MS in USA is a very well sought out and pursued degree and can be termed as the holy grail of master’s education for the commendable quality of education and experience.
When it comes to education and a fairly high standard of living, it can be said that the USA delivers to both and more. With over 4000 educational institutes, some of the best universities in USA have been ranked top in QS rankings. There are some unparalleled benefits of choosing to study in the US and they will be discussed further in the article.
Studying in the USA isn’t exactly cheap and some of the top universities there are fairly expensive. The annual tuition fees can range anywhere between USD 20,000 to USD 60,000 (~15.19 lakhs- 45.58 lakhs) based on the type of master’s degree chosen and the institute. Fortunately, most universities provide financial assistance to international students in the form of financial aid, scholarships, grants, loans, assistantships, fellowships, federal work study programs etc. Therefore, the cost of studying and living can be reduced significantly through the variety of options.
Top Universities for MS in the USA
The list of the top universities for an MS in the USA are given below along with their annual tuition fees.
| Name of the institute | QS world Ranking 2022 | Annual tuition fees (in INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | #1 | 53,450 USD |
| Stanford University | #3 | 54,315 USD |
| Harvard University | #5 | 48,008 USD (for years one and two) 12,484 USD (for years three and four) |
| California Institute of Technology | #6 | 54,570 USD (plus 2,292 USD mandatory fees) |
| University of Chicago | #10 | 49,734 USD |
| Yale University | #14 | 45,700 USD |
| Columbia University | #19 | 30,590 USD per semester |
| Cornell University | #21 | 60,286 USD |
| University of Michigan | #23 | 24,102 USD per term |
| University of California, Berkeley | #32 | 54,145 USD |
| University of California, Los Angeles | #40 | 31,949 USD |
MS in USA Admission Deadlines
There are primarily three season intakes for admission to MS in the USA: Fall, Spring and Summer.
- The Fall intake starts in the month of September and it is the most sought out intake season among international students.
- The Spring intake starts in January and though a lesser number of courses are available, the competition is less fierce compared to the September intake.
- The Summer intake is the least popular among the three intake seasons and it starts around May.
The most popular universities in the US for an MS and their admission deadlines are given below.
| Name of the university | Admission deadlines |
|---|---|
| Yale University | December 1, 2021- For Biology, Economy, Chemistry December 20, 2021- For Anthropology, Astronomy, Mathematics, Physics etc January 2, 2022- For Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, Computer Science Till April 2022- Most programs are viewed by departments after the respective deadline passes. |
| Columbia University | Fall 2022- March 15 Spring 2022- October 1 |
| Stanford University | Spring session- Late September to early October Autumn session- December 7, 2021 |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | Fall- April 15 Spring- November 1 |
| University of California, Berkeley | December to January 6, depending on the program |
| Cornell University | January 15 to April 1 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | Fall- December 1 |
| Harvard University | December 1 |
Reasons for studying MS in USA
There are many reasons which contribute to making the US an ideal place for studying and living for international students. The blended culture, high quality of education, vibrant atmosphere, advanced quality of life and technically developed classrooms and laboratories make this country an ideal place for securing a degree. The top reasons for studying Master of Science or MS in the USA are as follows:
- Presence of topnotch universities: According to QS World University Rankings 2022, 5 out of the top 10 universities in the world are located in the US. Some of the top institutes in the USA are the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Harvard University, etc.
- Promising post-degree work opportunities: Since MS is a very pursued degree and it develops technical and science-based skills, a lot of industries hire MS graduates. Most MS courses have a buffer time of visa validity for students to look for jobs. Most students get a job to settle comfortably within a span of 3 to 4 years.
- Support facilities for international students: International students can get a lot of assistance related to cost of living in USA. Most universities also have an international student office which helps students get adjusted to their new life.
- Academic flexibility: The degrees are offered as MS in Computer Science, Physics, Astronomy, Biology etc and they are very popular. The academic programs in the US are very flexible which means the students can easily customize them according to their preference.
- Abundance of research opportunities: There are a lot of research opportunities provided upon completion of an MS degree. Students can get access to assistantships and fellowships by engaging deeply in their field of study.
- Networking opportunities: While studying an MS in a US university, students get to engage in professional relationships with employees and startup owners. Students can also get to attend conferences and events and interact with professionals there.
List of popular MS subjects in the USA
Master of Science is a wide field and there are a lot of divisions under it. STEM subjects have the most popularity and every year, a lot of students pursue subjects under Master of Science across different universities in the US. The following subjects are the most sought among the following and the percentage of international students studying them are also tabulated below.
| The field of study | Percentage of international students studying the subject |
|---|---|
| MS in Engineering | 20.8% |
| MS in Maths and Computer Science | 13.6% |
| MS in Social Sciences | 7.8% |
| MS in Health and Allied Sciences | 3.3% |
| MS in Physical and Life Sciences | 7.2% |
| MS in Agriculture | 1.2% |
Documents required for MS in the USA
To study an MS in the USA, an international student has to be eligible first. The eligibility criteria for getting into an MS in the US include having documents required for admission. The documents required for getting into an MS in the US are as follows:
- An applicant should have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field related to the one they are planning to pursue an MS in, from an institution in their home country. They must have a GPA of 3.0-3.5 on a 4.0 scale in their bachelor’s degree to secure admission. Therefore, they should have an aggregate of 80-85% to get into an MS in the USA.
- Having a good GRE score is one of the most important necessities for getting admission into MS in the US. Students generally need a fairly high GRE score to elevate their chances of admission at the topmost universities. Stanford University accepts students with a GRE of 328 or above while Harvard University accepts students with a GRE score of 292 as well. The requirements vary from university to university.
- English proficiency test scores are also necessary for getting admission in MS in the US. Exams like TOEFL, IELTS, PTE are accepted. Most institutes require an IELTS score of 6.5 to 7 generally. The TOEFL has three varieties: computer based, paper based and internet based. The score requirements must be checked thoroughly before applying.
Scholarships for studying MS at USA
Studying MS at a US university can be expensive, but there are financial assistance options available that can help students secure financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, federal work-study options, or fellowships. International students mostly look to avail scholarships for studying MS and there are a lot of options for them. The most popular scholarships for an MS in the US along with their eligibility and scholarships amounts are noted below.
| Name of the scholarship | Eligibility | Scholarship Amount (in INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Hubert Humphrey fellowship program | Master’s students with a noticeable academic record are eligible for this scholarship. | A monthly maintenance stipend, tuition, living expenses, flights, additional expenditures are all covered by this scholarship. |
| Fulbright Nehru fellowships | Students with high merit are eligible for this scholarship. | Tuition, accident, sickness insurance, flight expenses, living expenses. |
| AAUW international fellowships | International women willing to enroll in a US institute and work in the research field. | 3.66 lakhs to 13.15 lakhs |
| National Overseas Scholarship | Candidates should have 55% in bachelor’s programs in relevant fields. | Health insurance, miscellaneous costs, travel costs, tuition costs are covered in this scholarship. |
| Rotary Foundation Graduate Scholarship program | Students should be from an economically challenged nation. | 22.88 lakhs |
Placements after studying MS at USA
A very noticeable outcome after completing an MS in the US is the availability of jobs. A lot of students get placed in reputed companies upon completion of their degree across various job roles. The various employment opportunities make the degree very popular among international students. The most popular and high-demanding jobs after MS in the US and their salaries are noted below.
| Job role | Average salary (in INR) |
|---|---|
| Computer Science engineer | 54.91 lakhs |
| Communication and media professional | 42.48 lakhs |
| Business and management managers | 54.60 lakhs |
| Math and Science professional | 51.77 lakhs |
| Other kinds of engineers | 56.35 lakhs |
| Social Sciences professional | 39.88 lakhs |
Studying MS in the US can prove to be very beneficial for an international student: due to the brilliant academic quality, presence of world-renowned institutions, advanced lifestyle, vibrant campus life, and rich ethnic diversity, the US can be termed as the perfect place for pursuing a degree in higher education. Since the country is technically dominating and there are abundant industries present which are always looking for STEM graduates, a Master of Science can rightfully be called the most popular degree to study in the USA.
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