STEM Courses in USA for Indian Students: 2027 List, Top Universities, Fees and STEM OPT

What Counts as STEM Courses in USA: The DHS CIP Code Test

STEM courses in USA are programs whose Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code appears on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) STEM Designated Degree Program List. The course name does not decide STEM status. The code does.

• Core STEM series: Engineering (14), Biological and Biomedical Sciences (26), Mathematics and Statistics (27) and Physical Sciences (40) qualify automatically.
• Related fields: Selected codes in computing, data science, agriculture, psychology and management science.
• Last update: 22 July 2024. DHS adds codes periodically; see our note on new STEM fields added for OPT.

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How to check if a course is STEM designated:

1. Ask the university for the program's 6-digit CIP code, or find it on the program page.
2. After your admit, check the "Program of Study" box on page 1 of your Form I-20.
3. Match the code against the DHS STEM list PDF.
4. If the code is missing, ask the international student office in writing before paying your deposit.

Source: DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List

Counselor insight: Same title, different code. An MS Finance coded 52.0801 (Finance, General) does not qualify; an MS Financial Engineering coded 27.0305 does. 

Benefits of STEM Courses in USA for International Students: OPT, STEM OPT and H-1B

The biggest benefit of STEM courses in USA for international students is work time after graduation.

• OPT: 12 months of post-completion work authorisation.
• STEM OPT extension: 24 more months, for up to 36 months in total, with an E-Verify employer.
• Filing window: Up to 90 days before your program ends and no later than 60 days after.
• Unemployment cap: 90 days on OPT and 150 days across OPT plus STEM OPT.
• Pay: The US median wage for software developers is $135,980 (₹1.30 crore), based on BLS 2025 data. 

In the latest Open Doors data (2024/25), 57% of international students in the US studied STEM fields, and India sent 363,019 students, the most of any country. For the route from OPT to longer-term status, read about post-study work visa options in the USA.

Sources: USCIS: OPT for F-1 Students, SEVIS Help Hub: Unemployment Counter, Open Doors 2025, O*NET wages (BLS 2025)

Currency Conversion Note: All costs above use $1 = ₹95.71 as of September 2026. Verify the live rate before finalizing your budget.

Counselor insight: The 36-month window can give you up to three H-1B lottery attempts. Students who spend Year 1 of OPT only job-hunting lose one of them.

STEM Courses in USA List: Degrees, Majors and CIP Codes

Use this STEM courses in USA list as a quick STEM degree list in USA; every code appears on the DHS list.

These STEM majors in USA exist at bachelor's and master's level, and STEM OPT applies after either. If you are shortlisting STEM courses in USA for masters, many STEM masters degrees in USA also come in 1-year formats; compare them in our guide to one-year master's programs in USA. For the most popular option, see MS in Computer Science in USA.

Source: Study in the States: Eligible CIP Codes

Counselor insight: If CS admits look out of reach, the list of STEM masters courses in USA also includes Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management. These STEM masters in USA carry the same STEM OPT benefit.

STEM MBA, Commerce and MPH Routes in STEM Courses in USA

1. STEM MBA programs in USA: A standard MBA (52.0201) is not STEM. STEM MBA universities in USA use a STEM code, most commonly 52.1301 (Management Science).

• Full program: Kellogg designates its full-time MBA as STEM for all graduates.
• Major only: Wharton grants STEM OPT eligibility only for its STEM-designated majors or concentrations.
• School-by-school detail: STEM MBA in USA for Indian students.

2. STEM courses in USA for commerce students: BCom and BBA graduates with strong maths can target MS Business Analytics (30.7102), Actuarial Science (52.1304), Business Statistics (52.1302), or quantitative economics (45.0603). A general MS Finance or MS Marketing is usually non-STEM. 

3. MPH STEM universities in USA: Public Health, General (51.2201) is not STEM. Epidemiology (26.1309), Biostatistics (26.1102), and Environmental Health (51.2202) are. Johns Hopkins lists its full-time, on-campus MPH as STEM-designated.

Counselor insight: At track-based schools, map your STEM major credits in Semester 1 so Year 2 electives do not pull you off the STEM track.

Top STEM Universities in USA: QS World University Rankings 2027

QS 2027 ranks 184 US universities, and MIT is the top STEM university in USA and first worldwide. The table covers the top 10 STEM universities in USA in QS order. 

For a longer list of STEM universities in USA, such as the top 20, top 50 or top 100 STEM universities in USA, filter the QS 2027 table by country, then check QS subject rankings for your major.

Source: QS: US Performance in the World University Rankings 2027

Counselor insight: Public universities outside the top 20 often offer lower tuition with the same 36-month STEM OPT runway. Start with our list of the cheapest universities in USA for masters and build across three rank bands.

STEM Programs in USA Requirements for Indian Students

Eligibility for STEM courses in USA depends on your study level.

Bachelor's route (after Class 12):

• Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCB for life sciences) in Class 12.
• SAT/ACT policy varies; MIT requires the SAT or ACT. Check colleges accepting SAT scores.

Master's route:

• US graduate schools generally expect 16 years of education.
• 3-year Indian degrees: UConn does not accept them as equivalent; Syracuse accepts selected ones earned in Division I from a NAAC "A" or higher institution.
• GPA, GRE and English test (TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo) policies are set per program. 

See what our counselors say about the bank balance needed for a US student visa. For the visa steps, follow our guide on how to apply for an F-1 visa.

Counselor insight: Indian registrar timelines for sealed transcripts vary widely, so request them in September 2026.

Cost of STEM Courses in USA in INR (2026-27) and Funding Options

Tuition and Living Costs for STEM Courses in USA

Public universities keep tuition closer to Purdue's range. See what our counselors say about ₹20 to ₹30 lakh tuition at US public universities. To add rent, flights and a second year, use our MS cost in USA for Indian students breakdown.

Counselor insight: Purdue's figure excludes some engineering and computing program differentials, so price your exact department.

Pre-Departure Fees

These are paid before you fly, so budget them alongside your deposit. Our guide to US visa fees for Indians explains when each is paid and how long the visa stays valid.

Currency Conversion Note: All costs above use $1 = ₹95.71 as of September 2026. Verify the live rate before finalizing your budget.

Funding Options for STEM Courses in USA

• University funding: Merit scholarships and teaching or research assistantships.
• Education loans: Most Indian families combine savings with a loan. Compare the best education loans in India for study abroad.
• Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships (USIEF): These require a 4-year degree (or a master's or PG diploma after a 3-year degree) and three years of work experience. They fund study on a J-1 visa, so F-1 OPT rules do not apply.
• Undergraduate aid: Read expert answers on scholarships for middle-class students in the US.

Sources: MIT Student Financial Services, Stanford Student Services, Purdue Bursar, Boston University ISSO, USIEF: Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships

STEM Courses in USA 2026-27: Policy Changes Indian Students Must Track

Currency Conversion Note: Fee amounts use $1 = ₹95.71.

Official sources: Yale OISS: Duration of Status, RIN 1653-AA97, Federal Register: Fee for Certain H-1B Petitions, USCIS: H-1B, CUPA-HR: $100,000 fee ruling, Manifest Law: OPT fee review

Counselor insight: None of these changes removes STEM OPT today. The real risk is cost and timing, so keep a plan B, such as a cap-exempt university employer.

Choosing STEM Courses in USA: Decision Framework for Indian Students

• If you are a Class 12 PCM student writing boards in February-March 2027: Target a STEM bachelor's in CS, engineering or data science, and check each college's SAT/ACT policy now.
• If you are a final-year BTech student graduating May 2027: Apply for Fall 2027 STEM degrees in USA such as an MS in CS, data science or ECE. Your 4-year degree meets the 16-year norm.
• If you are a BCom or BBA graduate: Target MS Business Analytics, Actuarial Science, or a STEM MBA after work experience. Check the 3-year degree policy first. Read expert answers on master's options for commerce graduates in the USA, or compare an MBA in USA without work experience.
• If you are a working professional with 3 to 5 years of experience: A 1-year STEM MS or a full-program STEM MBA gives the fastest return; Fulbright-Nehru is also open to you.

STEM Courses in USA Application Calendar for Fall 2027

For intake-wise deadlines, see Fall admissions in USA.

When STEM Course Plans in USA Go Wrong

1. Your I-20 shows a non-STEM CIP code: Ask the department whether a STEM concentration or track exists within the same program. If it does not, decide before the add/drop deadline whether to switch programs, because the code on your I-20 decides your STEM OPT eligibility.
2. Your 3-year degree is rejected: Shortlist universities that publish a clear 3-year degree policy, such as Syracuse. If your target schools insist on 16 years, a 1-year PG diploma or the first year of an Indian master's can close the gap.
3. Your final-year results are delayed: Email admissions before the deadline. Most universities accept a provisional certificate or a college letter confirming expected completion, with the final marksheet sent later.
4. Your F-1 visa is refused under 214(b):  Fix the reason before reapplying: usually weak ties to India or unclear funding. See what our counselors say about a second US visa attempt.
5. You are close to missing the OPT filing window: You can file up to 90 days before your program ends and no later than 60 days after. Get your DSO recommendation early in your final semester.
6. Your OPT job search runs long: Track your unemployment days in the SEVP Portal. The 150-day cap covers OPT and STEM OPT combined.

Counselor insight: The costliest mistakes happen before arrival, not after. Confirm the CIP code and your degree's eligibility in writing before you pay any deposit.

3 Key Takeaways on STEM Courses in USA

• Confirm the CIP code of every shortlisted STEM course in USA against the DHS list before you pay a deposit.
• Match your background to the right route: BTech to MS, BCom to Business Analytics or STEM MBA, 3-year degree to universities that accept it.
• Start Fall 2027 applications this September, and track the D/S case, OPT rule and H-1B fee proposals.

Verified by: LeapScholar's USA counselling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian students through US STEM admissions, F-1 visas and OPT planning.

Have questions about STEM courses in USA? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.

Frequently Asked Questions About STEM Courses in USA