Wondering to study in USA? The land of opportunity, initiators of Rock n Roll, home for the Woodstock, is today home for people from all around the globe. To put things in perspective, there are more than 15 countries in the world with a population lesser than the number of Indians in USA. So, if you pursue higher study in USA, don’t get surprised to find some of your classmates talking about tandoori chicken in a recently acquired accent.
Boasting the Ivy Leagues and seven universities in the world’s top ten list, America has become the most preferred study destination in the world. The liberal and modern study in USA is tempting Indian students, just like the Pied Piper of Hamlin. Indians are the second largest international students in America with more than 1 lakh enrollments every year.
What to know?
USA government invests US$476,452 million in research and development, which is 2.7% of total GDP. Thus, completing a master’s degree in USA increases the chances of research and its funding.
Studying in USA is the most preferred abroad study destination for Indians, followed by the United Kingdom and Canada. Look no further. You may find a ton of thought-provoking advice for an MS in USA here & there, but you will need to know these nondescript details too. Most sources will miss these as too common.
So, without taking your much time let’s dive into the info you wanted…
Topics covered
What all is covered in this post?
To make it easier for you, we have created a quick guide to everything you need to know about the study in USA.

Why study in USA?
If you are aspiring to walk in the footsteps of these personalities and pursue a study in America, there are 5 things you must know about studying in USA and about the American education system:
Top Universities
When it comes to the rankings of the Top Universities in USA, the institutions perform very well in both global and subject rankings. Among them are Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, University of California at Berkeley and others. occupy one of the top 10 positions in all categories of the QS ranking.
Credit System
Unlike the syllabus pattern in India, where the student has to gulp down the whole course at one go, the Credit System in the USA breaks the course in a certain number of credits. Generally, the number of credits is equivalent to the number of hours dedicated to the course every week. Mostly the credits for the course vary from 3 to 5 and it also denotes the difficulty or importance of the course. The full-time courses in most of the universities are covered in 12 to 15 credits which cover four or 5 courses every term. Every student has to earn a minimum credit to graduate.
Fees
The tuition fees in US Universities defer on the basis of several factors like location, course and type of university. However, the biggest factor is whether the college is private or state-run. All universities have different tuition fees it varies according to the selected course. The fees generally vary from 10,000 dollars to 35,000 dollars annually. However, the cost of the program cannot be considered as a benchmark for the quality of education.
On-Campus Jobs
If you are still converting the above figures into rupees equivalent and finding it a bit intimidating, the education system in the USA allows you to earn while you learn. Most of the international students find these jobs very supporting and it generally helps them cover their expenses other than the tuition fees. As the name suggests, in these jobs, you work part-time inside the university campus.
Full-time international students are allowed to work for a maximum 20 hours per week during the term. However, you are allowed to work full time for 40 hours per week in summers. On-campus jobs generally cover works like library duty, cafeteria work, lab assistance, etc. and can pay anywhere between 7 to 12 dollars per hour.
Requirements to study in USA for Indian students after 12th
To enter USA after 12th, you have to meet certain requirements. These eligibility criteria for international students are important for education. Certain eligibility requirements are as follows:
- Applicants must have completed class 12th from a recognized educational institution with the minimum marks specified by the university and course. A minimum GPA of 2.50 to 3.60 is required for most courses.
- The applicant must obtain a minimum score in an English language test such as TOEFL or IELTS.
- Students must have a good score on standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT. A minimum SAT score of 600-800 is required for admission to US universities.
- To study in the USA after 12th from India, candidates must have a well-written statement of purpose and letters of recommendation from relevant authorities.
- Applicant must be at least 18 years old.
- The student must receive an application letter from a US university.
Know About PR in the USA
Scholarship to study in USA for Indian students
Studying in the USA will be a dream come true for anyone reading this. That the US is never a cheap country to live in is a fact. However, you are sure to get financial support from various scholarships offered by universities. Tuition fees make up the majority of your expenses, and these scholarships cover all or part of your tuition fees.
- AEF Scholarship – USD 20,000
- Akhtarali H. Tobaccowala Fellowship – USD 25,000
- American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship – USD 4000
- Asian Women in Business Scholarship Fund – USD 2500
- Cornell University Tata Scholarship – USD 7800
- Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship – USD 7000
- LSEF-UMASS Scholarship – USD 29,500
- Matt Fong Asian Americans in Public Finance Scholarship – USD 5000
- Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship – USD 15,000 – USD 30,000
- Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship Program – USD 1,50,000
Do you know?
There was a time when studying in the United States was only for postgraduate or specialized courses. With the growing number of students choosing to pursue a bachelor’s degree abroad, the process has begun to accelerate. About 40% of international students continue their education in the United States after 12th grade and earn a bachelor’s degree.
Cost of studying in USA for Indian students
The tuition fees in US Universities defer on the basis of several factors like location, course and type of university. However, the biggest factor is whether the college is private or state-run. All universities have different tuition fees it varies according to the selected course. The fees generally vary from 10,000 dollars to 35,000 dollars annually. However, the cost of the program cannot be considered as a benchmark for the quality of education. The following table can give you a brief idea about the tuition fees:

Cost of studying MS in USA
In this section, we are going to discuss the average cost of studying for a master’s degree in USA and the cost of living in USA for international students.
- The average cost of the first year of MS in USA is Rs. 23 lakhs.
- The average cost of living in USA for one year is Rs. 9 lakhs. The cost of living may increase/ decrease depending on the candidate’s lifestyle and preferred accommodation.
- The cost of a student visa in USA – There are three types of study visas in the US: F1 visa, J1 visa and M1 visa are three different types of USA student visas. USA student visa application fee is $160.
There you go!
You have the info you wanted. Do you want to make a career decision now? Not settled yet? In case, you feel indecisive or confused, do dial us up.
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Talk to our study abroad experts to know yourself in and out! We have helped several brilliant but confused minds with an aim to select their most-suited career choices. We have helped many students like Anjana Prasanna who was not very confident about her capabilities. Later with the help of career guidance and moral support from our study abroad experts she got an offer from King’s College London! We have helped several young confused minds like Aayush and Tapan with an aim to select their most-suited career choices.
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- Student Visa USA
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- Top Universities in USA for MS
- Best Universities in Canada
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- Study in Australia
- Study MBBS Abroad in USA & Canada
- Online MBA Study Abroad
- Education USA – Official Website
FAQs
Following are the exams that are required for studying in USA – IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, ACT, SAT, GRE, and GMAT, etc.
Despite the high cost of higher education in the USA, you can still study at free universities in the USA. If you receive a fully funded college scholarship or attend a tuition-free university in the US, this is possible.
Students applying to the US can study at top universities for their chosen course without the need for IELTS scores. Here are some popular universities that allow students to study without IELTS: University of Delaware, Northwood University, Rice University, University of Dayton, State University of New York, University of New Orleans (UNO), California State University, and University of Colorado, etc.

Anushree has 4+ years of experience in the career counseling industry as a Content Writer. She has also worked as a Social Media Marketing Expert for a startup and Content Quality Analyst for Publishing and E-learning Industry. She has done her Master’s in Commerce and PGDM in Finance & Trade and Marketing & HR, but she is currently following her passion for writing.
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