Masters (MS) In USA: Universities & Course Details

A master’s degree is the most commonly chosen next step after the completion of a bachelor’s degree. Master’s or postgraduate courses help you in gaining further specialization in your field as well as qualify for high paying jobs. Completing your master’s from an excellent university in a country like the USA can help you achieve the life and career you want to build. Read this comprehensive blog to know how you can pursue a Masters in US, what you need to get into USA’s top private as well as public universities and acquire world-class education.

Master’s Degree (MS) in the US

A master’s degree or MS, as it’s known in the USA, is the pathway for you to achieve your higher education in a field of your interest. Postgraduate programs refine your skills and make you qualified for high-paying job positions. Completing a master’s course in any field is also one of the first requirements for many roles in big corporations. Thus, MS in the US can be a good refinement of your skills. Postgraduate degrees are offered all over the USA in many institutes, and their durations are generally 2 years.

Scope of Studying Master’s (MS) in the USA

The US is a haven of quality education for students all over the world. In terms of MS, STEM courses are the most popular choice among students. The country holds pride in a variety of reasons that make it an ideal educational hub for international students:

Attractive scholarships

Being a country that invites tonnes of international students each year, universities in the USA offer several scholarships. These scholarships are generally based on merit or need and help students ease their financial burden. On average, $10,000 worth of scholarships is provided to a student annually.

World’s top universities

The USA houses universities that rank highly in world rankings. More than 150 universities in the USA belong to the highest world rankings created by ranking agencies worldwide. Rigorous and quality education is provided at these universities that create capable and talented graduates.

Diverse and exciting student life

With students flying in from all over the world, American universities constitute diverse ethnicities and cultures in their students. The standard of living in the US is very high. Thus, student life is exciting on-campus and off-campus as well.

Popular Master’s Degrees in the USA

The USA offers two kinds of MS degrees, academic and professional. Academic degrees focus on broad subjects similar to traditional degrees. Professional degrees, on the other hand, focus on technical training and vocational skills required for specialized job positions. Universities in the US offer a host of MS courses. There are specializations available in every field and a number of prestigious institutes to choose from. The following courses are the most popular for MS study in the US:

• Management Information Systems (MIS)
• Computer Science (Engineering)
• Electrical/Electronics/Telecommunications Engineering
• Financial Engineering
• Finance
• Engineering Management
• Data Science
• Biomedical engineering / Bioengineering
• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Marketing
• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering / Environmental Science
• Industrial Engineering
• Business Analytics
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering / Aeronautical Engineering

Entry Requirements

The requirements for MS programs across the United States differ from university to university and course to course. However, a general view of the requirements can be seen below:

• 3 to 4 years of bachelor’s degree
• 3.5 or higher GPA or equivalent to 87% in bachelor’s is preferred for admission
• GRE/GMAT scores should be in line with the eligibility criteria laid down by the university
• IELTS or TOEFL, or PTE scores. In the USA, high band scores are required for admission
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Research Internships or Published Research Papers are required
• Samples of project work and seminars
• 2 to 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Social & Leadership Activities

Documents Required

The following documents must be kept handy before filling out your application form:

• Certified transcripts of bachelor’s degree
• Photocopies of passport
• Class 10th certificate
• Class 12th certificate
• F-1 Student visa
• Bank statement
• Health proof
• Identity proof

Top Universities for Masters Courses in the USA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Popular MS courses offered: Aeronautics and Astronautics, Architecture, Materials Science and Engineering, Media Arts and Sciences, Executive MBA Program, Master of Finance, MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography / Applied Ocean Science and Engineering, Nuclear Science and Engineering, Political Science, Supply Chain Management, System Design and Management, Technology and Policy Program.

Average fees: Rs 38.1 Lakhs per year

Stanford University

Popular MS courses offered: Education Data Science (EDS), Individually Designed MA (for current Stanford doctoral students), International Comparative Education / International Education Policy Analysis (ICE/IEPA), Learning Design and Technology (LDT), Policy, Organization, and Leadership Studies (POLS), Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP), Curriculum and Teacher Education (CTE).

Average fees: Starting from Rs 17.9 Lakhs per year

Harvard University

Popular MS courses offered: Anthropology, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Celtic Languages and Literatures, Computational Science and Engineering, Data Science, Engineering and Applied Sciences, History of Science, South Asian Studies.

Average fees: Rs 40.3 Lakhs per year

Princeton University

Popular MS courses offered: Architecture, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chemistry, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Finance, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Near Eastern Studies, Operations Research and Financial Engineering.

Average fees: Rs 40.3 Lakhs per year

Cornell University

Popular MS courses offered: Animal Science, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Integrative Plant Science, Global Development, Landscape Architecture, Natural Resources, Applied Economics and Management, Applied Statistics, Global Development, Fiber Science & Apparel Design, Industrial and Labor Relations, Human Resources (Online), Industrial and Labor Relations (NYC), ​Information Science, Landscape Architecture, Real Estate, Veterinary Medical Sciences.

Average fees: Rs 43.3 Lakhs per year

Yale University

Popular MS courses offered: African American Studies, African Studies, American Studies, Anesthesiology, Anthropology, Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, Cell Biology, Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Comparative Literature, Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Medieval Studies, Microbial Pathogenesis, Microbiology.

Average fees: Rs 32.1 to 54.1 Lakhs per year

University of Chicago

Popular MS courses offered: Anthropology and Sociology of Religion, Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Committee on Theater and Performance Studies, Computational Neuroscience, Computer Science, Development, Digital Studies of Language, Econometrics and Statistics, English Language and Literature, Financial Mathematics, Geophysical Sciences.

Average fees: Rs 44 Lakhs per year

Columbia University

Popular MS courses offered: Actuarial Science, Applied Analytics, Bioethics, Construction Administration, Enterprise Risk Management, Human Capital Management, Information and Knowledge Strategy (IKNS), Insurance Management, Narrative Medicine, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Nonprofit Management, Sports Management, Strategic Communication, Sustainability Management, Sustainability Science, Technology Management, Wealth Management.

Average fees: Rs 34 Lakhs per year

University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)

Popular MS courses offered: Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Computer Graphics and Game Technology, Computer and Information Science, Computer and Information Technology (MCIT), Data Science, Electrical Engineering, Integrated Product Design, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Nanotechnology, Scientific Computing.

Average fees: Rs 39.5 to 53.7 Lakhs per year

California Institute of Technology

Popular MS courses offered: Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, Biology and Biological Engineering, Geological and Planetary Sciences, Engineering, and Applied Science.

Average fees: Rs 42.1 Lakhs per year

Scholarships & Funding for Masters in the USA

MS in the USA is a popular choice among international applicants. This leads to huge traffic of students going to America every year to pursue their higher education. To make the incoming students’ lives easier and reduce the financial load on their shoulders, universities and the US offer a wide array of scholarships and funding opportunities to their students. Some of the most popular ones are as follows:

• New York University Wagner Scholarship
• Fulbright Student Program
• Clark University Scholarships
• Next-Gen Scholarship
• Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship
• East Tennessee State University
• Iowa State University Scholarships
• University of Oregon Scholarships

Application Process

To apply for an MS program in the USA, the application process goes as follows:

• Research about the university and the course that suits your field of study.
• Keep the required documents handy before applying.
• Apply for the program of the university you’ve chosen through their online portal on their official website.
• Fill out the form and pay the required application fees.

Job Prospects

The USA offers attractive salary packages to its MS graduates all over the country. The average salary for an MS graduate in the USA stands around $74,000. With a plethora of jobs available in the country, the employment rates are high, as well as the pay packages. Pay scales for some of the most popular jobs for MS graduates in the USA are as follows:

• Accountant – $65,700
• Architect – $120,000
• Biomedical Engineer – $83,900
• Business Analyst – $125,000
• Civil Engineer – $88,700
• Financial Analyst – $126,000
• Graphic Designer – $61,400
• HR Officer – $60,200
• HR Manager – $148,000
• Mechanical Engineer – $86,500
• Project Manager – $124,000

Conclusion

Completing your master’s from an ivy league university in the United States of America can be an amazing option for you to boost your career growth. Along with studying, you can experience the standard of living in the USA as well as fetch scholarships to complete your degree without much financial burden on your shoulders. Talk to our counsellors to fulfil your Study abroad dream.