Study in USA 2026

Fees, living costs, GRE rules and the programs we track.

Documents, fees, appointments and interview preparation.

Compare providers, fees and interest rates.

Blocked account, proof of funds, grade conversion and TCS.

Financial planning guide for Indian parents and students, breaking down the estimated $45,000 to $75,000 two-year budget required for tuition and living at public US universities.

Covers the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship for Indian graduates, detailing full tuition coverage, monthly stipends, and the mandatory two-year home residence rule on J-1 visas.

Preparation advice for shortlisted Indian scholars facing the 20-minute USIEF panel interview in New Delhi for the Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowship.

Explains how Indian master's students can work 20 hours weekly as graduate assistants to earn monthly stipends and qualify for in-state tuition waivers at public universities.

Practical guide for Indian families documenting financial proof for Form I-20: universities require liquid savings, FDs, or loan sanction letters covering one full academic year.

Written for Indian STEM applicants pursuing research assistantships: securing an RA or TA position can award in-state tuition waivers and monthly stipends up to $2,500.

A comparison for Indian families funding a US master's degree, contrasting secured SBI INR loans against collateral-free USD loans from Prodigy and Mpower.

Funding hub for Indian master's applicants, explaining the difference between university assistantship tuition waivers and external scholarships from Indian and international trusts.

Guides Indian offer holders through paying tuition seat deposits of $100 to $500 and submitting financial documents to receive their official Form I-20.

Housing advice for Indian graduate students: learn how to secure off-campus apartments, find roommates, sign lease contracts, and manage security deposits near US campuses.

Cost-saving guide for Indian students: replace $2,200 to $3,500 university health plans with qualifying ISO or PSI plans to reduce yearly medical insurance expenses.

Essential checklist for Indian students landing in the US: clear CBP port of entry, retrieve your electronic Form I-94, activate mobile service, and report your local address.

Comprehensive overview of US visa regulations for Indian students, explaining work authorization transitions from initial F-1 status and CPT through OPT extensions and H-1B filings.

Helps Indian F-1 students plan off-campus internships: you must complete one full academic year (nine months) in the US before becoming eligible for paid CPT authorization.

Explains the US H-1B visa for Indian graduates, highlighting the 20,000 master's cap lottery exemption and year-round hiring at cap-exempt universities and research institutes.

Explains US on-campus employment rules for Indian F-1 students, who can legally work up to 20 hours per week during semesters and 40 hours during vacations to offset living costs.

Explores self-petitioned US permanent residency options for Indian STEM graduates, including EB-2 NIW and EB-1A pathways that bypass employer PERM labor certification.

Details post-study work authorization for Indian graduates: explains how the 12-month initial OPT and 24-month STEM extension grant up to 36 months of employment with E-Verify firms.

Directory for Indian students pursuing computer science master's programs, confirming DHS STEM designations that extend post-graduation work rights from 12 to 36 months.

Guidance for Indian 3-year bachelor's graduates (B.Sc, B.Com, BCA): over 60% of top US universities accept three-year degrees from NAAC Grade A accredited colleges.

Prep strategy for Indian students taking the Duolingo English Test: costs roughly $59 and delivers certified test scores to US universities within 48 hours.

Helps Indian applicants choose between TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, and Duolingo, comparing score cutoffs, exam fees, and acceptance rates across US graduate departments.

Directory for Indian master's applicants seeking GRE waivers: discover top US universities with test-optional policies that save the $220 exam registration fee.

Study blueprint for Indian engineering students targeting 165 to 170 on GRE Quant, using high percentiles to strengthen admissions profiles with moderate undergraduate CGPAs.

Preparation methods for Indian students targeting 155+ in GRE Verbal and 4.5+ in AWA, focusing on contextual logic and essay structure to reach a 320+ combined score.

Shows Indian students how university marks and 10-point CGPA scores translate to the US 4.0 GPA scale under WES and AACRAO credit-weighted conversion standards.

Exam preparation strategies for Indian students targeting 100+ in TOEFL or 7.5 in IELTS, focusing on high speaking scores needed to qualify for funded Teaching Assistantships.

Explains how Indian 10-point CGPA and percentage grades are converted into the US 4.0 GPA scale by credential evaluators like WES for graduate admissions committees.

Step-by-step instructions for Indian graduates ordering the WES ICAP course-by-course evaluation ($217), detailing how to send verified university marksheets to World Education Services.

Decision framework for Indian students with multiple admits: compare net costs and tech hub locations, while selecting only one SEVIS ID for your visa appointment.

Timeline strategy for Indian applicants: submitting master's applications before priority deadlines (typically mid-November to mid-December) maximizes consideration for TA and RA funding.

Assists Indian international students with obtaining a 9-digit Social Security Number (SSN) after securing on-campus work, enabling US credit history and tax reporting.

Strategic advice for Indian students facing university rejections: identify application weak points, upgrade prerequisite coursework, and reapply with an improved statement of purpose.

Navigates application systems like GradCAS, ApplyTexas, and Slate for Indian applicants, outlining departmental fees from $65 to $150 per university submission.

Application blueprint for Indian students preparing US graduate packages: format a concise one-page resume, secure three academic LORs, and craft a compelling Statement of Purpose.

Helps Indian non-CS engineering and science graduates transition into US computer science master's programs by completing prerequisite courses in algorithms and data structures.

Advises Indian applicants choosing between Fall and Spring intakes: Fall students gain summer CPT internship eligibility after two semesters, unlike Spring arrivals.

Demonstrates how Indian applicants with undergraduate CGPAs between 6.0 and 7.5 can strengthen their US master's profile using full-time software experience or published research papers.

Compares MS in Data Science and Business Analytics for Indian students, highlighting required STEM CIP codes that ensure 36 months of post-graduation OPT work authorization.

Highlights MEM and MIS graduate programs for Indian engineers seeking tech management careers, providing STEM work authorization without the high tuition of a traditional MBA.

Compares public state flagships and private US universities for Indian families, analyzing tuition differences and explaining why top tech recruiters hire equally from public R1 schools.

Profiles top US public R1 research universities for Indian families, highlighting institutions with competitive out-of-state tuition, generous research funding, and high return on investment.

An overview for Indian families planning US master's studies, detailing tuition ranges from $22,000 at public state universities to over $35,000 at private institutions.

Selection guide for Indian students evaluating US universities, using location, tuition brackets, public R1 research status, and assistantship funding availability to build a balanced shortlist.

Navigational roadmap for Indian students and families outlining the full US immigration path, from F-1 student status and CPT or OPT through to H-1B specialty worker visas.

Institute of International Education (IIE) & Quad Governments

Aga Khan Foundation

Chicago Booth School of Business

Columbia University