MS in the USA for Indian Students

A Master’s in the USA has always been the most popular destination for Indian students. Quality Education, International exposure, Job Opportunities, and High return on Investment, all parameters are ticked green when the USA is considered by Indian Students. In fact, we Indians have had our Legacy now in the USA, where students have grown over the years in their corporate structure.

So now the USA is like a safe option for students, and hence choosing this destination never goes wrong in several regards.

Why Choose the USA for MS?

1- STEM Degrees

The USA is known for its Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths Degrees. If you choose a STEM degree in the USA, you will never go wrong. This provides you with good quality education that is updated in all standards and provides you good competitive edge in the job market.

Also, STEM degrees in the USA provide you with a 3-year OPT post your master’s. Also, the curriculum for most STEM degrees is very skill-oriented, hence making you a worthy applicant for jobs.

2- High on Return on Investment

Tuition fees in the USA are not cheap, but the safety net here is that the money you put into your education in a USA university is a record and trend that most students recover it within 2 to 2.5 years.

This is within your OPT period, and hence you are risk-free because even if you have to return after your OPT is over, you will go back without any loan or losing all the money you invested in the US degree. Therefore, the return on investment for a USA degree is safe and said to be a good bet.

3- Job Market

USA, being a dominant economy in the world it has a huge job market. The Indians in the USA have proven their calibre and mettle, and hence, employers hiring Indians have never been a problem.

Most Indians have STEM degrees, where they are not directly competing with Americans, and hence it becomes a good win-win for us and the US employers. We have been hired in several fields, but some top job markets for Indians are IT, Finance, Healthcare, and Engineering.

4- World Recognition

U.S. universities are very well recognized worldwide. Therefore, your USA education is always given that value and importance, even if you shift back to India or any other country. It holds its place in any company and hence provides you with those opportunities across the world. This makes your investment all the more lucrative.

Top MS Courses in the USA

STEM degrees in the USA are most popular, as mentioned earlier in this blog. We will list the most popular list for you to have a glance at:

1. Master’s in Computer Science
2. Master’s in Business Analytics
3. Master’s in Data Science
4. Master’s in AI/ML
5. Master’s in Information Systems
6. Master’s in Engineering Management
7. Master’s in Electrical Engineering
8. Master’s in Civil Engineering
9. Master’s in Mechanical Engineering
10. Master’s in Industrial Engineering
11. Master’s in Construction Management
12. Masters in Finance
13. Master’s in Management Science
14. Masters in Architecture
15. Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences

And Many more apart from these, but the above list is among the most popular ones. They are not in any order and hence do not read them as ranking.

Best Universities in the USA for MS

The USA has almost 1500+ Universities. Rating the top 10% also includes a good number of universities. Some Top Universities that can be looked at:

• University of California 
• Berkeley, New York University
• University of Pennsylvania 
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Johns Hopkins University
• University of Southern California
• University of Massachusetts Amherst 
• North Carolina State University 
• Cornell University

We cannot list all of them here, so we recommend a website that you can use for your research and particular rankings: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools

Cost of Doing an MS in the USA

Most Master’s in the USA are for 1.5 to 2 years. Tuition fees and Living costs are two costs that will come to you if you plan to study in the USA. The range of the cost would go as follows:

Cost Type	Approximate Range
Tuition Fees	16 Lakhs to 25 Lakhs Per Year
Living Cost	9 Lakhs to 12 Lakhs Per Year

The tuition fee range is given as it would vary according to the type of University. There are state-funded and private universities in the USA. Also higher the university ranking higher the fees. If you want to watch your expenses, we suggest applying to state/public universities in the USA. Living cost varies depending it is a city or a countryside university. 

If a university is in a big city like Boston or LA, of course, the cost of living is going to be higher. To save cost and not spend a lot on living, we would recommend choosing countryside universities where you can stay comfortably by not spending a lot on rent and other expenses.

Scholarship for MS in the USA

Scholarships that most of the USA universities offer. But none of them have any fixed criteria that we can tell you that bring scholarships, as no university mentions those on their website. But from our experience, we have seen a few things that work when done well. The right strategy is to choose your university as on your profile.

This increases your chances of getting scholarships, and you may start receiving offers soon. Second, early applications are way before deadlines. As you were before in the queue and what attracts you to admission, and plus scholarships. 

Every university gives away scholarships ranging from a 20% to a 40% tuition fee waiver in some cases. Not all get it. We do not want to raise high hopes and say 100% scholarships are attracted; it happens very rarely, and we call a spade a spade. So, do not want to do wrong marketing and try to build a false claim.

How to apply for an MS in the USA

The application for USA universities starts way earlier. There are two intakes in the USA: Fall and Spring. Fall is the main Intake, and Spring is a smaller Intake. Deadlines for these intakes are as follows:

Intake	Application Window
Fall (SEPT)	Sept - Dec (Year Prior)
Spring (JAN)	May - Oct (Year Prior)

So always recommended to apply as early as possible. Most universities have an online application separate for each one. Student need to open their account in the selected universities and start filling out the application. We at Education Street help in this whole process. There is are list of documents which are required along with filling the form. The documents required for a master’s application in the USA are as follows:

1. Transcripts
2. 3 LOR
3. SOP
4. CV
5. Degree Certificates (If Graduated)
6. Work Exp Proof (If working)
7. IELTS or TOEFL score
8. GRE (Optional)

The form-filling of USA universities is very time-consuming and requires precision. It requires effort and knowledge for this task, and hence recommended to take expert help.

Eligibility Criteria for Doing an MS in the USA

Different courses have different requirements. However, in general, every university in the USA gives admission based on three pillars.

1- Past Academics

Any academic university will always base its main decision on your past academic performance. This cannot be replaced anyway. You may have done exceptionally well in other fields, but the most important criterion is academics in the past. If you have not done well, do not be demotivated.

There are options for everyone, and hence, you need the right counsellor to answer this from their experience. A CGPA of 8/10 points definitely is a good profile to consider for high-ranked universities in the USA.

But as mentioned, there are 1500+ universities in the USA, and hence every student has an option. 60-70% weightage of your application is given to your academics to make it clearer.

2- Test Scores

Both IELTS and TOEFL are acceptable in the USA. IELTS 6.5/9 Bands. TOEFL 90+/120. Most universities require this kind of score for USA admissions. You need to officially report this score from the respective testing agency.

GRE is optional as most universities post-COVID have taken this decision. If time permits, we would recommend taking the GRE as it would provide you with good options to apply. Also, the GRE is an aptitude test, so it certainly adds value to your profile. However, universities that mention on their website GRE is not required, even if you have undertaken it, they would not consider it.

So the right thing to do would be to apply to universities where it is mentioned GRE is required or recommended. So if you start your US applications on time, you would definitely have time to apply for the GRE and increase your chances for admission and scholarship. 20% weightage is given to your test scores.

3-Extracurriculars

US universities like to see what, apart from academic, you have done. Here you can talk about your skills, hobbies, passions, certifications, internships, volunteering, or projects. 10% weightage is given to this side of your profile. Again, if your planning starts early, then you get time to prepare this side of your application. Also, a warning here to not go overboard with this segment. Keep it real.

Career Scope after MS in the USA

Jobs have always been the highlight after a master’s in the USA. After so much investment, definitely understanding the scope is vital and critical to make this decision. Typically, the job salaries in the USA vary stream/area-wise as below:

Job Categories	Average Salary
Computer	$75,000+
Engineering	$72,000+
Business	$70,000+
MBA	$100,000+
Communications	$62,000+
Healthcare	$65,000+
Social Science	$60,000+
Humanities	$60,000+

The job market in the USA is very structured and has openings throughout the year. Also, we would like to bust one myth that if you study in New York, then you will only get a job there. Companies, when hiring, do not see which location in the USA you are based in. They look at your profile and accordingly hire.

Therefore, when you choose universities, it is not necessary to choose cities for the sake of jobs, as these jobs are always available to you.

How Education Street Helped Students Get into US Universities

“I’m so glad I found this firm. After struggling to find a suitable admission consultant that didn’t charge an arm and a leg, a friend recommended Education Street.”— Rithhin Jawaahar

Author Name: Ankita Thakker

Designation: Founder & CEO of  Education Street