Discover Top PG Courses in USA

The USA is one of the most-coveted higher education destinations for Indians. India surpassed China in 2022-23, becoming the biggest source of international graduate students in the USA since 2009-10. The total student volume increased by 35%, touching a record figure of 2,68,923 candidates in this period. 

If you are thinking of pursuing PG courses in USA, here is a brief guide on the key aspects that you should know more about. 

Why Pursue Postgraduation in USA

Here are some of the top reasons to pursue postgraduate courses in USA. 

• Large Community of Indian Students-The number of Indian graduate students in the USA went up exponentially in 2022-23. It increased by 63% to stand at 1,65,936 candidates, which was 64,000 more than the previous year.  Hence, you can always be assured of a growing Indian postgraduate community across the country. 
• Variety of Options- Pursuing a PG in USA is not difficult even for those with the most varied of educational and professional interests. There are 1,000+ universities in the country offering graduate degrees. This automatically gives you more options to consider. 
• Vibrant Student Life- On-campus lifestyles in USA are exciting and vibrant. You will find several social clubs and communities that suit your interests along with fraternities, sororities, and sports teams. There’s always something happening on campus across the USA and it will add a new dimension to your educational journey in the country. 
• Attractive Salaries- After completing your graduate program, if you aspire to work in the USA, then there’s good news for you. According to Payscale, the average yearly base salary for graduates in the country stands at $83,000. 
• Top Universities- It is a widely known fact that the USA is home to some of the world’s best universities. You will find PG courses from several reputed institutions that are famous for their academic and research infrastructure, world-class faculty, and more. If the QS World University Rankings for 2024 are taken into account, then the country has 13 universities in the top-30 listings alone. MIT leads at number 1, followed by Harvard University and Stanford University at numbers 4 and 5 respectively. 

Now that you know some of the reasons to pursue a postgraduate course in the USA, it is time to look at some of the qualification types available. 

Types of Postgraduate Qualifications in USA

Here are the main types of postgraduate qualifications in the USA: 

Master’s Degrees- 

They offer specialized knowledge and experience in comparison to bachelor’s degrees. These courses are usually two years in length and may lead to a PhD. There are some terminal master’s courses available too, which are almost like regular master’s programs awarded to graduate students. In this case, they complete a specific amount of coursework, but do not eventually opt for doctoral degrees afterwards. Some examples include LLM, MSc, MA and others which do not lead to a PhD at their respective institutions. 

Professional Master’s Courses- 

These are ideal for those looking for more career-oriented and application-based learning. Some of the options include MArch, MEd, MBA or executive MBA, MFA, MPP/MPA, MPH, and MSW. Some courses like the Executive MBA or MEd may require a year, while others may take two years. 

PhD- 

These doctoral programs usually require 4-6 years for completion. Many students directly apply for PhD programs after completing their bachelor’s degree and have to take taught classes in their first couple of years. Some apply after completing their master’s degrees. In this case, if credit transfers are enabled, then aspirants may not have to undertake the full volume of classes in the first couple of years. 

Postgraduate Diploma- 

There are several PG diploma courses in USA that have tenures of around one year. They cover several technical and vocational disciplines in many cases. 

Top Postgraduate Courses in USA

Here are some of the top options for PG courses in USA: 

There are several other choices that are available for candidates across different degrees and pathways. 

Top PG Diploma Courses in USA

There are numerous PG diploma programs that you can also apply for in the country. Some of them include the following: 

Read More: One Year MS Programs in US

Admission Requirements

It is worth noting that admission requirements for PG courses in USA may vary, depending upon the institution and course. In most cases, these are the usual requirements. 

• Completion of a bachelor’s program 
• A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75-3.0 in some cases
• Scores in standardized tests like the GMAT or GRE for some institutions and courses 
• Some master’s courses may also require specific courses/bachelor’s degrees to be completed
• Statement of Academic Purpose or Essay
• Letter of Recommendation 
• Proof of English language proficiency 
• Resume 

Some institutions may ask you to go through an admissions interview along with requiring an international transcript evaluation via WES (World Education Services). Supplemental essays may also be necessary at times. 

Cost of Studying

The cost of studying PG courses may vary in USA, depending on the course, duration, institution, and other factors. Here is an average estimate of what you can expect. 

Jobs and Salaries

There are several job opportunities available after completing a postgraduate course in the USA. Here are some of the job positions and their annual average salaries after postgraduation according to Payscale. 

Discover More:

• Jobs in MBA
• MBA Salary in USA
• Salary After MS in USA

Conclusion 

As you can see, there are numerous PG courses in USA that you can choose from. Choose your preferred course and then narrow down a list of institutions after checking their eligibility requirements. Apply online following the procedure and complete all the formalities before the deadline. Here’s to a wonderful educational journey ahead in the USA.

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