Margdarshan USA · Country Edition

Study in United States

Streams·Career guides·Exams·Universities·Visa & PR·Scholarships·Costs

The largest choice of universities and research funding, with a flexible liberal-arts undergraduate system.

Visa & PR pathway All countries

CurrencyUS Dollar (USD, $)

Avg UG tuition$20,000–60,000+ / yr

Avg PG tuition$25,000–60,000+ / yr

Post-study workOPT 12 mo (+24 mo STEM)

Work-hour limit20 hrs/wk on-campus in term; full-time in breaks

Typical IELTS6.5-7.5

Exams:SAT/ACT (UG, often optional)TOEFL / IELTS / DuolingoGRE / GMAT (PG)

1 USD ≈ ₹85 (approx.; check live rate)

Stream & major routes

US Major/Minor system

US bachelor's degrees are 4 years and broad: you take general-education courses first and declare a major (usually by the end of year 2), with an optional minor. Professional fields such as medicine and law are postgraduate: you finish any bachelor's degree first, then apply to medical or law school.

1Pathway

Associate degree + transfer

2 years at a community college, then transfer to a 4-year university (2+2). Cheapest way into a US degree.

2Pathway

Bachelor's (BA / BS)

4 years. BS is more technical (CS, engineering, sciences); BA is liberal-arts based. Apply through the Common App with SAT/ACT (many universities are test-optional or test-required again, check each).

3Pathway

Master's (MS / MBA / MEng)

1–2 years. MS in STEM needs GRE (often optional now); MBA needs GMAT/GRE and usually 2–5 years of work experience.

4Pathway

Professional doctorates (MD, JD)

4 years (MD) / 3 years (JD) after a bachelor's. Entry through MCAT / LSAT and a very competitive pool for international applicants.

5Pathway

PhD

5–6 years, usually fully funded with a stipend through research or teaching assistantships.

In-country career guides

Career tracks and licensing in United States

Each track shows the full chain: degree, entrance or licensing exam, regulator and work route.

US Medical Route US Software Engineering US Accounting

US Medical Route (Pre-Med → MCAT → MD → Residency)

Regulator: AAMC / ECFMG / NRMP / state medical boards

There is no direct 'MBBS' entry. You need a bachelor's degree with pre-med courses, the MCAT, then 4 years of MD and residency. Very few US MD schools accept international applicants, so many Indian doctors instead enter residency as International Medical Graduates after an Indian MBBS.

Stage	What happens
1. Pre-med bachelor's (4 yrs)	Any major plus biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, biochemistry and English. Build clinical, research and volunteering experience.
2. MCAT	Scored 472–528. Needed for MD (AAMC) and DO schools. Take it 12+ months before you plan to matriculate.
3. Apply via AMCAS	Apply to MD schools through AMCAS (DO via AACOMAS). Check that each school accepts international applicants and requires funding proof.
4. MD (4 yrs)	2 years pre-clinical + 2 years clinical rotations. USMLE Step 1 (pass/fail) and Step 2 CK are taken during school.
5. Residency via the Match	3–7 years of residency in your specialty, applied through ERAS and matched through NRMP. IMGs also need ECFMG certification.
6. USMLE Step 3 + state licence	Step 3 during residency, then a full unrestricted licence from the state medical board. Work visa is usually J-1 or H-1B.

Official source: AAMC: Medical school admissions

US Software Engineering (BS CS → Bootcamp/Internships → OPT/H-1B)

Regulator: No licence needed; immigration via USCIS

Software engineering is unlicensed in the US; employers hire on skills, internships and projects. The real gate is work authorisation: F-1 OPT, STEM OPT extension, then H-1B.

Stage	What happens
1. BS in Computer Science (4 yrs)	Choose a CIP-designated STEM program so you qualify for the STEM OPT extension. ABET-accredited programs are a plus. Alternatively MS CS (1.5–2 yrs).
2. Internships (summer of year 2 and 3)	Most full-time offers come from internships. Use CPT (Curricular Practical Training) with your school's DSO approval.
3. Coding bootcamp (optional)	Useful only to add portfolio projects or interview prep; bootcamps do not replace a degree and are not a path to an F-1 visa by themselves.
4. OPT (12 months)	Post-completion OPT after graduation; apply to USCIS up to 90 days before and 60 days after completion.
5. STEM OPT (+24 months)	Extension for STEM degrees if the employer is E-Verify enrolled. Gives up to 3 years of work and three H-1B lottery attempts.
6. H-1B and Green Card	H-1B is selected by lottery (wage-weighted selection has been introduced, check USCIS); employer-sponsored green cards for Indian nationals have long backlogs.

Official source: USCIS: Students and employment

US Accounting (BS Accounting → CPA Exam → AICPA Licensing)

Regulator: AICPA, NASBA and the state Board of Accountancy

Becoming a US CPA needs 150 semester credit hours (more than a 4-year bachelor's), four exam sections, and a state licence. Many states accept foreign-educated candidates after a credential evaluation.

Stage	What happens
1. BS Accounting or a related degree	Include required accounting and business credits. A 1-year MS Accounting often supplies the extra credits to reach 150.
2. Pick a state board	Each state sets its own education, experience and residency rules. International candidates often pick states such as Guam, Alaska, Colorado or Texas for flexibility. Verify current rules.
3. Credential evaluation	Get your Indian degree evaluated by an approved service (e.g. NASBA International Evaluation Services) for the state board.
4. CPA Exam	Core: AUD, FAR, REG, plus one discipline (BAR, ISC or TCP). Score 0–99, pass at 75. Computer-based and can be taken in India at Prometric centres.
5. Experience + ethics exam	Usually 1–2 years of work experience verified by a CPA, and an AICPA ethics exam in many states.
6. Licence and job	Big 4 and mid-size firms hire from campuses. Accounting is on the STEM OPT list only for certain program codes, check CIP code.

Official source: AICPA & CIMA: CPA exam

Fees, scores, quotas, visa durations and licensing rules change often. Figures are indicative; confirm on the linked official regulator, exam-body and university sites before you apply or pay.

Admissions & licensing exams

Entrance and licensing exams for United States

Exam	Used for	Format	Score	Conducted by
SAT	Undergraduate	Digital, adaptive, ~2 hr 14 min	400–1600	College Board
ACT	Undergraduate	English, Math, Reading, Science (optional), composite	1–36	ACT, Inc.
GRE General	Master's / PhD	Verbal, Quant, Writing (~1 hr 58 min)	130–170 per section	ETS
GMAT Focus	MBA / business master's	Quant, Verbal, Data Insights (~2 hr 15 min)	205–805	GMAC
MCAT	Medical school (MD/DO)	4 sections, ~6.5 hr	472–528	AAMC
LSAT	Law school (JD)	Logical reasoning, reading comprehension, writing sample	120–180	LSAC
USMLE	Medical licensing	Step 1 (pass/fail), Step 2 CK (numeric), Step 3	Pass / 3-digit	NBME / FSMB
NCLEX-RN	Nursing licensing	Computer adaptive, 85–150 questions	Pass / fail	NCSBN

University & college finder

Featured universities in United States

Tuition is indicative per year for international students. Use the official admissions link for current figures and deadlines.

Private

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

City: Cambridge, MA
Acceptance: ~4–5%
Tuition: ~US$62,000/yr (+ living)
Admission cycle: UG: EA Nov 1, RA Jan 1 · PG: Dec
Known for: Engineering, CS, physical sciences
Official admissions page

Private

Stanford University

City: Stanford, CA
Acceptance: ~4%
Tuition: ~US$67,000/yr (+ living)
Admission cycle: UG: REA Nov 1, RD Jan 5 · PG: Dec
Known for: CS, business, engineering
Official admissions page

Public

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

City: Champaign, IL
Acceptance: ~43%
Tuition: ~US$35,000–$45,000/yr (international, varies by program)
Admission cycle: UG: EA Nov 1, RD Jan 5 · PG: Dec–Jan
Known for: CS, engineering, accounting (CPA-oriented)
Official admissions page

Public

Georgia Institute of Technology

City: Atlanta, GA
Acceptance: ~16%
Tuition: ~US$33,000–$43,000/yr (international)
Admission cycle: UG: EA1 Oct 15, EA2 Nov 1, RD Jan 4 · PG: Dec–Jan
Known for: Engineering, CS, co-op programs
Official admissions page

Official boards:EducationUSA India (official advising)Common Application NASBA (CPA state boards)

Career & industry directory

High-demand sectors in United States

Typical starting salaries (annual, graduate level) with approximate INR equivalent.

Sector	Typical roles	Starting salary	≈ INR	Demand
Tech / STEM	Software, ML, data, cloud	$100k–150k	₹85 L–1.3 Cr	Very high
Healthcare	Nursing, pharmacy, health informatics	$70k–110k	₹60 L–95 L	High
Finance & Consulting	Analyst, risk, fintech	$80k–125k	₹68 L–1.05 Cr	High
Engineering (core)	Mechanical, electrical, aerospace	$75k–105k	₹64 L–90 L	Medium–High
Skilled Trades	Electrician, HVAC, welding	$45k–75k	₹38 L–64 L	High

1 USD ≈ ₹85 (approx.; check live rate). Figures are indicative ranges (2025–26) rounded for planning; INR is approximate. Confirm every number, deadline and visa rule on the official links before applying or paying.

Higher education directory

Top universities in United States

Acceptance rates are indicative (overall or flagship-course level). Deadlines vary by course and year.

University	Type	Acceptance	Intakes	Application deadlines
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Private	~4–5%	Fall	UG: Jan 1 (EA Nov 1) · PG: Dec
Stanford University	Private	~4%	Fall	UG: Jan 5 · PG: Dec
Carnegie Mellon University	Private	~11%	Fall (some Spring)	UG: Jan 1–3 · PG: Dec–Jan
University of California, Berkeley	Public	~11%	Fall	UG: Nov 30 · PG: Dec
Georgia Institute of Technology	Public	~16%	Fall / Spring	UG: Jan 4 · PG: Dec–Jan
University of Michigan	Public	~18%	Fall	UG: Feb 1 · PG: Dec–Jan
University of Texas at Austin	Public	~30%	Fall / Spring	UG: Dec 1 · PG: Dec–Jan
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	Public	~45%	Fall / Spring	UG: Jan 5 · PG: Dec–Jan
Purdue University	Public	~50%	Fall / Spring	UG: rolling · PG: Dec–Jan
Arizona State University	Public	~90%	Fall / Spring / Summer	Rolling

More well-known universities (15)

#	University	City	Type
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	Cambridge, MA	Private
2	Stanford University	Stanford, CA	Private
3	Harvard University	Cambridge, MA	Private
4	California Institute of Technology (Caltech)	Pasadena, CA	Private
5	Princeton University	Princeton, NJ	Private
6	Yale University	New Haven, CT	Private
7	Columbia University	New York, NY	Private
8	University of Chicago	Chicago, IL	Private
9	Cornell University	Ithaca, NY	Private
10	Carnegie Mellon University	Pittsburgh, PA	Private
11	University of California, Berkeley	Berkeley, CA	Public
12	University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	Los Angeles, CA	Public
13	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor	Ann Arbor, MI	Public
14	Georgia Institute of Technology	Atlanta, GA	Public
15	University of Texas at Austin	Austin, TX	Public

These are widely recognised institutions, listed to help you start a shortlist. This is not a ranking: league tables change every year and suit different goals, so check each university's course, fees, entry rules and outcomes for your own subject.

Visa & PR pathway

F-1 student visa → work → residency

Issued by: US Department of State (embassy / consulate in India).

Item	Rule / requirement
Student visa type	F-1 (academic); I-20 issued by a SEVP-certified school
Fees & forms	SEVIS I-901 fee + DS-160 + visa application fee; interview at US Embassy/Consulates in India
Proof of funds	Funds for first-year tuition + living as stated on the I-20
Health insurance	University-mandated plan (usually bundled in fees)
Work permit rules	On-campus ≤20 hrs/wk; CPT for internships; OPT 12 mo; STEM OPT +24 mo (E-Verify employers)
PR route	OPT → H-1B (lottery) → employer-sponsored EB-2/EB-3 green card. Backlogs for India-born applicants are very long

AVisa steps

How to apply

Receive an I-20 from a SEVP-certified university.
Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee and complete the DS-160 form.
Book and attend the visa interview.
Show intent to study and ability to fund the first year.

BDocuments

What to prepare

Passport
I-20
DS-160 confirmation
Bank / loan / scholarship proof of funds
Admission and academic records
Test scores

CPR pathway

Step by step

Finish a degree at a SEVP-certified school and apply for OPT (STEM: extension to 36 months).
Employer files H-1B petition (annual lottery; wage-weighted selection rules apply).
Employer sponsors a green card (PERM labour certification → I-140 → I-485).
Alternatives: O-1 visa for extraordinary ability, EB-1/NIW petitions, further study.

Post-study work: OPT and STEM OPT
      OPT gives up to 12 months of work permission after you finish your degree. You apply for an employment authorisation document (EAD) in a set window around graduation.
If your degree is on the official STEM list, you can apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. That makes up to 36 months in total for eligible students.
For STEM OPT, your employer must be registered with E-Verify and you and your employer complete a training plan (Form I-983).
There is a limit on the number of days you can be unemployed during OPT. Keep track of it.
Longer-term work usually needs an employer to sponsor you, for example through the H-1B visa, which is selected by lottery and has annual limits.

Proof of money: Show funds for the first year of tuition and living costs as stated on the I-20. Immigration rules change often; confirm on the official site.

Scholarship & financial aid matrix

Funding for Indian students in United States

Always apply through the official page; deadlines are usually months before intake.

Scholarship	Provider	Level	Covers	Eligibility	Portal
Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships	USIEF / US Dept of State	PG	Tuition, stipend, travel	Indian citizen, bachelor's degree, work experience preferred	Official site
Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship	Inlaks Foundation	PG	Up to $100,000	Indian citizens under 30 with a top-university offer	Official site
Knight-Hennessy Scholars	Stanford University	PG	Full funding at Stanford	Graduate applicants with leadership record	Official site
Assistantships (TA/RA)	Individual universities	MS / PhD	Tuition waiver + monthly stipend	Strong GRE/academics; apply via department	Official site

Step by step

Application timeline for United States

Work backwards from your intake. Fall (August/September) is the main intake; some universities also admit in Spring (January).

118 to 24 months before

Explore and set a budget

Decide what you want to study, how much your family can spend per year, and whether you need aid. List 10 to 15 universities across three groups: ambitious, realistic and safe.

212 to 15 months before

Plan tests

Undergraduate: SAT or ACT where required or recommended, plus TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo. Graduate: GRE or GMAT where the programme asks for it. Book test dates early so you can retake if needed.

310 to 12 months before

Build documents

Request transcripts, ask two or three teachers or managers for recommendation letters, and begin your personal statement or statement of purpose. Keep a list of activities, projects and achievements.

48 to 10 months before

Write and polish essays

Write about your own story, not a copy of a sample. Ask a teacher to read for clarity. Many undergraduate applications go through the Common App; graduate applications go directly to each university's portal.

56 to 8 months before

Submit applications

Early Action or Early Decision deadlines for undergraduates are usually in autumn; regular deadlines are in winter. Many graduate deadlines fall between December and January for the autumn intake. Pay the application fees and send official test scores.

63 to 6 months before

Interviews, offers and aid

Some universities hold interviews. Compare offers and financial aid letters. Accept one offer by the stated deadline and pay the deposit.

72 to 4 months before

Get the I-20 and apply for the F-1 visa

The university sends an I-20 after you show financial proof. Pay the SEVIS fee, fill the DS-160 form, book the visa interview and prepare to explain your study plan and funding clearly.

81 to 2 months before

Prepare to travel

Arrange housing, health insurance, forex and flights. Join the university's international-student orientation groups so you meet people before you land.

Tests you may need: SAT or ACT (many universities are test-optional, but some require scores), TOEFL / IELTS / Duolingo; GRE or GMAT for many master's and MBA programmes.

Language requirement

English test cut-offs

Test	Typical requirement
IELTS (Academic)	6.5-7.5 overall (selective universities toward 7.0+)
TOEFL iBT	80-100+ iBT
Duolingo English Test	105-125 where accepted

Each university sets its own cut-off, and many have section minimums. Scores are typical ranges only.

IELTS roadmap TOEFL roadmap SAT GRE GMAT

Money

Tuition and living expenses

Expense	Indicative range	What to know
Tuition (undergraduate)	USD 20,000 to 60,000+ per year	Private universities and out-of-state public universities are at the high end.
Tuition (postgraduate)	USD 25,000 to 60,000+ per year	Many MS and PhD students receive assistantships that reduce or cover tuition.
Housing	USD 6,000 to 15,000 per year	Depends on city, dorm or shared apartment.
Food	USD 3,000 to 5,000 per year	Cooking at home is cheaper than meal plans or eating out.
Health insurance	USD 1,500 to 4,000 per year	Most universities require it; many sell a student plan.
Transport and personal costs	USD 1,500 to 3,000 per year	Cities with good public transport cost less.
Visa and application fees	A few hundred US dollars in total	Includes the visa fee and the SEVIS fee; check the current amounts on the official site.

Fees, visa rules, work-rights and test formats change often, and several destinations have tightened student rules recently. The figures below are indicative ranges to help you compare options; always confirm on the official government, university and test-body websites before you apply or pay.

Compliance & verification

Official embassy & foreign-education notices

Official sources

US Embassy & Consulates in India

Before you pay

Compliance checklist

Check that the school is SEVP-certified before paying any deposit.
Use only official US government sites (.gov) for visa fees and appointments.
Agents cannot guarantee visas; never pay for a 'guaranteed slot'.
Use only registered overseas-education counsellors. Margdarshan is not an agent and charges no fees.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Do I need the SAT to study in the USA?

Many universities are test-optional, but some require SAT or ACT scores. Check each university's policy for your intake year.

Can I work while studying in the USA?

F-1 students can usually work on campus up to a weekly limit during term. Off-campus work needs separate authorisation such as CPT or OPT.

How early should I apply?

Start 12 to 18 months before your intended start date. Autumn is the main intake.

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*Fees, visa rules, test scores and scholarships change often. Confirm everything on the official university, government and test-body websites before you apply or pay.