Study in the USA

Why study in the USA?

A very wide choice

US higher education is not centrally organised. Nearly 4,000 accredited institutions – public and private, large and small – offer a very wide variety of programmes, from research-intensive universities to community colleges.

A flexible curriculum

American universities differ from many other systems in the flexibility of their curriculum. Students combine “core” courses, “major” courses in their specialisation and “elective” courses on other topics of interest. Many Master’s programmes let you choose between a thesis, a project or a coursework-only route, and pick electives that suit your career plans.

Research, funding and practical training

The United States is home to many well-known research universities, such as MIT, Harvard, Princeton and Yale. Many graduate departments offer teaching and research assistantships, and F-1 students can gain work experience through on-campus jobs, CPT and, after graduation, OPT (see “Working while you study and after graduation” below).

As of October 2026 — sources: EducationUSA – the US educational system, Study in the States – training opportunities.

The US education system

Degree types

• Bachelor’s degree. About four years of full-time study in a chosen field, the “major”. Many four-year colleges let you start before you choose your major and declare it later.
• Master’s degree. One to two years beyond the bachelor’s degree; an MBA usually takes about two years. Most of the programme is classroom study, and many programmes also ask for a thesis or a final project.
• Doctorate (PhD). The highest academic degree a US university awards. In 2024 the median time to a research doctorate was about 5.7 years from the start of the doctoral programme. The first two years or so are usually classes and seminars, followed by a qualifying examination, original research and a dissertation. At many universities you can enter a PhD directly after a bachelor’s degree.

Community colleges

Community colleges offer two-year associate degrees and are usually less expensive than four-year universities. A “transfer” associate degree covers the equivalent of the first two years of a bachelor’s degree, so you can move on to a four-year college or university to complete it. Other associate degrees prepare you for a specific career.

Credits and GPA

US universities use a credit system: you earn credits for each course you complete and apply them towards your degree. Requirements vary by university and programme, so always check the course catalogue.

Academic performance is measured with a grade point average (GPA), usually on a 4.0 scale: an A is 4.0, B is 3.0, C is 2.0, D is 1.0 and F is 0.0. Universities evaluate Indian marks in their own way, and the minimum GPA required varies from programme to programme.

Accreditation

There is no national ministry that runs US universities. Instead, institutions are reviewed by recognised accrediting agencies. Choose an accredited institution, because accreditation affects how your degree is recognised. To study on an F-1 visa, your school must also be certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to issue the Form I-20.

As of October 2026 — sources: EducationUSA – the US educational system, EducationUSA glossary, NSF Survey of Earned Doctorates 2024, table 1-12, University of North Florida – the US academic system, Study in the States – Form I-20.

Popular universities

A selection of universities across the US, in no particular order:

• University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
• Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
• Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
• University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts
• George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
• University of California, Riverside, California
• Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
• University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
• Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware

Entry requirements

US universities set their own admission requirements for each programme, so always read the international admissions page of every programme on your shortlist. EducationUSA advises taking any required tests about a year to 18 months before you plan to start.

Master’s studies

• A bachelor’s degree in a related subject, with good marks. Many graduate schools expect the equivalent of a four-year US bachelor’s degree, often described as 16 years of education; four-year Indian degrees such as BTech, BE or BPharm are generally treated this way. Some universities accept certain three-year Indian degrees (BSc, BCom, BA), often after a credential evaluation; others ask for an Indian Master’s or a one-year postgraduate qualification as well. Each university decides.
• GRE or GMAT, where required. Many programmes ask for the GRE, and business schools usually ask for the GMAT or GRE. Some programmes make these tests optional or do not ask for them – check each programme.
• English test scores (see below).
• Transcripts of all semesters, a statement of purpose, usually two or three letters of recommendation and a CV. Some programmes also ask for a writing sample, a portfolio or work experience (an MBA usually expects work experience).
• An application fee for each university, unless it is waived.

Bachelor’s studies

You can apply after Class 12. Universities look at your school marks, English scores, essays and recommendations. Policies on the SAT and ACT differ: some universities require them, many make them optional for international applicants, and community colleges usually do not ask for them.

As of October 2026 — sources: EducationUSA – prepare for US standardized tests, EducationUSA – community college applications, WES – evaluation of Indian three-year degrees.

English requirements

If English is not your first language, US universities will ask for an English language test. Each university sets its own minimum score, sometimes with a minimum for each section.

• TOEFL iBT – since 21 January 2026, TOEFL iBT scores are reported on a new 1 to 6 scale in half-point steps, for each section and overall, aligned with the CEFR (a 5 in a section corresponds to C1 for that skill). For two years after the change, score reports also show a comparable score on the old 0 to 120 scale, so universities may state their requirement in either form.
• IELTS Academic – widely accepted; universities usually set a minimum overall band and sometimes a minimum per section.
• Duolingo English Test and others – some universities accept the Duolingo English Test or PTE Academic. Check the list of accepted tests for each programme before you book.

Some universities waive the test for applicants who meet their own conditions, but there is no general waiver for Indian applicants, so check each programme.

As of October 2026 — sources: ETS – TOEFL iBT score scale update, EducationUSA – prepare for US standardized tests.

Scholarships and assistantships

Most funding for international students in the US comes from the universities themselves. Most awards cover only part of the total cost, and some are not open to first-year international students.

• Teaching assistantships (TA) – you help teach or grade a course, part time on campus.
• Research assistantships (RA) – you work on a faculty member’s research project. Assistantships are more common in PhD programmes and some STEM Master’s programmes, and are usually arranged by the department. Depending on the university, they may include a stipend and a full or partial tuition waiver.
• University merit scholarships and fee waivers – awarded on your academic record, test scores and achievements.
• Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships – run by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF). As of October 2026, USIEF lists Fulbright-Nehru fellowships for doctoral research, postdoctoral research and academic and professional excellence – not for full Master’s degree programmes. The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship is a non-degree programme for mid-career professionals.

Programmes as of October 2026 — sources: USIEF – fellowships for Indian citizens, EducationUSA – finance your undergraduate studies.

Education and living costs

US universities are either public or private. As an international student you pay out-of-state (non-resident) tuition at public universities, which is usually still less than at private universities. Fees vary a lot between universities and programmes, and tuition usually rises each year. The College Board’s average figures for full-time undergraduates in 2025-26:

Graduate tuition differs from these undergraduate averages and depends on the programme and city, so always check the university’s own estimated cost of attendance. Budget separately for health insurance (many universities require it), application and test fees, the SEVIS and visa fees, and your flights.

Proof of funds

Before it issues your Form I-20, the university must see proof that you can pay for tuition, living costs and other expenses for at least one year, or for the whole programme if it is shorter. Accepted evidence can include family bank statements, sponsor documents, education loan letters and scholarship or assistantship letters. The estimated costs and your funding are shown on the I-20. Carry the same documents to your visa interview and when you enter the US.

Figures as of October 2026 — sources: College Board, Trends in College Pricing 2025, total budgets (other costs are the difference between the average total budget and tuition), Study in the States – financial ability.

Working while you study and after graduation

While you study

• On-campus jobs: up to 20 hours a week while school is in session. Your F-1 record must be active, and you may start up to 30 days before classes begin.
• Curricular Practical Training (CPT): off-campus work that is an integral part of your curriculum, such as an internship or co-op, authorised by your university’s designated school official (DSO). It usually requires one full academic year of study first, unless your graduate programme requires it immediately. One year or more of full-time CPT makes you ineligible for post-completion OPT.

After you graduate

• Optional Practical Training (OPT): up to 12 months of work related to your field of study, at each education level. Your DSO must recommend you, and you apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Form I-765 – up to 90 days before you complete your degree and no later than 60 days after. You cannot start work until you receive your Employment Authorization Document.
• STEM OPT extension: a further 24 months if your degree is on the designated STEM list and your employer is enrolled in E-Verify.
• H-1B: a longer-term work visa that an employer must sponsor, subject to an annual cap. DHS replaced the random lottery with a weighted selection process from the FY 2027 registration season, and other H-1B fee rules have been challenged in court, so check uscis.gov for the current position.

Proposed OPT fees: on 8 October 2026, DHS published a proposed rule that would set new fees for OPT. It is open for public comment until 9 November 2026 and is a proposal only, not yet in force. Check the latest position with us or on Study in the States before you plan around OPT.

Rules as of October 2026 — sources: Study in the States – working in the US, training opportunities, USCIS – OPT for F-1 students, proposed OPT fee rule, USCIS – H-1B specialty occupations, USCIS – H-1B selection process.

Student visa

For fees, interview wait times, the interview waiver, DS-160 mistakes and the 2026 changes for all US visas, see our US visa guide for Indians, 2026.

Most degree students need an F-1 student visa. Exchange students may use a J-1 visa, and vocational students an M-1 visa. Apply in your country of residence or nationality – for Indian students, at the US Embassy in New Delhi or the US Consulates General in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata, by appointment only.

How to apply

1. Get your Form I-20. After you are admitted to an SEVP-certified school and show your funds, the school issues your I-20. You and the DSO both sign it.
2. Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee – $350 for F-1 students – online at fmjfee.com, and print the confirmation. It is separate from the visa fee.
3. Complete the DS-160 online visa application and upload your photo. Print the confirmation page with its barcode.
4. Pay the visa application fee – $185 for F, M and J visas, non-refundable and non-transferable – and book your appointments online.
5. Attend your appointments. Give your fingerprints and photo at a Visa Application Centre (VAC), then attend an in-person interview at the Embassy or Consulate.

Documents for your visa interview

• Valid passport (valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay) and all previous passports
• DS-160 confirmation page with barcode
• Visa appointment confirmation
• Form I-20 (original, signed)
• I-901 SEVIS fee confirmation
• Academic documents – marksheets, degree certificates and test score reports
• Financial documents – bank statements, loan letters, scholarship or assistantship letters and proof of your sponsors’ income

Rules to know

• Social media: all F, M and J applicants must set the privacy setting of all their social media accounts to “public”.
• Timing: an F-1 visa can be issued up to 365 days before the start date on your I-20, but you can enter the US no more than 30 days before that date.
• Fixed period of admission: DHS published a final rule to admit F-1 students for a fixed period based on the programme length on the I-20 (up to four years, plus 30 days to arrive and 30 days to depart), instead of “duration of status”. It was due to take effect on 15 September 2026, but on 14 September 2026 a federal court in Massachusetts issued a nationwide preliminary injunction that put the rule on hold. As of October 2026, duration of status continues and the court case is ongoing, so the rule could still take effect later. Check the latest position before you travel.

Process as of October 2026 — sources: U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India – visas, visiting the Embassy or Consulate, travel.state.gov – fees for visa services, Study in the States – Form I-20, I-901 SEVIS fee (ICE), fixed period of admission rule, Yale OISS – court order on duration of status, AILA – elimination of duration of status.