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.
See all posts Frank GogolIndian Students in the USA: An Overview
Updated on April 10, 2024
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Studying abroad has become a common occurrence nowadays – particularly considering the career paths today. Students from India are getting scholarships in the hopes that they will be able to go to a good college – and those that don’t get the scholarship will try to rely on student loans.
What does it mean to be an Indian student in the U.S.? How will you get past the student years – and what should you expect once that is over and done with? Well, here are a few tips for you.
NOTE: The information regarding top majors and jobs for Indian visa holders in the U.S. based on data obtained from Stilt borrowers.
Indian Students in the USA – An Overview
Before 2010, the number of Indian students in the United States was rather small. However, from only 2010 to 2011, the number of Indian students coming to the USA went from 94,563 to an Impressive 103,250. Most of these students will either go to the mid-west or the east coast to undergo their education.
In 2001, China likely had the highest number of students following a major in the United States – but things started to take a turn right after. Eventually, only in the US, around 45% of the foreign students were either Indian or Chinese. That is quite impressive, considering that it is nearly half the market.
The same thing applies to Canada. In 2010, the Indians and Chinese made 30% of the international students. That number changed in 2014, and the percentage for these international students went to 42%. Needless to say, the numbers keep growing – and according to a report made in 2017, the number of Indian students in the USA went well over 186,000.
Top 5 Majors of Indian Students
You might think that students of Indian citizenship are going for every kind of major in the United States – but in truth, only a few of them are very popular. Here are some great majors that are popular and more convenient among foreign students of Indian citizenship.
Computer Science
Computer Science has been advancing higher and higher nowadays, mainly because the graduates are expected to have a fairly high salary once they are done with college. With this major, Indian students in the USA can follow a career on computer programming, software engineering, mathematics, and so on. The major is very demanding – but when you consider the profits you can gain afterward, it will certainly be worth it.
Information Technology
Information technology (commonly known as IT) involves the use of computers in order to retrieve, store, and manipulate information or data that is part of a business or an enterprise. With this major, Indian students in the USA will learn about software, hardware, as well as peripheral equipment. Among every other job, this is once more something that will bring you a healthy flow of cash.
Business Management
If they are not into computer sciences, then they are likely into business management. With globalization taking its course, the business has gone up to the top for Indian international students. Graduates are very sought after on the market, and it is very likely that they will be able to get an earning position. Someone following a major in business management can have a career involving international business, accounting, finances, business administration, and so on. A student here can also go on to earning their MBA.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering is a very broad major – and likely the career path of every student that used to take electric devices apart as a child. As a student following the path of electric engineering, you will need to deal with electronic devices – going from pocket calculators all the way towards a supercomputer. With a degree in electrical engineering, you may open the door to almost every technical career path.
Management Information System
Management Information System (or MIS) is the study of technology, people, and organizations. In other words, if you enjoy technology such as the iPhone, Instagram, or Amazon Echo, then this might be the major for you. You just need to have an interest in technology and want to use it in order to improve other people’s lives.
While computer science focuses on the software, MIS focuses on the product. They teach you how to manipulate and store data in order to improve daily lives. A person majoring in MIS can follow the career of a web developer, business analyst, systems developer, and so on.
Top 5 Jobs for Indian Students in the USA
So, you’ve graduated. At this point, you’re tired of counting all your cents whenever you are entering the grocery stores as an Indian student. What now? Well, if you went for one of the majors above, there is a high chance you might be able to do these jobs as well.
Software Engineer
Indian students in the USA can study up to become software engineers. Practically speaking, a software engineer is a person that applies the software engineering principles to design, maintenance, development, or even evaluation of computer software. Each student that gets this job in the United States is likely to have a very healthy salary.
Programmer Analyst
A programmer analyst will design, develop, and apply certain computer programs. They will have to be knowledgeable regarding the latest trends in technology – and they will also be required to work in a team setting. For this position, all you will generally require is a degree. Experience can be gained later on, as you are continuing with your job – making it perfect for students that have freshly graduated.
.Net Developer
A .net developer is a person that is responsible for designing, creating, and developing particular software applications – all according to the needs of a business. A .net developer is responsible for determining and analyzing the software prerequisites, but they also have to handle continuous development and support. It’s a very well-paid job – and the advantage is once more that you do not need experience. Most students are actually recruited while they are still in college, to help them gain said experience.
Web Developer
A web developer is a person, a programmer, who specifically specializes in developing World Wide Web applications. They also work with applications that are running over CSS, HTTP, or HTML, from a web browser to a web server. They have the ability to use a database and use coding scripts in order to create a web framework. For this job, you only need the knowledge – meaning that Indian students in the USA that have just finished college can easily get their hands on a job.
UI Developer
A UI (User Interface) developer is a back-end/front-end developer that is knowledgeable about mixes of technology. They focus on the performance and behavior of the user interface, and will also influence the design in a way that they consider to be the most performing. They will also be the ones responsible for choosing the most efficient tools for product development.
Personal Loans
for Indian Students in the U.S.!
Loans for up to $35,000. No cosigner required. No prepayment penalty.
Final Thoughts
Indian students in the USA that make a very promising career choice can have all the chances of getting a good job – one that will earn them a visa. The more reliable their post-graduating job is, the higher the chances that they will be able to remain in the USA. However, when it comes to education and jobs, the USA seems very promising.
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.