Best Universities In USA

Overview

The United States of America is a diverse hub of higher education, housing top universities to suit every academic interest and career aspiration. Among these are the 8 Ivy League universities: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale University.

 

The USA has mostly top-ranking universities, making it reputable for law, business, and medical schools worldwide. There are over 980 universities in USA that offer undergraduate, graduate, and other degree-level programs. Hence, the cost of studying in the USA depends on the program you choose. Now, let us get into details of the top universities in USA.

Universities in USA: Highlights

Despite being a top study-abroad destination, the universities in USA are well-recognised for providing international students with a world-class education. The student-teacher ratio in the best universities in USA is usually 16 to 1.

 

The tuition fees of the universities in USA range from $8,000 to $55,000 (INR 6.7L to INR 45.9L), based on the type of course and duration. But before considering the cost of education, you must ensure that you meet all the criteria for studying there. Thus, check out the highlights table below:

Parameter

Statistics

Number of universities in USA

1000+

Tuition fees of universities in USA

Up to INR 10L: 285 universities

Over INR 40L: 195 universities

Top 3 streams in USA

BE/BTech, BBA, MBA/PGDM

English language exams required

IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo

Entrance exams required

GRE, GMAT, SAT, ACT

Best student cities in USA

Boston, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, etc. 

Why Study in USA?

Studying in USA provides unparalleled benefits, which include top-tier higher education, improved job prospects, vibrant student cities, and diverse international communities. The country houses the world’s leading universities and consistently ranks high in terms of its research-oriented education system.

 

International students are attracted to the country's prestigious Ivy League schools and the numerous scholarships available. With cities such as Boston, New York, and San Francisco providing dynamic growth environments, the United States of America is a top destination for global scholars seeking academic excellence and beyond.

 

Post-Work Permits in USA

After graduating from one of the top universities in USA, you must apply for a post-study work permit to gain some work experience. You will have a limited time period after finishing your studies, depending on the type of student visa you choose.

 

Usually, you can avail of 1 year of post-study work permit. If you choose an F1 visa and pick a STEM program, you can select Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows you to work while studying (pre-completion OPT) or work after completing your studies (post-completion OPT) for up to 3 years.

 

Part-Time Options in USA

Part-time jobs are important for Indian students, not only in terms of finances but also for work experience. You can work up to 20 hours a week when you have class to attend and 40 hours a week full-time when you don’t have classes.

 

Library monitors, teaching assistants, tour guides, research study assistants, peer tutors, campus tech support, and university bookstore assistants are some of the popular on-campus part-time jobs for Indian students.

 

You can find part-time jobs through various sources and resources, such as student unions, career service officers, university departments, and online platforms. According to the United States Department of Labor, the federal minimum wage for the majority of employees is $7.25 per hour. Part-time jobs in the USA can earn up to $20 per hour on average.

Top Universities in USA

 It is highly essential to look through the list of universities in USA. So, keep a keen eye on the table below for QS ranking and THE rankings 2024 of the USA university list.

University

QS Rankings 2025

THE Rankings 2024

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

1

3

Harvard University

4

4

Stanford University

6

2

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

10

7

University of Pennsylvania

11

16

University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

12

9

Cornell University

16

20

University of Chicago

21

13

Princeton University

22

6

Yale University

23

10

Johns Hopkins University

32

15

Columbia University

34

17

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

42

18

New York University (NYU)

43

27

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

44

23

Best Universities in USA for Engineering

Universities in USA provide Engineering programs in popular specialisations like Computer Science, Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and so on. Below, we have given a list of the best BTech universities in USA:

Engineering Universities in USA

QS Ranking 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

1

Stanford University

2

University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

5

Harvard University

8

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

9

Georgia Institute of Technology

12

Carnegie Mellon University

16

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

21

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

22

University of Texas at Austin

24

Purdue University

26

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

27

Cornell University

30

Princeton University

32

Columbia University

44

Best Universities in USA for Management

Out of the top 20 management universities in the USA, 12 are American universities that welcome international students. Here's the list of these top management universities in the USA.

Universities in USA

QS Ranking 

Harvard University

1

Stanford University

4

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

5

University of Pennsylvania

7

University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

13

New York University (NYU)

15

University of Chicago

16

Northwestern University

17

Columbia University

20

Yale University

25

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

33

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

37

Cornell University

38

Duke University

53

University of Texas at Austin

57

Best Universities in USA for Life Science & Medicine

12 out of the top 20 medicine universities in the USA welcome international students. Here's the list of top Life Science & Medicine Universities in the USA:

Universities in USA

QS Ranking 

Harvard University

1

Johns Hopkins University

3

Stanford University

4

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

5

University of California, San Francisco

8

Yale University

11

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

14

Cornell University

15

University of Washington

16

University of California, San Diego (UCSD)

17

University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

18

University of Pennsylvania

20

Duke University

22

Columbia University

23

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

28

Best Universities in USA for MBA

The United States of America is home to some of the world’s top-notch MBA universities and colleges. Below is the USA university list for MBA that attracts students worldwide due to their excellence in business education:

MBA Universities in USA

QS Ranking 

Stanford Graduate School of Business

1

Penn (Wharton)

2

Harvard Business School

3

MIT (Sloan)

4

Columbia Business School

5

Northwestern (Kellogg)

6

UC Berkeley (Haas)

7

Chicago (Booth)

8

UCLA (Anderson)

9

Yale School of Management

10

NYU (Stern)

11

Michigan (Ross)

12

Duke (Fuqua)

13

Cornell (Johnson)

14

USC (Marshall)

15

Boston (Questrom)

16

Texas (McCombs)

17

Indiana (Kelley)

18

Carnegie Mellon (Tepper)

19

Georgia Tech (Scheller)

20

Dartmouth (Tuck)

21

Georgetown (McDonough)

21

Virginia (Darden)

23

Emory (Goizueta)

24

Minnesota (Carlson)

25

Florida (Warrington)

26

Babson College (Olin)

27

Texas A&M (Mays)

27

Washington (Foster)

29

Michigan State (Eli Broad)

30 

Top Cities to Study in USA

In QS Best Student Cities 2025, 15 cities in the US are among the top 100 worldwide for studying abroad. If you choose to study in USA, you will have many universities to choose from among these cities.

 

Here's a list of the top student cities in the country:

Particulars 

QS Best Student Cities 2025

Boston

16

New York

18

San Francisco

29

Los Angeles

37

Chicago

44

Philadelphia

65

San Diego

69

Washington DC

70

Atlanta

72

Pittsburgh

80

Seattle

88

Durham

94

Houston

106

Baltimore

107

Miami

115

Top Courses to Study in USA

You can opt from a plethora of programs available at the universities in USA, including 956 degree programs, 85 certificates, and 9 diploma courses. The table highlights the top ten courses available at these institutions:

Top Courses in USA

Count of Universities in USA

Arts and Humanities

92 

Engineering & Technology

82

Life Sciences & Medicine

121

Natural Sciences

98

Social Sciences & Management

83

Admission Requirements for USA Universities

Indian students wishing to study in the USA must meet the entry criteria of the university they have chosen. Requirements differ at all degree levels, from masters to bachelors to doctoral.

 

Entrance Exams Accepted by Universities in USA

In terms of admission criteria, there are various exams you must attempt depending on the course you choose.

Entrance Exams

Count of Universities

GMAT

2,300

GRE

1,500

SAT

4,000

English Language Requirements by Universities in USA

English language proficiency exams like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or Duolingo are required for Indian students whose first language is not English.

English Language Exams

Count of Universities

TOEFL

5,300 

IELTS

3,000

PTE

1200

Duolingo

3100 

Documents Required in USA

To gain admission to US universities, you must submit the required documents, which are listed below, categorised by the type of program:

Documents

Bachelor’s Admission

Master’s Admission

Academic

Must complete 12th-class education with the required score

A bachelor’s degree is required for master's admission in the USA

English language test

IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo

IELTS/TOEFL/PTE

Standardised test scores

Not required

GRE/GMAT/SAT/ACT

Other documents

Not required

Academic transcripts , Proof of Finance, LOR , SOP , Resume

Intakes in USA Universities

You must get detailed knowledge of the university intakes in the USA, as not all intakes provide every course and institution. Therefore, it is crucial to stay well-informed about all the intakes in the USA.

  • Fall Intake in USA - The fall intake season begins in August and lasts until December or January. This intake is particularly popular among international students because many universities only offer some courses during the fall semester. Furthermore, there are numerous scholarships and job opportunities available during this time only.

  • Spring Intake in USA- It is generally accepted that the fall intake is more popular than the spring intake in the United States. The classes for spring intake begin in January and end in May. 

  • Summer Intake in USA - Summer intake in the United States is the shortest. The classes for this intake last for four months, beginning in May and ending in August. Candidates may apply for special summer programs offered this semester.

Cost of Studying in USA

The cost of studying in the United States for international students varies by program and university. For international students, the average first-year cost of an MS program is INR 23.5 L, while an MBA program costs INR 27.8 L.

 

International students have access to the range of the USA university first-year tuition fees below:

First-Year Tuition Fee Range

Count of Universities

Max 10 lakhs

269

Max 20 lakhs

747

Max 30 lakhs

879

Max 40 lakhs

940

40 lakhs +

183

Cost of Living in USA

International students' living expenses in the United States range from INR 8.3 L to INR 15 L, depending on the city. Studying in the United States is expensive due to high living expenses and tuition fees at prestigious universities. Living expenses include rent, food, travel, stationery, entertainment, and other expenses. Check out the cost of living in each US state below:

Big Cities in the USA

Average Cost of Living

New York

USD 3,300 or INR 2.7 L

California

USD 4,000 or INR 3.2 L

Boston

USD 3,316 or INR 2.8 L

San Francisco

USD 4,000 or INR 3.2 L

Atlanta

USD 2,200 or INR 1.8 L

New Orleans

USD 2,000 or INR 1.7 L

Philadelphia

USD 1,300 or INR 1.1 L

Seattle

USD 2,500 or INR 1.1 L

Texas

USD 2,000 or INR 1.7 L

Illinois

USD 1,470 or INR 1.2 L

Student Visa Fee in USA

For international students wishing to study abroad, the USA continues to be the most popular option, but before you move ahead, you must first obtain a valid student visa. According to a USCIS report, approximately 200,000 Indian students applied to study in USA in the recent year, an increase of more than 19% from previous years. The following are the USA  student visa fees for Indian students:

Type of Student Visas in USA & Costs

F1

J1

M1

SEVIS Fee

Amount

USD 350

USD 220

USD 350

Accepted Modes of Payment

Credit Card

Money Order/ Demand Draft

Credit Card

Money Order/ Demand Draft

Credit Card

Money Order/ Demand Draft

Payable in

Dollars at the applicable exchange rate as determined by the bank

Dollars at the applicable exchange rate as determined by the bank

Dollars at the applicable exchange rate as determined by the bank

MRV Application Fee / Visa Application Fee

Amount

USD 185

USD 185

USD 185

Accepted Modes of Payment

NEFT Online Transfer

Instant Money Transfer by Mobile - IMPS

By Cash at counters of Axis Bank/ Citibank

NEFT Online Transfer

Instant Money Transfer by Mobile - IMPS

By Cash at counters of Axis Bank/ Citibank

NEFT Online Transfer

Instant Money Transfer by Mobile - IMPS

By Cash at counters of Axis Bank/ Citibank

Payable in

Payable in INR at the exchange rate fixed by the Consular Office

(At present, the exchange rate is fixed at USD 1 = INR 83.18 - Sept 6, 2023)

Payable in INR at the exchange rate fixed by the Consular Office

(At present, the exchange rate is fixed at USD 1 = INR 83.18 - Sept 6, 2023)

Payable in INR at the exchange rate fixed by the Consular Office

(At present, the exchange rate is fixed at USD 1 = INR 83.18 - Sept 6, 2023)

Top Job Sectors & Economy in USA

As an international student, it's important to learn about the job opportunities available in your chosen field of study. Students studying in sectors like Tech and IT, energy, life sciences, marketing/creative, healthcare, e-commerce, retail, and business services can find great career opportunities in the USA after they graduate.

Jobs in USA

Average base salary

Lawyer

$126,930

Front-end engineer

$105,240

Management Consultant

$110,980

Java Developer

$83,589

Data Scientist

$107,801

Product Manager

$117,713

DevOps Engineer

$107,310

Data Engineer

$102,472

Software Engineer

$105,563

Business Development Manager

$78,480

Financial Consultant

$78,356

Nursing Manager

$85,389

Finance Manager

$120,644

Accounting Manager

$85,794

Clinic Manager

$70,000

Physical Therapist

$71,483

After graduating from the top universities in USA, students have several job options. From career placement services to job listings on websites to professional networks, help them connect with potential employers and explore job opportunities there.

Scholarships to Study in USA

There are approximately 1,382 scholarships available in the United States for international students pursuing undergraduate and graduate programs. Of these, 1,210 are unique to specific colleges, while 172 are not.

 

Some well-known scholarships include the Global Study Awards, Tata Scholarship, BrokerFish International Student Scholarship, and QS Undergraduate Scholarship. Below is a list of universities in USA and their available scholarships.

University Name

Name of Scholarship

Amount Offered

University of Houston

Jack and D'Ann Burke International Scholarship

Up to INR 82,940

Transfer Possibilities Scholarship

Up to INR 12,38,250

California State University Chico Campus

California State University Chico Campus

Up to INR 9,12,340

Dale M. Schoettler Scholarship for Visually Impaired Students

Up to INR 8,25,500

The University of Utah

The University of Utah- President's Scholarship

Up to INR 8,30,800

The University of Utah- Flagship Scholarship

Up to INR 11,63,120

All University are Here
University Courses Scholarships
Pace University, USA View Scholarships
Arizona State University, USA View Course View Scholarships
Cleveland State University, USA View Course View Scholarships
Governors State University, USA View Course View Scholarships
University of the Pacific, USA View Scholarships
The University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA View Course View Scholarships
Stanford University, USA View Scholarships
University at Buffalo-SUNY, USA View Scholarships
Kent State University, USA View Course View Scholarships
Northeastern University, USA View Course View Scholarships
Harvard University, USA View Scholarships
California Institute of Technology, USA View Scholarships
California State University, Northridge View Scholarships
Carnegie Mellon University, USA View Scholarships
Columbia University, USA View Scholarships
Georgia Institute of Technology, USA View Scholarships
Johns Hopkins University, USA View Scholarships
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA View Scholarships
University of St. Thomas, USA View Scholarships
New York University, USA View Scholarships
Northwood University, USA View Scholarships
Princeton University, USA View Scholarships
Rochester Institute of Technology, USA View Scholarships
Yale University, USA View Scholarships
University of Washington, USA View Scholarships
University of Southern California, USA View Scholarships
University of Pennsylvania, USA View Scholarships
University of New Haven, USA View Scholarships
University of Massachusetts Boston, USA View Scholarships
University of Illinois, USA View Scholarships
University of Chicago, USA View Scholarships
University of Dayton, USA View Course View Scholarships
University of California, Los Angeles USA View Scholarships
University of California, Berkeley USA View Scholarships
University of Bridgeport, USA View Scholarships
University at Albany SUNY View Course View Scholarships
UMass Amherst, USA View Course View Scholarships
International American University, USA View Course View Scholarships
DeVry University, USA View Course View Scholarships
Post University, USA View Scholarships

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