The US is often known as the land of opportunities, which is a financial hub and offers several work opportunities to the masses. International students aspire to study various courses, such as an MBA, to access quality education, which can set them on the path of professional growth. If you are planning to pursue an MBA in the US, here’s what you must know.
Key highlights:
- Benefits of Pursuing an MBA in the US
- Top Universities for Master of Business Administration in the USA
- MBA in the USA for Indian students: Overview
- Some Popular Specialisations for MBA in America
- MBA Cost in the US
Benefits of Pursuing an MBA in the US
- World-Class Education
Did you know the number of Indian students in the United States has increased from ~1,99,000 in the academic year 2021-22 to ~2,68,000 in 2022-23? This highlights the popularity of the US among the aspirants. The US universities offer experiential learning, internship opportunities, rigorous courses, and practical curricula. If you pursue an MBA in the United States, you can benefit from impeccable education.
- CPT and OPT Options for MBA in the USA
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) are practical training programmes directly related to your major area of study. If you hold an F-1 student visa, you will be eligible for CPT/OPT options. Your university will authorise CPT in the first semester if CPT is required.
You can also apply for pre-completion OPT or post-completion OPT. For pre-completion OPT, you can work for 20 hours or less per week during your academic sessions and full-time during breaks. You can receive up to 12 months of pre-completion/post-completion OPT.
- Other
The US is truly a melting pot of cultures, a perfect place to develop your cultural sensitivity. The vibrant campus life will give you a chance to build your global network, which can help you immensely in your professional life. Furthermore, your CV will stand out with international credentials.
Top Universities for Master of Business Administration in the USA
Here are the top universities for an MBA in America as per Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings and Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.
- QS category: QS Global MBA Rankings 2025 (US-specific)
- THE category: World University Rankings 2025 (US-specific) (Business and Management)
| Sr. No. | Universities | QS Rankings | THE Rankings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University (Stanford Graduate School of Business) | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School) | 2 | 8 |
| 3 | Harvard University (Harvard Business School) | 3 | 2 |
| 4 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT - Sloan) | 4 | 1 |
| 5 | Columbia University (Columbia Business School) | 5 | 10 |
| 6 | Northwestern University (Kellogg School of Management) | 6 | 17 |
| 7 | University of California (Haas School of Business) | 7 | 5 |
| 8 | University of California (Anderson Graduate School of Management) | 8 | 11 |
| 9 | University of Chicago (Booth School of Business) | 9 | 7 |
| 10 | Yale University (Yale School of Management) | 10 | 6 |
MBA in the USA for Indian students: Overview
With an MBA, you will be able to dive deeper into business management coursework. By polishing your skills, such as leadership, effective communication, and creative thinking, you will be better placed to manage your team and guide them to achieve the business goals in your career. An MBA degree is essential to grab interesting career opportunities and also to accelerate your professional growth.
Depending on the university, the duration of an MBA degree in the USA can be 2-3 years. There are 3 intakes available in the US - fall, spring and summer. The fall intake will begin around August, the spring intake will start somewhere in January, and the summer intake will be around May.
Some Popular Specialisations for MBA in America
- Business Analytics
- Finance
- Human Resource
- Marketing
- Operations
- Entrepreneurship
- Information Technology
MBA Cost in the US
The best MBA programs in the USA will cost anywhere between INR 20 lakhs to 1 crore per year, depending on the university you select. Also, please remember that you have to factor in other costs, such as travelling expenses, accommodation costs, living costs, and other education-related expenses.
So, if you have decided to pursue a Master of Business Administration in the USA, start planning today. If you are worried about the MBA fees in the USA and the overall cost of education, you can opt for an education loan. At Avanse Global Finance, we provide an education loan without collateral, in USD, which will save you foreign exchange conversion fees. This will enable you to focus on your higher education in the US and leave the finance-related worries behind.
.webp)
.webp)
