The USA is home to some of the top-ranking colleges that provide quality education to students across the globe. Here are the reasons for choosing USA for higher education.
Why choose US for higher education? The USA is known for providing quality education, multicultural environment, world-class facilities, and plethora of opportunities. All these reasons are why international students wish to pursue higher studies in the country. The aim of this article is to provide the reasons of choosing USA for higher education.
Why to Choose US for Higher Education?
The benefits of pursuing higher education in the USA are manifold. Shown below are the top reasons why students should choose USA for higher education:
- Top Ranking Universities
- A Flexible Educational System
- Excellent Student Support System
- Rich Cultural Diversity
- Vibrant Campus Life
- Availability of Financial Aid
- Post Study Work Permit in the USA
- Abundant Career Opportunities
- Personality Development
- Economic Sustainability
Top Ranking Universities
The US is home to many world-class universities, many of which have consistently rank high in international university rankings. With high academic standards and rigorous practices, American institutions offer excellent education to students around the world. According to QS Woekd Ranking 2019, 33 of the top global universities were from the USA. Five of the universities featured in the world's top 10 universities are located in the US, namely:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- Harvard University
- The University of Chicago
- California Institute of Technology
A Flexible Educational System
US universities offer an assortment of courses and programs to choose from. Students not only have the liberty to choose the content of the course, but also the structure. At the UG and PG level, students have the freedom to study different courses before they select their major at the end of the second year. This enables students to identify their subject interest and then take an infomed decision.
Excellent Student Support System
If you are still thinking why choose USA for higher education, here comes the next reason. American institutions understand the challenges faced by international students and therefore conduct orientation programs, training sessions, and workshops on a regular basis to support them. These universities also have an international student office that provides assistance to students for all type of queries.
Rich Cultural diversity
Another reason why choose US for higher education is cultural diversity. The US is a melting pot of different cultures, races and ethnicities. Its diverse environment ensures that there is acceptance among all communities and there is no room for any sort of discrimination.
You’ll be learning with students from different regions of the world thereby making it a rich and stimulating education experience. Growing in the midst of diversity will provide you with strong personality traits and skills that will be valuable in the international market.
These days employers prefer students with a multi-cultural background, which you would get a great taste of in the US. A one of a kind international exposure, the US will help you explore variety of cuisines, customs, festivals and art too.
Vibrant Campus Life
It’s a known fact that campus life of the US is matchless. Campus life offered in US universities is considered one of the best in the world. Students can make the most of their study abroad experience by joining their university’s student fraternities, sororities, sports and other interest-based clubs and societies.
Availability of Financial Aid
Universities in the US can be expensive to study in but there are county and state universities that receive government funding and offer reduced tuition for residents of the region. Students attending both public and private institutions remain eligible for federal aid in the form of grants or loans.
There are various scholarships awarded to Indian students to study in the USA. Apart from the concerned university, scholarship schemes granted by the Government, or sponsored by individual private, public or public-private organizations are also offered. Some of the renowned US scholarships are listed below:
- Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship
- Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship
- #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship
- AAUW International Fellowships
Post Study Work Permit in the USA
All students applying to study abroad hope to live and work in the country they graduate from and the US offers different types of student visas, of which the F1 student visa allows graduates to live and work in the US for a year after completing their degree. Students can apply for an Optional Practical Training (OPT) year, provided they work in a job directly related to their field of study.
STEM eligible degrees (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) provide students the opportunity to live and work in the US for an extra two years after completing their degree. Thus they get a total of three years in the US after completing their degree.
Abundant Career Opportunities
Next on the list of why choose US for higher education is career opportunities. Earning a degree from the US carries weightage and has the potential to expand your horizons, irrespective of where you decide to work after completing your studies. Even if you don’t plan to immigrate to the US, you will potentially develop the right professional and personal skills to make you a desired candidate amongst employers.
The USA pays high starting salaries to graduates who study from top US universities. Even if you study from a mid-level university, you’ll potentially earn over $50,000 provided you have the skills to get the right job. The average starting salary of STEM graduates is $66,123 while for other fields is $52,299.
Personality Development
Studying abroad will make you independent and confident. While your time in the USA, you have the opportunity of moving around different cities, meeting new people, taking part in activities that are held on your campus. These things have a major role in your personality development. It will give you an excellent vision for exploring the world and help your future for your career.
Economic Sustainability
Are you still wondering why choose US for higher education. Then, here comes the next benefit of studying in USA. The United States is a hub for leading multinational corporations. Moreover, the country’s economy continues to be one of the fastest-growing in the world. Therefore, completing a degree in America opens new avenues of economic sustainability for the graduates. Businesses and companies easily open their doors for U.S. degree holders and professionals.
