The top courses Indian students apply for in the United States are Computer Science, Business Administration and Management, Information Sciences, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Most students applying for computer science in the US are allured towards working in Silicon Valley in California as it is a hub of technological innovation and entrepreneurship.
The employment laws in the US also present a lucrative opportunity for Indian students to pursue their education there and gain working experience. Laws such as Optional Practical Training (OPT) allow students to work up to 1 year in their field of study after completing their course. Curricular Practical Training (CPT) lets students work off-campus as part of their curriculum.
In this blog post, we are going to list down the top 20 universities in the USA to fulfill their study abroad dreams.
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
It is a private institute that was established in 1861, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,567 with an acceptance rate of 4%. It is ranked as number 1 in QS World University Rankings, 2024. The most popular courses at this university are Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, Electricals and Electronics Engineering, Econometrics and Quantitative Econometrics. There are 5 schools divided into 30 departments. Although the institute mainly offers STEM subjects, there are humanities, social sciences, and interdisciplinary programs as well.
One of its iconic courses is called ‘Product Engineering Process’ which provides a medium for students to design, invent, and collaborate with others to create a team-based product development experience within a budget. Their Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), gives the students a scope to collaborate with the faculty of MIT on research. Another program called the Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP) provides second-year students a year-long training to hone their professional skills. There are many such experiential learning programs at MIT.
For admission to MIT, you have to take the SAT or the ACT. You have to take an English proficiency test such as IELTS (International English Language Testing System), Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic, TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), etc. MIT requires you to score minimum grades as decided by them in their English proficiency test. MIT does not require a long easy-type course SOP, but it does ask short response questions so that they get to know their potential students better. They want honest, open, and authentic answers to these questions, so do not try to give generic answers.
2. Stanford University
It was founded 150 years ago in 1885. It is located in California’s Bay Area. It is comprised of 7 schools some of which are highly ranked for their graduate-level studies. International students compose 8% of its undergraduate student body and 30% of its graduate student body. Stanford is ranked 3rd in the best global universities. It offers courses across all the streams such as business, engineering, law, medicine, economics, management, etc.
Stanford has a multidisciplinary approach. Students are encouraged to benefit from other programs. It also offers mini-courses of three weeks, this approach is different from other institutes. As the university’s campus is remote, students can fully concentrate on their academic life without being distracted by the outside world. The university promotes values such as leadership, innovation, and creativity which has led to the production of some of the most well-known people in the world such as Mukesh Ambani, Larry Page, Sunder Pichai, Rishi Sunak, and many more.
Stanford requires the students to fill out a Common Application. In this, some short essay questions will be asked as prompts for you to tell the university about yourself. These prompts would be about your overall academic and non-academic experiences, your imagination of your future roommate, and a description of certain aspects of your life that distinguished you from others. The answer to these questions demonstrates that the university admissions officials know more about your personality than your academic background, so be sure to leave a lasting impression.
3. Harvard University
Harvard University might be the most recognized and heard university in the world with a world ranking of 4. Did you know that this is also the oldest university in the USA? Founded in 1636, Harvard University is known for its reputation, influence, and academic lineage. Located in Cambridge Massachusetts, it comprises 10 academic schools with the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, two theaters, and five museums. It has also the largest academic library system in the world.
It provides a variety of courses such as business and management, architecture and planning, design, engineering, humanities and social sciences, law, medicine and health sciences, teaching and evaluation, animation, etc. Harvard has an impressive list of alumni such as eight US presidents, several foreign heads of state, 62 living billionaires, 359 Rhodes Scholars, and 242 Marshall Scholars. One of the unique aspects of Harvard is that its faculty is world-renowned, some of them being Nobel laureates and Pulitzer prize-winning authors. There are engagement activities for students with faculties such as First-Year Faculty Dinner, Faculty Luncheon series, etc.
Harvard takes admission through both Common Application and Coalition Application powered by Scoir, which has no particular preference for one. This is followed by certain supplements to gather insights about the students. In the university application you would be asked about your general profile such as your name, and your citizenship; your family backgrounds such as your household, parents, and siblings; your education such as gaps, grades, and courses taking currently or would take in the future, awards or achievements you have received, plans and career interests; scores of standardized tests; extra-curricular activities involved in previously or planning be to part of; lastly, you have to write a personal essay for which some topics would be given as prompts such as your background, identity, interest or talents; challenges you faced in your life, a time when you challenged a belief/idea, etc; school-specific questions; and lastly writing supplement in which requires answering 5 short questions within 150 words, the questions are: how you would contribute to Harvard, a time when you strongly disagreed with someone, your extracurricular activities, employment experience, travel, or family responsibilities that have shaped who you are, your use of Harvard education in future, and 3 things your roommate should know about you.
4. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
It is another private institute that is a favorite among Indian students. Ranked at number 6, located in Pasadena, California, it was founded in 1891. The institute mainly focuses on science and engineering. It has 5 NASA facilities on campus, has produced 45 Nobel laureates, and constitutes more than 50 research centers and institutes.
One of the most admired Caltech traditions is dinner is served by student waiters. This institute is known for its significant scientific research and receives grants from NASA, the National Science Foundation the Department of Health and Human Services, and many more 90% of its students participate in these researches during their course duration. Caltech alumni have founded many renowned companies such as Intel, Compaq, and Hotmail.
For admissions, Caltech requires mastery of mathematics including calculus, physics, chemistry, English, and biology (recommended); SAT or ACT scores. English Proficiency Exam scores are required of all international applicants unless 1) your native language is English or 2) English is the primary language of instruction in your secondary school. Caltech accepts Duolingo English Test (DET), IELTS, or the TOEFL. In addition, as with other universities, you would also be asked for a supplementary application essay asking about your area of interest, past experiences, your innovation or achievements, and some of the values in your life. There would be some optional short answer questions as well such as aspects of your social and personal identity, your hobbies or joys in life, and academic challenges you might have faced. For graduate admissions, you have to upload a CV/resume in addition to other documents.
5. University of Chicago
Founded in 1890, with a QS World Ranking of 21. Some of its prominent schools are Booth School of Business, Law School, Pritzker School of Medicine, and Harris School of Public Policy. The most popular majors are Social Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Computer, and Information Sciences and Support Services.
Each school and division in the University of Chicago has its application. You have to submit your English proficiency test scores, they only accept TOEFL or IELTS Score Reports. You also have to meet their GPA and SAT/ACT requirements. The writing essay section with SAT/ACT is optional for the University of Chicago which may choose not to include it in their admissions process.
6. The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
UPenn is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it was founded in 1740. Ranked 11th in the world, it was founded by Benjamin Franklin. It has 12 schools, out of which 5 offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees while 7 offer only graduate programs. Wharton School, School of Education, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Law School, and School of Medicine are some of its high-ranked schools. More than 25,000 UPenn students participate in its study abroad program in around 50 countries. The singer John Legend, poet William Carlos Williams, and Former US President Donald Trump are its notable alumni. Its most popular courses are Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Social Sciences, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Engineering, and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services.
The application to UPenn will ask you certain questions such as autobiographical information about you and your family, how you spend your time in school or outside school (for undergraduate studies), your accomplishments, and a personal essay. There would be short answer prompt questions for essay writing such as writing a thank you note to someone you have not thanked yet, how will you explore Penn, and a school-specific prompt unique to the school you are applying to. In addition to these, you have to submit your high school transcripts or GRE test scores (for PhD), letters of recommendation, as well as scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Pearson’s PTE Academic, or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
7. Princeton University
Princeton University is a privately owned institution located in Princeton, New Jersey. When it was founded in 1746, its name was the College of New Jersey. It is the 4th oldest university in the USA. It is recognized for its high academic caliber, selectivity in admissions, and social stature. Former US Presidents James Madison and Woodrow Wilson have graduated from here. Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs of this university is known for its tradition of making government officials. The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory is one of the premier research centers on nuclear fusion, while The Princeton University Art Museum has an immense collection.
The application process is the same as with other universities in the US. In addition to the questions asked in the Common/Coalition Application, you have to submit answers to Princeton-specific questions through the application website. Students have to submit a graded written paper preferably in English or History, it could be an essay, research paper, or essay exam. And English proficiency test scores for non-native English speakers/ applicants who did not attend an English medium school.
8. Yale University
Located in New Haven, Connecticut, and founded in 1701, it is the third oldest university in the US. It is named after a wealthy British merchant and philanthropist, Elihu Yale, who donated to the university considerably. It is ranked 23rd position in the QS World Ranking, 2024-25. This university is known for its music and drama programs, Yale Whiffenpoofs is a famous acapella student group out of these programs as well as the Yale Dramatic Association. It is made up of the College, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and 13 professional schools. Some popular courses taken by students are African American Studies, Psychology, and Economics.
22% of the student body of Yale University are international students and the admission process is the same as other universities. As with other US universities, Yale also requires its applicants to write personal essays to showcase a student’s character. These essays often give a broad scope for an applicant to play with his life’s story and describe certain important aspects of their life other than academic interests. Therefore, you must convey your thoughts in these essays as they are an important part of your application evaluation.
9. Cornell University
Founded in 1865, Cornell has more than 1000 student organizations on campus in Ithaca, New York. Its rank in the world is 16th. Each undergraduate school and college admits their students with their faculty. College of Veterinary Medicine and the highly esteemed School of Hotel Administration are its highly esteemed schools. Dragon Day is celebrated annually in Cornell, where first-year architecture students build a dragon and parade it through campus. Cornell has a lineage of exemplary alumni such as U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, author E.B. White and Bill Nye, the ‘Science Guy’ and many more.
As mentioned earlier, each school and college has its specific requirements at the time of admission in addition to the common/coalition application and writing supplements. For example, architecture, landscape architecture, and art require additional portfolio, design, and environment analysis, fashion design and merchandising require a design supplement, music requires an optional musical recording supplement for applicants who believe that their musical abilities will enhance their application. Tata Scholarship for Students from India provides financial aid to 20 scholars of USD 25 million to Cornell undergraduate students from India. This scholarship gives preference to students admitted to the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, College of Engineering, Applied Economics and Management major in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, and majors across colleges in the biological sciences, physical sciences, and other sciences, as well as the social sciences.
A Graduate student applying for a Master’s/PhD has to write an Academic Statement of Purpose (SOP), in which the student has to provide information regarding their academic background, what sets them apart, communication style, and ability. In addition to ASOP, a personal statement is also required. This personal statement will tell the admissions committee about personal insights into your life, such as a time when you showed resilience, the gaps/weaknesses in your academic records, etc. Other than these transcriptions English Language Proficiency also needs to be provided.
10. Colombia University
Colombia University is located in New York having three undergraduate schools Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the School of General Studies and graduate and professional schools including the prestigious Business School, Law School, and College of Physicians and Surgeons. Its QS World Ranking 2025 is 34. Some of its distinguished alumni are John Jay, the founding father of the USA and first Supreme Court chief justice, and former President Barack Obama.
You are required to take English language proficiency exams in addition to your application, transcripts, and personal statement (for graduates), such as TOEFL iBT – including TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS Academic, PTE Academic test, or Duolingo English Test, if you have earned your undergraduate degree from countries other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, and the United States of America.
11. Johns Hopkins University (JHU)
It is a private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1876, it was named after its first benefactor Johns Hopkins who was an American entrepreneur, abolitionist, and philanthropist. This university invests more money in research than any other US academic institution. It was also the first US institution to integrate teaching and research. Its campuses spawn from Maryland, Washington, DC, Italy, China, and Singapore. It has more than 260 programs in arts and music, humanities, social and natural sciences, engineering, international studies, education, business, and the health professions.
Its high-ranked programs come from the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the School of Education, the Whiting School of Engineering, the School of Medicine, and the Peabody Institute for Music and Dance. Its hospital–Johns Hopkins Hospital is a world-renowned hospital with super-specialty facilities. The application process is the same as across all the US universities.
12. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
The University of Michigan was founded even before Michigan became a state in 1817. Its campus moved from Detroit to Ann Arbor in 1837. It offers courses in programs ranging from humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) as well as professional degrees in architecture, business, medicine, law, pharmacy, nursing, social work, public health, and dentistry. It has one of the largest alumni bases in the world which constitutes more than half a million people. It is a public institution with a QS world ranking of 44. The top majors chosen by students in this university are Computer and Information Science, Business Administration and Management, Economics, Behavioral Neuroscience, and Experimental Psychology.
The application process is the same as other universities except some schools and colleges need additional requirements. For example, the Ross School of Business will require you to add a portfolio in which you would be required to discuss a business case and upload an artifact that represents you, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design requires a portfolio of 12-15 best works of a student and 50% of admission is based on this portfolio, School of Music, Theatre & Dance requires you to submit an artistic profile.
13. University of California, Berkley (UCB)
The University of California has ten research universities under its flagship, one of which is UC, Berkeley. It is a public research university founded in 1868. It is home to the renowned Mathematical Sciences Research Institute and the Space Sciences Laboratory. Berkeley has some renowned faculty and alumni such as J. R. Oppenheimer who led the Manhattan Project to create the first atomic bomb and Nobel laureate Ernest Lawrence invented the cyclotron, which helped researchers discover 16 chemical elements of the periodic table. It’s campus is located overlooking the San Fransisco Bay. Some of the highly ranked schools of UCB are the Haas School of Business, Graduate School of Education, College of Engineering, and School of Law.
For admission as a first-year student at UCB, you need to complete at least 15 college preparatory courses with a minimum Grade of C and a grade point of a minimum 3.4 GPA. For students who do not meet these criteria, the personal insight questions are their chance to secure a seat. There would be 8 questions out of which 4 need to be answered within the 350-word limit, mainly asked to know about your personality, not your academic background. Specifically Indian students, need to complete both 10th and 12th board examinations by earning 70% or above marks. Graduate international students have to submit English proficiency test scores, an SOP, and a Personal History statement, along with any other essays the program they are applying to requires.
14. Northwestern University
Northwestern University has two campuses in the US, one in Evanston, Lake Michigan, and the other one in Chicago. Another campus is located in Doha, Qatar. Ranked at 50th position in the world, it is recognized for its educational programs. International students constitute more than 4,300 seats among 8,000 full-time undergraduate and 13,000 graduate and professional students. The university is comprised of 12 schools and colleges, among which the Kellogg School of Management, the School of Education and Social Policy, the Pritzker School of Law, the Feinberg School of Medicine, the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program are highly-ranked. It was founded in 1851.
If an Indian student wishes to apply for this university, it is recommended that you fulfill the English language requirement beforehand. Students will require two LOR, one from your high school counselor and the other from one of your teachers. You would be asked to write a personal statement to know more about your personal experiences. If you are a transfer student, then you have to answer why you are transferring to Northwestern University. You have to provide an activity chart where you will be explaining your activities outside your high school. Certain schools or colleges may require additional materials, therefore it is advised to go through all the documents/requirements of the school you are applying to.
15. New York University (NYU)
New York University is ranked 43rd in the world, located as the name suggests in Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York City. Some of its notable alumni are Alec Baldwin, pop star Lady Gaga, the greatly admired playwright Tony Kushner, and many more. It is a private university founded in 1831. Additional campuses were opened in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and Shanghai in 2010 and 2013 respectively. NYU has more international students than any other American university. It offers courses in a variety of fields including arts and sciences, business, engineering, law, nursing, and more across its 18 schools and colleges. For NYU students who are studying abroad, there are many academic centers such as in Berlin; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Tel Aviv, Israel. Dean’s Undergraduate Research Fund provides grants to students who are pursuing research projects.
For undergraduate admission to NYU, the students would require a complete common application including an application essay, high school transcript, a Self Reported Academic Record (SRAR), one or two teacher LOR, proof of English proficiency, portfolios or audition tapes required by certain schools, and proof of financial status. For graduate admission, you would require a Bachelor’s degree, standardized test scores such as GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT, Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement/Personal Essay, LOR, English language Test, and CV/Resume.
16. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
Carnegie Mellon University is a research university offering programs across engineering, computer science, robotics, and business to public policy, fine arts, science, and the humanities. It was founded in 1900 by its founder Andrew Carnegie who was an industrialist and philanthropist and has seven schools and colleges. Its main campus is located in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania with satellite campuses in Africa, Australia, Silicon Valley, and Qatar. Its most high-ranked programs come from the Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Institute of Technology, and School of Computer Science.
The application process for CMU is as common as with other universities in the US. You have to make sure that you are completing all the steps of the admission process before the deadline. Carnegie has an acceptance rate of 12%, which means it is highly competitive. There are over 200 courses for international students to explore at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
17. University of Missouri – Kansas City
University of Missouri- Kansas City was founded in 1933 with a world rank between 1001-1200. It is a public research university located in Holmes Street in Kansas City, also known as Volker Campus. Its most popular majors are Business/Commerce, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, and Psychology. It offers more than 120 programs. 40% of its students enrolled are international students. There are career services provided by the university to its students such as career planning and exploration, internships, job searching procedures, career fairs, and other related events. The admission procedure is similar to other universities.
18. Oklahoma State University (OSU/OK State)
It was founded in 1890 as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, located in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It is a public land-grant research university. The medical campus has a connection with Oklahoma State University Medical Centre for clinical training and offers residency and fellowship opportunities. It is also known as America’s healthiest campus. It is ranked number 82 in the Forbes List of Top Public American Universities. The university provides more than 200 undergraduate, 79 master’s, and 45 doctoral courses. Some of the popular courses at the university are Business, Management, Marketing, Engineering, Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Biology and Biomedical Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities.
19. University of Texas at Austin
Ranked 66 in QS World University Ranking. This university is known for its strong communication and media programs. It is a public institution founded in 1883 and one of the largest schools in the USA. The College of Liberal Arts is the largest school among its 13 schools and colleges. Some of its highly-ranked graduate programs come from McCombs School of Business, Cockrell School of Engineering, and School of Nursing. Some of its notable alumni are Matthew McConaughey (an American Actor), R.H Bing (a Mathematician), and many more. On the undergraduate level, more than 170 programs are offered, and over 100 programs are undergraduate level across their 13 schools and colleges.
20. University of Washington
It is a public institution located north of downtown Seattle. It was founded in 1861. It is one of the oldest public universities. Every year it hosts an undergraduate research symposium for student’s presentation of their work. The most well-known schools at this university are the School of Medicine, College of Engineering, and Michael G. Foster School of Business. It has been recognized as the number 1 most innovative public university. University of Washington has produced 7 Nobel Prize winners; 17 MacArthur Fellows; 189 members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and 193 fellows in the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Conclusion
This blog has provided some basics of the Top 20 universities in the USA for Indian students to fulfill their study abroad dreams. For Indian students, the idea of studying in the USA comes with much excitement such as a new culture, meeting new people, and getting new opportunities. However, when it comes to the university application process, meeting its deadline, and visa requirements, students are often left confused. When your head starts spinning, take the help of study abroad consultants. The consultants at Contentholic will help you find the right university and program based on your academic background, interest, and budget. However, if you wish to get Professional help regarding SOP, LOR, Essays, etc. then you can connect with our team to avail our SOP Writing Services. We, at Contentholic, have professional SOP Writers for US universities who are well-aware of the guidelines and format for US colleges. These Top 20 universities put a great emphasis on taking candidates who are not only academically advanced but also have their own thought processes. With the help of well-written SOPs / Essays, you can convince them that you are the right person for admission. Therefore, as an Indian student, you must not take any chances and take professional advice and help for your study abroad dreams.
