Masters (MS) in USA: Colleges, Courses, Deadlines, Eligibility & Fees
MS in USA (or Masters in USA) is a 2-year degree program which is offered in around 70% of US universities. MS in US primarily includes STEM courses programs. International students planning for an MS, popularly opt for courses like MS in Business and Management, MS in IT, MS in Computer Science, etc. International students willing to apply to for admission to Masters in USA in 2022 need 16 years of education, along with an average GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 (80%) scale and above.
Tuition fees for MS in USA can range from USD 25,000 to USD 63,000 (~20.52 lakhs to 51.74 lakhs INR) based on the choice of university and specialization. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary after an MS in the United States is USD 71,330. In comparison to the average for all occupations, the BLS predicts that employment of workers with a Master’s degree will increase by nearly 9% between 2020 and 2030.
Top Universities for MS in USA by Acceptance Rate
Approximately 95% of universities in USA offer MS courses to prospective students. Many people wish to gain admission to MS universities in USA such as Stanford University, Harvard University, Yale, and other Ivy League institutions. All of these top USA universities have a low acceptance rate. The average acceptance rate for MS in USA is less than 6% at the majority of top universities.
Why Study MS in USA?
There are over 2 million MS in USA courses to choose from, an option of earning through the work-study program, stay back permit post MS in USA, research opportunities along with merit-based scholarships to support education are some of the benefits that can be availed by international students in USA while pursuing a graduate degree. Some other benefits of pursuing MS in USA are:
STEM courses in USA are widely opted by students, because, it is in demand in USA and it gives students a 24-month work visa extension post MS in USA.
The USA government invests 476,452 million USD on research and development, which is 2.7% of its total GDP. Thus, pursuing an MS in USA betters the chances for research and funding it.
Post MS in USA there is scope for research, where students can apply for a Teaching Assistantship (TA) or Research Assistantship (RA).
Students can earn 500 USD to 1,200 USD monthly if they work part-time as a TA.
While research assistants can earn up to 1,500 USD as a stipend every month.
Course curriculums are divided into pre-requisites, core areas and electives for any MS in USA course. Thus, it increases the scope for pursuing research-based MS in USA by more than 30%.
Average scholarship offered is 10,000 USD for one year to students pursuing an MS in USA .
Masters in USA Requirements
Admission requirements for a Masters in USA vary depending on the university and program, but generally the eligibility for MS in USA include the following:
3 to 4 years bachelor’s degree in relevant field
3.5 or higher GPA, equivalent to 87% in bachelor
GRE score of 330 or above
Statement of Purpose
Research Internships/ Published Research Papers
Project work/Seminars
2-3 Letter of Recommendation
Social & Leadership Activities.
Test Scores Required for Admission in Masters in USA
Various standardized test scores are required from the applicants along with their applications. For pursuing Masters in USA, students are required to submit standardized test scores, depending upon the choice of course. These test scores are required from the applicants to understand their aptitude and judge them academically only. In some of the universities, their submission is a mere formality.
GRE/GMAT Waiver for MS in USA Admissions
Applicants applying for any MS in USA can request for a GRE/GMAT waiver. In turn, applicants must prove their skills in terms of analysis, applying reasoning skills, command over English, quantitative aptitude, etc.
Only 5 out of top 12 B-Schools have a prerequisite for GMAT/GRE waiver.
GMAT is waived usually for online Management courses only, and not for courses offered on campus.
Less than 14% of students submitted the GMAT score compared to 23% of GRE score submissions.
GRE is waived by more than 70% of the US universities, willing to pursue an MS in USA. But they must have exceptional research and professional experience.
Some universities offering MS in USA admit students without these scores also. They believe that scores cannot define an applicant’s overall academic performance. The universities are mentioned below:
University of Phoenix
Kansas State University
Virginia State UniversityVirginia State University
Boston University
Cost of Living in USA
Mentioned are the factors considered for expenditure in daily-life. The average expense range of students in the USA is:
Accommodation: 75,000 – 1.50 lakhs INR (Monthly)
Meals: 2,000 – 3,000 INR (one-meal)
Transportation: 7,000 – 22,000 INR (Monthly)
Personal Expenses: 22,000 – 45,000 INR (Monthly)
Health Insurance: 34,000 – 54,000 INR (Monthly)
MS in USA with Scholarships
Higher education in USA is by no means inexpensive, and international applicants should be able to finance their education to be allowed entry to the states. International scholarships are one of the best ways to save your earnings, be it in the form of tuition waivers, study grants, living stipends, etc. One of the most famous scholarships provided to students in different domains is the Fulbright scholarship.
Apart from the above-given options, there are numerous offer waiting for you around the world by various international organizations. Aspirants may benefit from this aid for tuition fees and living allowance.
Top Placement Universities for MS in USA
MS students are intimidated about various jobs to be taken up after 3 or 5 weeks of their admission. Jobs can be availed through either the university partnerships with various companies or on-campus employment. Employment options can be explored via LinkedIn or Indeed in the US. Seeking employment can be easier through annual job fairs as well. The average salary post-Masters in USA for students can go up to 74,000 USD.
Around 1.6 million international students are given a visa in the USA, to stay back post MS in USA in any of the STEM courses. There are 9 major fields of MS in USA, which are further divided into 781 specializations. The wide range of specializations, graduate employability rankings, and technically advanced curriculums is what make the graduate schools in USA stand out across the globe.
