Why Students Still Prefer the USA to Study Abroad 2025

The decision-making process of international students selecting their destination for higher education is vastly more multifaceted. So, what are the reasons driving students to pursue studies in the United States in 2025? A more nuanced alienation of academic value, career prospects, and cultural experiences, ultimately, for many, a calculated risk that they believe is truly worth taking. Check out why USA to study in 2025 here.

Given the current political scenario in the USA, administrative changes, and social headwinds, students have faced challenges to their dream of studying in the US. Despite other lucrative study destinations, international students are interested in applying to US universities only. Let us understand the reasons why USA to study in 2025 and the reasons which influence applicants to make this decision.

Top Reasons Why Students Still Prefer the USA to Study Abroad in 2025

Despite political turbulence, the temporary pause in student visa interviews, or the introduction of social media vetting, all of which have affected the Fall intake in the USA in 2025, the process remains in turmoil. Also, the SEVP visa revocation of international students in USA added to the misery. However, the zeal of international students to choose to study in the USA is unmatched. Here are a few reasons why USA to study in 2025 and reasons why international applicants are not considering other options like Australia, New Zealand, European countries and looking at US university admissions. 

1. 25% Increase in International Student Enrollment Between 2021-2024

As per Institute of International Education, 1.1 million international students were enrolled in US universities in 2023–2024. Indian students alone were over 268,000, overtaking China for the first time as the top source country. 

Whereas in 2024-2025, US recorded a bigger international student footfall, that is, 1.58 million. The number of Indian students enrolled has crossed the 3.37 lakh mark, up from 2.80 lakh. Thus, enrollments in USA have increased over time in these years, which is a positive sign and answers why USA to study. Despite other prominent reasons to study in USA, this is particularly a very significant one.

2. 50% Job Growth in USA from 2023 to 2025

Concerning jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics put forth the following information:

• The job market was reported to be tight in 2023, with 2.7 million jobs available, and the unemployment rate that year was 3.64%.
• It was said that job growth was slower in the first half of 2025, with the least growth recorded since 2010. 
• In June 2025, another 147,000 jobs got created by the United States economy, and the unemployment rate stood at 4.1%. 
• As of May 2025, there were almost 7.8 million jobs open, the highest number since November 2024.

Even as the unemployment rate has gone up, so have job openings. This is another reason why the USA remains a top choice among applicants in 2025.

3. Work Visa Numbers Have Also Grown YoY%

The potential high-paying jobs in USA and work visas post-graduation in the US are among the major reasons Indian students choose to study in the US. The US government continues to promote legal immigration (especially for skilled workers) through these visas.

H-1B Visa Opportunities

• The H-1B visa in the USA is essentially a work visa for which an applicant may apply on being sponsored by an employer. 
• The United States issues approximately 65,000 H-1B visas to F1 visa holders annually under the H-1B cap.
• Plus an additional 20,000 for holders of a master's or higher degree from a U.S. university holding an F1 student visa or M1 visa.
• Applicants may apply for the H-1B visa through the H-1B lottery system, the announcement for which is typically made in October and remains open until March of the following year.

Indian professionals constitute a large segment of H-1B visa applicants, seeking long-term H-1B sponsorship, making the US an attractive career prospect for their professional future. There are however, alternatives to H-1B visas in USA which must also be considered. This is another reason why USA to study is becoming more popular.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

All F-1 student visa holders in USA are entitled to twelve months of OPT, which can be used for authorised volunteer and/or paid employment in their field of study. STEM education students can apply for an additional 24 months of OPT work experience through STEM OPT Extension, which can be extended until they require employer sponsorship, allowing them to secure up to 3 years of total work experience.

Around 242,700 international graduates joined OPT in 2024-25, with a significant proportion coming from India and China. 

4. Academic Flexibility and Research Access in USA

Apart from the typical full-time courses offered in USA, there is a rise in online or part-time courses in the US. These courses are ideal for those who wish to upskill or gain knowledge while working or without coming to USA for study. Some of the courses that are increasingly gaining popularity include:

• Online MBA
• STEM Online MBA in USA
• Certificate programs (range between USD 3,500 to USD 15,000)
• UG/PG Diplomas in various fields (can rage anywhere between USD 1,500 to USD 4,000 per course)
• Coding bootcamps (USD 14,000 for a 6-12 week program)
• Summer courses (USD 450 to USD 750 per credit)

With these courses and certification, applicants can aim for higher education or find a job in USA. Or they can also these skills for research purposes. 

5. Test-Optional US Universities

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many US universities discontinued the requirement for SAT/ACT scores in undergraduate admissions and GRE/GMAT scores in postgraduate admissions. Over time, some US universities have reinstated their standardised test score acceptance policies, while others are either test-optional or have altogether scrapped the score acceptance. 

• US universities like - Princeton University, Stanford University, Boston University, along with a few others, are test-optional, that is, they do not require ACT or SAT scores mandatorily for UG admissions. Check out SAT Accepting Universities in USA
• On the other hand, top B-schools offering MBA in USA, like MIT Sloan, Kellogg, and USC Marshall, provide international students the benefit of waiving GMAT/GRE score acceptance only if they have a higher work experience level.

Students who do not wish to submit any of these standardised scores (if there’s a possibility) will have to have:

• A high GPA score (calculate GPA, using the free online GPA Calculator tool)
• An excellent academic background
• Well-drafted SOPs and/or admission essays
• LORs

6. Cultural Diversity and Global Exposure in USA

One of the less obvious, yet certainly impactful advantages of why USA to study is the cultural diversity that exists on its campuses.

• Classes are filled with students from dozens of countries, and the campus student affairs architecture is typically designed to support, not marginalise, global identities. 
• From international student orientation to career services specifically designed for international students, the institutional commitment to inclusion and belonging is not perfect, but it is real and evolving. 
• At this time, they also know more about the American culture which helps them evolve if they wish to get a PR in USA and settle there after graduation. 

This kind of context is especially useful for students who appreciate the engagement of global exposure and cross-cultural collaboration..

7. Costs & Scholarships in USA 

US education can be expensive, the cost of studying in USA with only the tuition can cross to over USD 60,000 annually, especially at private universities in USA. The living costs in USA only add to the bill. However, many students are surprised to learn that financial aid is often available. 

• Many institutions offer need-based assistance, and, particularly for students attending a graduate program, merit scholarships are highly competitive. 
• Some universities even pledge to fulfill 100% of demonstrated financial need regardless of a student's citizenship or residency status.
• Applicants may have to submit a FAFSA application if the university needs it to show their financial capability. 
• Additionally, over 1,000 US universities offer financial aid to international students. 

This is also a reason why USA to study, because despite high costs, scholarships in USA are available at its universities or there are education loan option in USA. 

Looking ahead to 2025, the choice to study in the United States entails a degree of calculation and bravery that didn't exist ten years ago. There are clear political risks, administrative hurdles, and societal tensions that cannot be ignored. Still, there is also a real, tangible, and potentially career-changing opportunity to study in the United States.

The students are not coming to the US without being aware of the risks. They are travelling to the US, cognizant of the risks, and still choosing to come anyway. They are coming because of what they see in the classroom, in the labs, in the networks they can build: despite all of the risks, the US is still a system that provides a uniquely powerful and transformative experience. For thousands of students every year, that is a risk worth taking. 

If interested in studying in the USA in 2025 and seeking expert advice, sign up for free Shiksha Abroad Counselling and request a callback from our team of experts.