Why study in United States?
The United States has thousands of universities and colleges approved to take international students. Courses are flexible: you can often change your major, and many master's degrees in computing, data, engineering and business are STEM-designated.
You apply to each university directly. Once a school admits you, it issues a Form I-20. You then pay the SEVIS fee and apply for an F-1 student visa at a US Embassy or Consulate in India.
Costs are high, so plan your budget early. Fees vary widely between public and private universities, and many graduate students cut costs through scholarships or teaching and research assistantships.
- A very wide choice of universities and programmes, from large public universities to private research institutes
- Many STEM-designated master's programmes in computing, data, engineering and business
- Up to 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) after your degree, plus 24 more months for eligible STEM graduates
- On-campus work of up to 20 hours a week during term
- Graduate assistantships and university scholarships can reduce tuition
- Flexible curricula that let you combine majors and electives
Popular universities in United States
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Cambridge, MA · Undergraduate tuition US$66,720 in 2026–27
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA · STEM-designated MISM and full-time MBA
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA · Public; separate out-of-country tuition rate
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN · Public; STEM-designated business master's
Columbia University
New York, NY · Engineering MS tuition US$2,822 per credit (2026–27 est.)
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ · Public; IELTS 6.5 for engineering admission
The University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, TX · Fall, spring and summer intakes for MS BA & AI
Popular programmes
- Computer Science & AI
- Data Science
- Business Analytics
- Information Systems Management
- Electrical & Computer Engineering
- Engineering Management
- Finance
- MBA
Courses from our Course Finder
6-3: Computer Science and Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) · Cambridge, MA · Bachelor’s
B.S. in Computer Science
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · Bachelor’s
Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS)
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · Master’s
Master of Information Systems Management
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · Master’s · 16 months (3 semesters)
Full-Time MBA (Tepper School of Business)
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · MBA · 2 years (4 semesters)
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Georgia Institute of Technology · Atlanta, GA · Bachelor’s
Cost of studying: financial breakdown
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate tuition | US$36,154–69,702 / yr2026–27 international examples: Purdue Computer Science to Carnegie Mellon |
| Postgraduate tuition | US$30,318–84,186 / yr2026–27 examples: Purdue graduate engineering to Carnegie Mellon full-time MBA |
| Living costs / proof of funds | Set by your university on the I-20You must show how you will pay tuition, living and travel costs. Example: Purdue estimates US$16,734 / yr for housing and food (2026–27) |
| Student visa fee | US$185Non-refundable visa application (MRV) fee |
| SEVIS I-901 fee | US$350Pay before your visa interview |
| Health insurance | Set by each universityExample: Carnegie Mellon estimates US$3,352 for fall 2026 |
Typical tuition in rupees: ≈ ₹24–53 lakh per year (European Central Bank and Bank of Russia reference rates, 9 October 2026).
Application checklist
- 1Shortlist SEVP-certified universities and check each programme's entry rules
- 2English test scores (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo) at the level your university asks for
- 3Academic transcripts, degree certificates and any standardised test scores your university needs
- 4Proof of funds for tuition, living and travel costs (bank statements, education loan or scholarship letters)
- 5Receive your Form I-20 from the university, then sign it
- 6Pay the US$350 I-901 SEVIS fee
- 7Complete the online DS-160 form, upload your photo and print the confirmation page
- 8Pay the US$185 visa fee and book an interview at a US Embassy or Consulate in India
- 9Passport valid for at least six months beyond your planned stay
- 10Prepare to explain your study plans, how you will pay, and your plans after graduation
Student visa: F-1 Student Visa
You need an F-1 visa to study at a US university or college. After a SEVP-certified school accepts you and issues a Form I-20, pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend a visa interview. Visas for new students can be issued up to 365 days before your course starts, but you can enter the US no more than 30 days before the start date.
What you’ll need
- Form I-20 issued by a SEVP-certified school and signed by you
- I-901 SEVIS fee paid (US$350)
- DS-160 confirmation page
- Visa application fee receipt (US$185)
- Photo meeting the State Department's photo rules
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay
- Evidence of how you will pay all education, living and travel costs
- Transcripts, degrees and test scores if the consular officer asks
Work and employment options
- While you study
- Up to 20 hrs/week on campus during term
- After you graduate
- OPT: 12 months, plus a 24-month STEM extension (up to 36 months)
- You can apply for post-completion OPT up to 90 days before and up to 60 days after you finish your degree
- Graduates of eligible STEM degrees can add a 24-month OPT extension with an employer enrolled in E-Verify
- The H-1B is the main employer-sponsored work visa after OPT. From the FY 2027 cap season, selection favours higher-skilled, higher-paid roles instead of a random lottery
- F-1 students with a timely filed cap-subject H-1B petition may stay in F-1 status until it is approved or 1 April of the fiscal year, whichever comes first
- STEM-designated master's programmes in computing, analytics and business can lead to the longer STEM OPT period
Good to know: From 15 September 2026, F-1 students are admitted for a fixed period tied to the I-20 (up to four years), not 'duration of status'. The grace period after your course or OPT falls from 60 to 30 days, and extra time needs an extension of stay from USCIS.
Scholarships to explore
- Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral and Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (USIEF)
- Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships (USIEF)
- Graduate teaching / research assistantships
- University merit scholarships, e.g. Carnegie Mellon Heinz College Fellowship (full tuition) and Excellence in Technology Fellowships (half tuition)
Official sources · checked 10 October 2026
- U.S. Department of State: Student Visa (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Department of State: Fees for Visa Services (opens in a new tab)
- ICE: I-901 SEVIS Fee (opens in a new tab)
- Study in the States: Final rule on a fixed time period of admission (quick facts) (opens in a new tab)
- USCIS: Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 students (opens in a new tab)
- USCIS: DHS changes process for awarding H-1B work visas (opens in a new tab)
Figures are indicative planning ranges and change often. Always confirm fees, funds and visa rules on the university and official government websites before you apply.