Chinese Students in the U.S. – A Guide

The U.S. has some of the most prestigious universities in the world. It’s no wonder then that nearly a million international students study here. The largest group by far are Chinese students. What are the most popular majors usually taken by Chinese students? What types of jobs do they get? Let’s have a look.

NOTE: The information regarding top majors and jobs for Indian visa holders in the U.S. based on data obtained from Stilt borrowers.

Chinese Students in the U.S., an Overview

The U.S. had (according to Statista) 925,767 international students enrolled for the academic year 2017/18. More than a third (363,431 to be precise) of them were Chinese students.

The Chinese place high esteem on an American education and are willing to go to great lengths to pay the expensive tuition fees. Both parents and their children work together to finance a U.S. education. Parents save for long periods of time and work extra hours to help pay for their children’s education. Some children also take jobs and work up to 20 hours per week to make an extra income in order to finance their education. Some Chinese students also take out study loans to help cover all the fees related to studying in the U.S.

The current trend sees many students returning home to work at the family business, to repay their parents, or to return to an environment they are more familiar with. The recent trade wars between the current U.S. administration and China has a peculiar effect on the number of Chinese students studying here. The numbers have decreased slightly and depending on how things pan out between the two governments, it may decrease even further.

Top 5 Majors of Chinese Students

You might already know how to refinance your student loan. But do you know which major you will enroll in?

Generally, students choose to enroll in courses that have relative certainty of employment. Let’s take a look at the 5 majors most Chinese students take.

1. Business Management

Leading people is one of the oldest professions known to man. Thanks to the latest technologies the age-old trade gets a few interesting tweaks. Students with a major in business management take jobs that require them to do business related tasks like account management, tax return preparation, or employee supervision. This major holds many types of employment options like business development, business analysis, general management jobs, and the list goes on.

2. Computer Science

The computer has shaped the world of business as we know it today. Even artists use computers in some way or another to help them create their work. A major in computer science helps students understand the essence of the digital world. Some of the top-earning jobs for this major include software development, software architects and IT security architects. There is also a large increase in the demand for people with skills related to the Internet of Things (IoT). As a result, there are many new programs that help train students for these kinds of jobs.

3. Finance

Money indeed makes the business world go round. Many Chinese students opt to study finance related majors to help them gain an upper hand in securing a job. Finance majors generally cover topics like capital markets, international finance, risk management, corporate finance, and personal finance. Some topics may also include work related to financial laws and regulations in the U.S. The good news is, choosing a major in finance won’t limit you to knowledge about the U.S. There are bridging-courses that can help you study the supplemental content necessary to hold employment in other international markets as well. The principles and skills needed for finance related jobs remain the same all over the world.

4. Math

Mathematicians have helped to solve and shape the world we know today. Complex theories and algorithms thought out by mathematicians help to simplify and solve modern day problems. Classes in a math major include topics like algebra, calculus, geometry, trigonometry, computational mathematics, and much more math related work. Students typically get work as actuaries, statisticians, and cryptographers if they chose a major in maths.

5. Economics

Economists help to analyze markets on both local and global scales. They supply information that helps businesses make some important decisions. Chinese students with a major in economics usually take jobs as business and finance advisors, financial analysts, credit analysts, and healthcare analytics specialists. Economists use information from all kinds of markets to give insight into future trends. These markets may include goods, services, financial markets, and many more.

Top 5 Jobs for Chinese Students in the U.S.

You might know the top 5 Chinese grocery stores in your area. But, do you know the top 5 jobs that more than 300,000 Chinese students in the U.S. look at? Some of these jobs may be available for more than one type of major. Here is a short list.

1. Research Assistant

Research fuels most industries to improve and innovate. You can be sure to find some kind of research assistant job for most majors. Chinese students in these jobs use many kinds of data to find information that will aid the cause of their employer. The internet, surveys, published research and more information of the like help the research project to reach its goal.

2. Software Engineer

Software engineers use mathematical principles and computer science to develop computer software. Chinese students employed in these fields create solutions to the IT related problems raised by their clients. They design, test, and develop the software their clients need to operate their businesses. They can either be employed to be the in-house specialist of a specific company or take up employment in a business that supplies this service to other businesses.

3. Sales Manager

Chinese students in this profession usually lead a sales team. Their companies have products or services that follow specific marketing strategies and sales managers set and strive to meet certain sales targets. It’s also possible that sales managers work on their own without the time and effort of a team to leverage. Each business has their way of doing things.

4. Scientist

Scientists observe, measure and communicate their findings in their specific fields. Some make groundbreaking discoveries that help to improve and innovate science, business, healthcare, and life in general. Chinese students with majors in science usually work in this profession. Chemistry and physics-based principles govern the work of scientists as they find the innovations and solutions to today’s problems.

5. Educator

Teaching is probably the most common job in the education industry. But believe it or not, many people end up teaching the very classes they took. Chinese students may also remain on their campuses of colleges and universities to become educators and even professors. The workforce of tomorrow is in classrooms today and someone needs to shape it.

Conclusion

There are great schools and universities in the U.S. that attract students from all over the world – even as far as China. Chinese students make up a little over a third of the international students studying in the U.S. Many of them remain here and become employees in the American job market. If you work hard and make the right choices, you can also be one of them.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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