Study in The U.S. – Which Master’s Degree to Choose?

Published date: 19 Jun 2019 Updated on: 27 Feb 2020

When it is time to apply for masters, the automatic choice is the USA. But the number of colleges, institutes, and universities offering higher education in the country is massive – about 1700. In this comprehensive article, we help you understand why opting to study in the USA for Indian students is a worthy investment and how to pick the right subject and college for it.

Why Study in the US? 

The number one destination for international students to study has been America. Besides the wide variety of qualifications offered, the reasons for it are numerous. The three primary ones are:

• The reputation of American colleges is world-class. Everyone is aware of the Ivy League and the Ivy plus category. Studying at Harvard, Brown, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Stanford, Dartmouth or any of the other super selective institutes is seen as a badge of honour.
• When you look at top world universities lists such as by the Times Higher Education and QS, USA is the location. Given below is a sample of the leading US colleges of the world:
  • QS Global Ranking List for 2019
    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology – 1st
    • Stanford University- 2nd
    • Harvard University - 3rd
    • California Institute of Technology- 4th
    • University of Chicago – 9th
    • Princeton University - 13th
    • Cornell University – 14th
    • Yale University – 15th
  • THE World University List for 2019
    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology – 4th
    • Stanford University- 3rd
    • Harvard University – 6th
    • California Institute of Technology- 5th
    • University of Chicago – 10th
    • Princeton University - 7th
    • Cornell University – 19th
    • Yale University – 8th
• For a talented Indian student, several ways can be found to get funding for a master’s degree ranging from scholarships to part-time jobs.
  • Earning a degree in America comes with a hefty price tag, but there are many opportunities to study in the USA with a scholarship. A few of the major universities use a need-blind method, i.e., the financial situation of the student doesn’t factor in. It signifies anyone can get funded at least partially!
  • Get an education loan. Good US institutes are known for their high employability. Since employability is a significant factor in granting loans, higher chances of getting a job after college increase the probability of getting it.
  • The US is known for its culture for part-time work which means even while you are studying you can earn. Though visa regulation may limit the number of working hours, they are enough to bear living expenses partly.

Read Also - Student Housing in the US

Why is the American Post-Graduation so unique?

In countries like the UK, masters degrees are either focussed on research or taught without much assessment. In the U.S., higher education (Masters and Ph.D.) follows a structured approach where units are taught and then the student is assessed on the knowledge. 
In simpler words, America doesn’t offer masters purely meant for research. This helps a student because structured training and teaching are better for inculcating knowledge than a teaching model that is based only on research.
While the scholars are motivated to study on their own and think over concepts; they are also evaluated, formally, over the entire duration of the program. Marks are allotted based on tasks, in-class assessment, and short essays which are converted into GPA at the end of the year to check the student's progress.

How To Pick The Best USA Master Degree For You?

To narrow down your many options, find the answer to the following questions.

1. What are the top institutes for STEM in the US?

The obvious question while searching for an MS degree in the US is – what is the best college for them. Some of the most preferred universities in America as per student volume are:

• University of Southern California
• Arizona State University
• Carnegie Mellon University

We’ve talked about their application and tuition cost, living cost, financial aid, and the average salary you can expect in detail in this article.

2. What are the popular degrees in the US?

When it comes to the prevalent subjects for MS in the US for Indian students, the top branches are: (Percentages for every course are from a total of Indian students studying Engineering subjects in the US institutes, Source: GyanDhan Research)

• Computer Science - 27.26 %
• Electrical Engineering - 11.03 %
• Mechanical Engineering - 7.68%
• Computer Engineering - 5.81%
• Electrical and Computer Engineering - 4.80 %
• Industrial Engineering - 4.79%
• Management Information System - 2.20 %
• Telecommunications Engineering - 2.12%
• Biotechnology - 2.02%
• Engineering Management- 1.94%

When you consider the subjects with the maximum number of international students, the top branches come out to be: (These percentages have been taken according to the International Students in the US studying Engineering, Source: GyanDan Research)

• Computer Science - 13.31%
• Mechanical Engineering - 8.76%
• Electrical Engineering - 7.70%
• Civil Engineering - 5.20%
• Electrical and Computer Engineering - 3.59%
• Industrial Engineering - 2.56%
• Engineering Management - 2.38%
• Computer Engineering - 2.31%
• Biomedical Engineering - 2.28%
• Chemical Engineering - 2.03%

3. What is your intent of studying abroad: Job vs. Research?

America categorizes programs in two ways – academic and professional. Depending upon your intent for higher education, you should pick either an academic course or a professional one. Let’s understand what they mean:

4. What is an academic master?

These are similar to a post-graduation degree taught in other nations. The focus of this course is on broad subjects, which means the number of electives is high. The purpose is for the student to gain a comprehensive knowledge of their subject at an advanced level. Academic masters generally have a research task which concludes with thesis submission.

5. Should you opt for academic master in the USA?

The answer is yes if you aim to continue your education and enrol in a Ph.D. program.

5. What is a professional master?

These are courses that follow a strict syllabus to provide student technical training and vocational skills needed for a specific job. Unlike academic masters, these have fewer elective options, so the focus remains on a core discipline, and prepares the student well in their chosen area of work. Common examples of professional masters are:

• MBA Programs 

6. Should you opt for professional masters in the USA?

The answer is yes if the intent of studying abroad is finding a well-paying job. But do keep this in mind that completing a professional master doesn’t guarantee a work permit in America. 

7. What will be the total cost of choosing a particular MS degree?

Yes, finding a scholarship  or Education Loan for US Study has become simpler. That said, one should still consider the study in USA in terms of cost and expense. On average, the tuition fee of a public university is near $20,000 to $35,000 yearly for an Indian student. A private college costs even more and professional masters have higher tuition fees than academic masters. Add to it the living expenses, the total financial burden can be substantial. 
Therefore, think over the full expense of the MS degree before choosing while factoring in the financial aid you have in hand while applying.

 8. What does the course content look like?

Another element to ponder over while choosing an MS in the US is the quality of the course content. Check the curriculum of the program. Find out how industry-oriented it is, especially if it is a professional master's degree. While you’re going through the topics and electives of the course, also run an eye over the requirements of applying to the degree.

Check also - Path to Permanent Residency in the US

9. What are the job and future prospects of the MS degree?

It is true that a master’s degree from an American Institute is renowned worldwide and seen by potential employers as a worthy achievement. But MS courses from premium institutes will offer  better future prospects. For example, a degree from MIT will earn you an excellent job opportunity. Similarly, a good academic master will give you the tools needed to apply for the best Ph.D. programs anywhere in the world.
The added advantage of an MS degree is the opportunity to work in America for as long as 3 years under Optional Practical Training. This option is available for F1 Visa holders pursuing STEM courses, (the most common student US visa) and is particularly useful because it offers three tries to convert your visa to H1-B.

Read Also - Documents For US Student Visa

The Final Considerations

The reputation of the college, the cost of the degree, the financial aid possibilities, and the job opportunities it will open are all essential factors. But once you’ve got an answer to all of the above questions, do consider these last two elements:

• Does the subject interest you?
• What are the chances you will get admission?

The first is easy to answer because it is a personal preference. We, as experts, can help explain the second with our profile evaluation tool.

Dont miss Student Story - How Ganga Barani Planned his MS in US