The USA is no doubt the most sought-after study abroad destination and will never cease to be the first preference for study abroad aspirants aiming to pursue higher studies abroad. 

Be it the aspiration to study in a High Ranked US University, or to be a part of groundbreaking innovations in US, be it the desire to compete with the finest minds in one’s field or to get the flexibility to apply to different fields of studies, US is the study destination which has it all. 

If you are also one among those seeking to pursue higher education in the US and keen on knowing more about the Master’s Degrees there, then this article is a must read for you. 

So, let’s have a look at the duration, requirements, cost, financial aid and work right options for Masters in US. 

Duration of a Master’s Degree in US 

The duration for all the master's degrees in the US is generally 2 years. Whether you want to pursue Masters in Science (MS), Masters in Engineering (MEng), Masters in Business Administration (MBA) or Masters in Arts (MA), the duration will be 2 years. But courses like Masters in Management, LLM etc. may be of one year duration. 

Eligibility Criteria

Previous Education & Academic Percentage 

US universities accept 16 years of education (12+4) for a master’s degree, be it a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Technology, Pharmacy or Physiotherapy. The required Academic Percentage will be 58% and above with minimum backlogs. 

Standardized Tests & English Proficiency Test scores 

Applicants need to appear for Standardized Test like GRE or GMAT for Master’s degrees. GRE scores are required to apply for a wide variety of graduate school programs, but GMAT scores are required only to apply to business schools. 

Acceptable Scores of Standardized Tests: 

• GRE: 300+ 
• GMAT: 500+ 

Apart from the Standardized Test Scores, universities also check for English Proficiency Test scores like TOEFL, IELTS or PTE. Any of these English Proficiency Test Scores are acceptable by most of the US universities.

Acceptable English Proficiency Test Scores: 

• TOEFL: 79 
• IELTS: 6.5 overall band 
• PTE: 56 

Other Essential Factors for Admission 

Student’s involvement in extracurricular activities and research projects also play a crucial role in getting an admit. Documents such as Resume, Letters of Recommendation & Statement of Purpose are also very vital and must be drafted very effectively. Exceptions 

• 15 (12+3) years of education are also acceptable in some of the Universities if the Institution in India is NAAC “A” Accredited (National Assessment & Accreditation Council) 
• 3 years of Bachelor’s degree is acceptable for admissions into Masters for Computer Science, MBA & Public Health courses & in other programs through Pathway with few universities. 
• Admissions without GRE/GMAT scores are possible with several universities. 
• Students with less TOEFL/IELTS scores can get admission through Pathway or English as second language program. 

High-Ranked US Universities accepting 3-year Bachelor’s Degrees*

• Suffolk University (Boston) 
• The Graduate School at UMBC 
• Oregon State University 
• New Jersey’s Science & Technology University 
• University of New Haven (Connecticut) 
• University of Arizona 
• Kent State University 
• University of Alabama at Birmingham 
• University of Colorado Denver 
• University of North Texas, Denton 

* Limited to few programs 

Top Universities in USA for MS 

Let’s check out a few Top Universities in USA for MS. 

• Stanford University 
• Carnegie Mellon University 
• University of California Berkeley 
• University of Washington, Seattle 
• New York University 
• University of Texas Austin 
• Yale University 
• University of Chicago 
• University of Minnesota, Twin Cities 

Top Universities in USA for MBA 

Here’s a list of Top Universities in USA for MBA. 

• Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford University 
• The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania 
• Kellogg School of Management | Northwestern University 
• The University of Chicago Booth School of Business 
• MIT Sloan School of Management 
• Harvard Business School 
• Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley 
• Columbia Business School - Columbia University 
• Yale School of Management, Yale University 
• NYU Stern School of Business 

Cost of Education 

By now we know the eligibility criteria and the top universities in USA for the various master’s degrees. Now let us also checkout the cost of pursuing a Master's degree in US. The fee for masters can range from $15000 to $30,000 per year based on the type of institution and the duration of the course. International students with excellent academic percentage and high standardized test scores can apply for scholarships for international students in US, get financial aids and also check for institutional grants, which will help them to lower their cost of education in US. 

Financial Aid 

Students can check for Tuition Fee Waiver in the form of Assistantships. 

• Research Assistantship 
• Teaching Assistantship 
• Graduate Assistantship 

They can also check for Part Time On Campus Jobs or Off Campus Employment through 

• Curriculum Practical Training (CPT) 
• Optional Practical Training (OPT) 

NOTE: There are certain options that offer work study programs, and some Universities allow students to work full time even when the sessions are on. Classes are held in the evening or at the weekends so that students can work full time during the day. 

To know more about the admission process, the right time to start the preparation and for assistance with application processes you can consult KC’s US Education Experts virtually or in person. 

We have 60+ offices across India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Vietnam and we are one of the best Overseas Education Consultants in South Asia so you can be rest assured about the information being given to you. Check out for our next article to gain info about Work Rights for Master’s Degree aspirants in USA.