques. Which job is in high demand in USA?
Ans. The top 3 highest paying jobs in USA are Data Scientist (155,000 USD p.a.), Data Analyst (87,200 USD p.a.) and Cybersecurity Expert (111,000 USD).