Universities and Colleges in USA - Ranking, Courses, Fees, Scholarships, Admissions

Latest on the H1B Visa: The H1-B Visa Fee would only apply to new students applying for an H1-B Visa after September 21, or those who hold one already, but are looking to amend it, change its status or extend their stay. Employers would have to pay USD 100,000 if they wish to bring in a foreign international to work.

About

The US is still one of the top names on the bucket list of many Indian students, despite the recent changes to the USA Visa policy. Why? Well, the reasons remain the same as earlier; the presence of some of the best universities in the world, a more vibrant and diverse academic and research environment, better networking opportunities, higher salaries, and a better standard of living.

There's a high demand at FAANG companies and startups for skilled individuals in the fields of Computer Science, IT, Finance, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Science, and many are willing to pay the required H1-B visa fee to recruit highly-skilled students from India.

Why Study in the USA?

Though the H1-B visa fee may seem a little off-putting, here are some key reasons why studying in the US is still a viable and the right choice for you as an Indian student.

• Ivy League Universities - Universities like Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, and UPenn have educated people like Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and more.
• Flexible System - You can easily switch majors after the first year of studies and have hundreds of courses to choose from at most universities and colleges.
• Emphasis on Research and Tech - Many universities spend more than USD 50 million in research work alone, and have a culture that encourages innovation and solving real-world problems.
• Better Salaries - Companies like Google, Apple, Amazon, and Tesla offer huge sums of money to skilled graduates from a US university.
• Cultural Diversity - Students visit from almost every corner of the world, giving you a better and more diverse outlook on life. 

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Best Courses in the USA for Indian Students

As an Indian student in the US, you have hundreds of courses to choose from across fields like Technology, Business Administration, Public Policy, Healthcare, Mathematics, and Environmental Studies. Many of these can be pursued either part-time or online. Given below are some of the more popular streams among Indian students in the US.

• Data Science
• Business Analytics
• Cybersecurity
• Robotics
• Biotechnology
• Finance
• Machine Learning
• Artificial Intelligence
• International Public Relations
• Mechanical Engineering

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Best Universities in USA

Shiksha and QS World both consider the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to be the best university in the US to pursue higher studies as an Indian student. It is popular for its STEM courses, maintains partnerships with some of the best research facilities globally, and its graduates tend to earn an average salary of USD 169,370 (INR 1.52 Cr). Its acceptance rate of 4.5% means you should consider other universities as well. Here are the top 10 universities in the US, per Shiksha and QS World 2026.

University	Shiksha Popularity Ranking	QS World Ranking 2026
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	#1	#1
Harvard University	#2	#5
Stanford University	#3	#3
Princeton University	#4	#25
University of California - Berkeley Campus	#5	#17
Yale University	#6	#21
California Institute of Technology	#7	#10
University of Pennsylvania	#8	#15
The University of Chicago	#9	#13
Cornell University	#10	#16

Check out the video below to know more about Ivy League Schools in USA.

Studying in the USA Eligibility

To be eligible for studies at one of the 1,049 Universities in the US, you would need to meet certain conditions as specified by the college or university on its official website. Though the eligibility criteria can vary for different courses and universities, here are some general conditions you would need to meet as an Indian student at most American universities.

• A Class 12th completion certificate (for UG) or a UG degree in the relevant field (for PG courses)
• Proof of Finances
• USA Student Visa
• Valid scores in IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo or PTE Academic
• Valid GRE or GMAT score

Admission Requirements for Indian Students in USA

Apart from the general requirements given above, here are some documents you would need to submit as part of the Admission process for universities in USA.

• Valid passport
• Letters of Recommendation
• Personal Essays
• Statement of Purpose
• A Professional CV or Resume
• University Entrance Exam Scores
• A holistic review of extracurriculars

Universities in USA Entrance Exams

Some of the entrance exams accepted by US universities are given as follows:

Entrance Exam	Count of Universities
GRE	524
GMAT	435
SAT	103
ACT	12

Check GMAT vs GRE: Which is Best for Indian Students?

Universities in USA English Language Requirements

Students whose first language is not English would need to submit the scores for any of the English Language Proficiency test scores given below:

English Language Exams	Count of Universities
TOEFL	1032
IELTS	961
Duolingo	817
PTE	775

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Cost of Studying in USA for Indian Students

Around 237 Universities offer courses for less than INR 10 L in tuition fees, a low number when compared to the 322 that cost more than INR 40 L per year in tuition costs alone. Given below are the average tuition fees for some popular Universities in USA.

University	Average 1st-Year Tuition Fees
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	INR 38 L-INR 1 Cr
Harvard University	INR 18 L-INR 80 L
Stanford University	INR 26 L-INR 1 Cr
Princeton University	INR 47 L-INR 61 L
UC Berkeley	INR 22 L-INR 1 Cr
Yale University	INR 79 L
Caltech	INR 47 L-INR 59 L
UPenn	INR 15 L-INR 81 L
University of Chicago	INR 20 L-INR 1 Cr
Cornell University	INR 18 L-INR 1 Cr

Cost of Living in USA for Indian Students

The living costs can vary considerably depending on the area you decide to stay in and your overall standard of living. Given below is a breakdown of the estimated costs you may spend in rent, food, entertainment, etc.

Component	Annual Cost in USD	Annual Cost in INR
Books and Supplies	USD 900 - USD 2,000	INR 81.1 K-INR 1.80 L
Rent	USD 9,800-USD 11,100	INR 8.83 L-INR 10 L
Transportation	USD 300-USD 700	INR 27 K-INR 63.1 K
Utilities	USD 1,740-USD 2,400	INR 1.56 L-INR 2.16 L
Food	USD 3,000-USD 7,200	INR 2.70 L-INR 6.49 L
Phone and Internet	USD 1,200	INR 1.08 L
Healthcare	USD 700-USD 1,100	INR 63.1 K-INR 99.1 K
Clothes	USD 500	INR 45 K

1 USD = INR 90.15 

Did you know? Studying in the US just got more affordable than ever before.

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Best Student Cities in the US

According to the QS Best Student Cities 2026 ranking, around 12 US cities are ranked among the top 100 in the world to study abroad. Boston and New York are among the top 20 in the world in the Best Student Cities Ranking 2026. Given below is a list of the top 10 American Universities in the country.

Best Student Cities	QS World - Best Student Cities 2026
Boston	15
New York	23
San Francisco	41
Los Angeles	43
Chicago	47
Philadelphia	70
Washington DC	74
Atlanta	80
San Diego	87
Pittsburgh	89

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Scholarships in the US

Mentioned below are some popular scholarships available to Indian students in the US.

Scholarship	Financial Reward	Eligibility
Fulbright Nehru Master's Fellowship	J-1 Student Visa support Round-Trip Air Travel to the home city Financial cover for tuition and fees, living costs and healthcare Scholarship can be availed for higher studies in the following areas: Economics, Environmental Science/Studies, International Legal Studies, Public Health, Journalism and Mass Communication, Sustainable Development or Urban and Regional Planning	Must have completed the equivalent of a US Bachelor's degree with a minimum 55% Must possess a 4-year UG degree OR a PG degree OR a full-time postgraduate diploma Must have paid work experience of a minimum of three years, in the proposed field of study Must demonstrate leadership capabilities and active participation in Community Service Must not be an employee of the Government of India or the Indian State Governments
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships	Up to USD 100,000 (INR 87.66 L) in financial aid as cover for: tuition fees, cost of living in the US, one-way travel, and Healthcare Valid for a course duration between 9 months to four years	Must be an Indian passport holder and resident of India, at the time of applying, and born after Jan 1, 1995 Must possess a degree from a recognised university in India, or be in the final year of graduation Students with a UG degree from abroad Must have resided, been employed or have been enrolled in studies for 2 years in India Attained a minimum 65% marks or CGPA 6.8/10 or GPA 2.6/4 in Social Sciences, Humanities, Architecture, and Fine Arts Maths, Science, Environment and related subject students must have secured a minimum 70% marks, CGPA 7.2/10 or GPA 3/4 Must already be admitted to the institute
Cornell University Tata Scholarship	Varies	Must be a citizen of India and have attended secondary school in the country Must hold an

Best Paying Jobs in the US

American university graduates are in very high demand by some of the best companies in the US, and are paid handsomely by their employers. Given below are the average salary figures for popular job roles in the US.

Role	Average Salary in USD	Average Salary in INR
General Manager	USD 75,198	INR 67.79 L
Marketing Manager	USD 75,957	INR 68.47 L
Paralegal	USD 57,506	INR 51.84 L
Senior Accounting Manager	USD 119,735	INR 1.07 Cr
Software Engineer	USD 97,227	INR 87.65 L
Software Developer	USD 82,281	INR 74.17 L
Quality Assurance Auditor	USD 75,601	INR 68.15 L

Source: Payscale

1 USD = INR 90.15 

Kanishka Gambhir01-12-2026 18:05