The United States has long been an A-list country for Indian students seeking higher education. America has some of the most well-recognized universities in the world, a wide range of academic backgrounds, and a vibrant culture, offering the students who have fulfilled their study in the USA dream of a unique and enriching experience. If you are an Indian student, thinking about studying in the USA, we present to you through this blog a complete guide for you to choose the best university and helm the application process.
If you plan to go to the USA for higher studies, you must seek a study abroad consultant organization to make the right and well-guided decisions. One such organization is Contenholic. We at Contentholic have been helping students in their dream of getting admission in the USA universities for over a decade. This blog is also one step towards us helping you decide which US University would be best for you. Do read on to get an idea about why the US is a favorite destination, some of the top US universities for Indian students, and how to navigate through their application process.
Why do Indian Students choose the US for their higher studies?
One of the most important reasons is their global recognition. Year after year, US universities occupy the top ranks for their academic excellence, therefore, they have created a legacy for themselves as the most academically advanced destination any student can dream of. The universities offer some of the most unique and diverse academic programs for students to choose from. From STEM courses to performing arts, the options are endless in the US to cater to various interests and career goals.
Not just in programs offered, but also the research opportunities provided within those programs are some of the groundbreaking research work any student would consider oneself fortunate to be part of as they give the students the power to utilize their classroom knowledge to real-world issues through innovations and solutions. Living among a diverse set of classmates, faculty and a diverse society in itself will expose you to many new things, which will help you in your personal growth and intercultural understanding. Lastly, the most important reason–career opportunities. A degree from the US is going to open doors for you to the top companies, not just in India but all over the world, and can significantly amplify your career prospects.
Best US Universities for Indian Students
While many universities are considered excellent choices for Indian students, we have curated some of the best and most popular institutions:
1. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
It is a public research university with a strong engineering and computer science background. The university is ranked at 25th position on QS World Ranking 2025. Located in Champaign and Urbana, this university is known for its world-class teaching, research, and public engagement. Its acceptance rate is 45%. Some of its popular programs are Engineering, Business, Management & Marketing, Social Sciences, Communication & Journalism, Psychology, Agricultural Sciences, Mathematics, Biology, and Computer & Information Sciences. Out of these, the programs most Indian students opt for are MS in Computer Science, MSc in Finance, and BSc in Computer Science. The annual tuition fee for undergraduate students lies between USD 33,637.31 – USD 42,957.77 (₹28.15 lakhs – ₹35.95 lakhs) and for a postgraduate degree it lies between USD 17,696.93 – USD 54,118.42 (₹14.81 lakhs – ₹45.29 lakhs).
For undergraduate admission, you will have to provide your high school courses or grades, choose a Major and a second choice, write prompt essays, list all the extracurricular activities you were involved in, honors and awards received, and either your SAT or ACT scores. This application would be considered in determining admission to campus honors programs and awarding merit-based scholarships. You also have to provide your highest TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, IELTS or Indicator, or Duolingo English Test score and highest sub-scores, regardless of test date.
For admission to graduate programs, you need to have a Bachelor’s degree with an average grade point of 8-10 (minimum 55%); academic transcripts; TOEFL scores; 2-3 letters of recommendation (LOR); Resume/CV; an academic statement of 500-1000 words (SOP) connecting your academic background to the chosen program, your intellectual interests, any faculty members whose research area aligns with your work, how the program will help you achieve your academic and professional goals; a series of short-answer personal statement essay questions; and additional materials such as writing samples, research statement, etc.
2. Georgia Institute of Technology (GII)
The institute was founded in 1885 in Atlanta, Georgia. It offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programs. The placement rate of this institute is 96% and the top industries this institute readies its students for are engineering, business development, operations, information technology, research, etc. Some of the popular majors of this institute are Computer Science, Computational Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Business Administration & Management, etc. The acceptance rate is 17% making it selective towards international students. The annual tuition fee for undergraduate programs lies between USD 31,068.21 – USD 32,263.14 (₹26 lakhs – ₹27 lakhs). For postgraduation, the annual tuition fee lies between USD 17,923.97 and USD 60,941.48 (₹15 lakhs – ₹51 lakhs).
The first-year students applying for any of the undergraduate programs have to submit their application through the Commons App. The documents you have to attach would be your high school transcripts with your grades and current courses; share your interests such as work, academic honors and achievements, hobbies, clubs, community engagements, and family responsibilities through personal essays; and a few LOR.
For graduate admissions, Indian students must have a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Technology, Agricultural Sciences, Dentistry, Forestry, Pharmacy, Medicine or Veterinary Science. If you have a three-year Bachelor’s degree, then you must have a Master’s degree to be eligible for admissions. In addition, you have to submit an English proficiency test such as TOEFL iBT with a minimum score of 19; or IELTS Academic with an overall score of 7; supplements in the form of questions asked about your research experience, writing samples, faculty selection, personal and family college history, future academic plans, and employment information and other professional developments; GRE or GMAT scores; and 2-3 LOR.
3. Northeastern University (NEU)
It is a private research university established in 1898 in Boston USA. The highest-rated subjects at this university are Biology and Engineering. It is counted as the best study-abroad university for Indian students because it provides experiential learning opportunities, including cooperative education, student research, service learning, and global experience. It has 9 research institutes working on global challenges in health, security, and sustainability. The alumni of this university mostly work in the Business Development industry, Engineering industry, Operations industry, Education, and Information Technology Industry. The most popular courses are Business, Management, Marketing, Engineering, Computer and Information Sciences, Social Sciences, Communication and Journalism. International students are awarded merit scholarships ranging between USD 10,000 to USD 28,000 (₹8,37,185.50 to ₹23,44,119.40) every year. Some other scholarships granted by the university are the Northeastern Honors Program, Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships, and Ujima Global Leaders Program. The annual tuition fee for undergraduate students is between USD 56,606.33 and USD 63,259.58 (₹47,39,000 – ₹52,96,000) and for graduate students, it is between USD 12,924.26 and USD 68,312.22 (₹10,82,000 – ₹57,19,000).
For undergraduate programs, the applicants have to submit all the documents through the Common Application/Coalition Application. The documents required by Northeastern University are high school transcripts; LOR; resume; essay, academic preparation for the choice of your Major; contributions to the community; a Declaration and Certification of Finances (DCF), verifying your ability to finance your education including tuition and fee, accommodation and personal living expenses; and portfolios for some of the Majors. For Graduate admissions, the process remains more or less the same. The online application form includes transcripts from all your undergraduate as well as graduate schools attended, an SOP detailing your interest in the program and plans; 1-3 LOR; resume/CV; GRE, LSAT, or GMAT scores; and scores of English Proficiency tests such as TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo exam.
4. University of Southern California (USC)
The University of Southern California is among the top universities in the USA. And you would be amazed to know, that Indian students are the second largest group constituting the student body. The university also provides international students merit-based scholarships such as National Merit Finalist Presidential, USC Associates, Asian Pacific Alumni Association, Black Alumni Association, and Hong Kong Schools Alumni Federation. The annual tuition fee range for undergraduate students is USD 63,582.06 and USD 71,776.18 (₹53,23,000 – ₹60,09,000) and for graduate students, it ranges between USD 21,381.16 and USD 121,836.76 (₹17,90,000 – ₹1,02,00,000). Indian students usually choose programs such as Engineering, Health Science, Business, Regulatory Science and Pharmacy, Law, Arts, and Gaming.
The undergraduate admissions to various programs would be through Common Application. For international students, there is a choice between either submitting the scores for SAT(minimum score of 650 in reading & writing section)/ACT(minimum score of 27 in English section) or scores of TOEFL (minimum score of 20 in each section), IELTS (minimum score of 7), Duolingo English Test, or PTE Academic examinations (minimum score of 68) to tell the university about your English proficiency; submit your official transcripts of high school and college coursework; 1-2 LOR; and portfolio/resume/writing sample depending upon the chosen Major. For graduation admissions, submit your GRE/GMAT or other scores; resume/CV; LOR; transcripts; a statement of intent (SOP); writing samples; and creative portfolios.
5. Arizona State University (ASU)
This is a comprehensive public research university. India is one of the top countries from where international students come to Arizona State University, so much so, that there is an ASU’s Indian Students Association which provides counsel and assistance to Indian students in ASU. The top Majors among Indian students are Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Construction Management and Technology, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Business Analytics, Aerospace Engineering, Material Sciences, Architecture and Biological Sciences. The total tuition fee for undergraduate courses ranges between USD 32,250.91 and USD 34,460.69 (₹27,00,000 – ₹28,85,000) and for post-graduate courses it lies between USD 81,58.28 and USD 67,332.72 (₹6,83,000 – ₹56,37,000).
To get admitted to ASU as an undergraduate student, you need to have a minimum of 3 GPA in high school; you have to pass one of the English proficiency tests such as TOEFL, TOEFL iBT (with a minimum score ranging between 61-100), IELTS (with a minimum score ranging between 6-7), PTE (with a minimum score ranging between 53-73), Duolingo English Test (with a minimum score of 95-120) and Cambridge English Exams (with a minimum score requirement of 170-185); you need to submit your high school transcripts, personal essays describing in your voice some leadership roles, volunteer work, awards, LOR, and other creative supplements (if applicable). The only few additions in the application process for a Graduate program would be a Bachelor’s degree, a GPA of 3 on a 4 scale, GRE/GMAT test scores, academic transcripts, and an SOP/writing sample/resume.
Conclusion
Through this blog, you might have gotten the idea that applying to the best US universities can be a ruthless process. Therefore, before applying to any of these universities you should identify the university that is best suited to your academic interest, career goals, and budget; take the standardized tests a few months before the application process starts; get your academic transcripts from your previous institution; request LORs from your professors/teachers; write a captivating SOP; and provide proof of your financial support.
The application process can be complex and time-consuming. Consider taking professional help from study abroad consultants or SOP writing services to increase your chances of admission. Contenholic’s experienced consultants can guide you on university selection, application plans, and visa processes. Our professional SOP and LOR writers can help you craft a convincing and winning SOP that showcases your strength and potential.
