Given the sharp drop in Indian student enrollment in the USA recently, does it still make sense to study there?
Yes, but only for the right profile. Indian visa issuances have dropped sharply, yet STEM students at well ranked universities still see strong returns, with salaries between seventy thousand and one hundred forty thousand dollars and a three year OPT window. Non-STEM and financially stretched applicants should weigh safer options.
Your answer depends heavily on your field and your finances, not on the overall enrollment headlines. If you are a STEM admit at a solid university with funding in place, the US still delivers real returns, but if you are looking at a non-STEM course or a heavily loan-funded lower-tier college, you should think harder.
When The US Still Makes Sense
| Your Profile | Why It Still Works |
|---|---|
| STEM specialist | Up to 36 months of STEM OPT, three lottery attempts |
| High ROI candidate | Salaries of $70,000-$140,000 recover loans in 2-3 years |
| Top-tier admit | Purdue, Georgia Tech, UIUC pedigree valued even back home |
When You Should Reconsider
- Non-STEM and liberal arts majors get only twelve months of OPT, which is rarely enough given current sponsorship backlogs and hiring caution.
- If permanent residency is your main goal, new rules capping stays and shortening grace periods make the US a harder long-term bet.
- If you would need a very large loan for a lower-ranked, non-elite university, Germany or France offer low tuition and a friendlier policy climate right now.
My Advice
Ask yourself honestly whether your admit is STEM classified and whether your target university sits in the top fifty, because that combination is still your safest bet for the US. If either answer is no, spend a week comparing your offer against a German or French public university before you commit to the higher US cost.
Low percentage, study gap or no work experience?
Find out which US universities you still qualify for.
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