Best Universities in the USA to Pursue STEM Courses

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Cyril Zachariah
Updated on Apr 03, 2023 11:34 PM IST

The US is home to some of the best STEM universities and institutions, recognised and ranked globally. Before applying for admission to the STEM courses offered in the United States, here's what all you should know.

Best Universities in the USA to Pursue STEM Courses

Best Universities in the USA to Pursue STEM Courses: Indian students who dream of pursuing STEM courses abroad usually turn to the USA due to the presence of some world-class STEM universities.

For more than two centuries now, the US has been one of the most revered destinations for Indian students to pursue their higher studies. A big chunk of the international students who land on US soil is admitted to the STEM courses in US universities where the ratio of Indian students is on the higher side.

The article will walk you through some of the best universities in the USA to pursue STEM courses and a lot of information about why one should pursue STEM courses in USA.

What is a STEM Degree?

An abbreviation or short-form for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, a STEM degree are college programs that span a number of academic disciplines. Broadly, the term is used to describe areas directly related to hard sciences and have interdisciplinary and hands-on exposure across various industries. STEM courses and graduates form the foundation for innovation. STEM courses are in high demand and are being pursued by a large number of students due to their broad scope.

STEM courses are in high demand because the professions associated with them are among the most rewarding and financially rewarding in the world. The USA has traditionally been a global leader in these sectors, and colleges are including these technical courses in their curricula to ensure the country's dominance.

Know About the Universities Abroad Offering STEM Courses!

Why Pursue STEM Courses in USA?

Let's shower some light on various advantages of pursuing STEM courses in USA:

  • The USA has its very own Silicon Valley in California, which is the world's largest technology and information technology centre. It is the country's largest technology platform, foundation, and centre, with access to large-scale infrastructure, advanced resources, and talented staff. It is one of the most important reasons for attracting more international aspirants to study STEM courses in USA, especially given the country's technological development.

  • A dynamic student lifestyle is also a big lure for international students studying STEM at US universities. Monotony never enters the academic process since campuses provide a wide range of extracurricular interests, societies, clubs, and other activities.

  • A dynamic student lifestyle is also a big lure for international students studying STEM at US universities. Monotony never enters the academic process since campuses provide a wide range of extracurricular interests, societies, clubs, and other activities. Students can also participate in community and charitable initiatives, sporting events, and other activities.

  • Most major universities in the USA bring together people from various cultures under one roof. The country is well-known for attracting individuals from nearly every corner of the globe, with varied cultures, festivals, foods, and more! Indians also live, work, and study in large numbers in the USA, making it easier for Indian hopefuls to take STEM courses here.

  • Studying at the best US universities for STEM courses opens up many opportunities, the most important of which are global views and viewpoints. Students have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engage with individuals from diverse cultures, understand various global markets, solve problems, and ask questions with an open mind.

List of Best STEM Universities in USA

The United States is known around the world for focusing on improving global technology and is a leader in cutting-edge scientific discoveries. With the technology and scientific industries increasing, the United States is focusing on developing new visionaries who can work in these fields. This is why STEM courses are promoted at several prestigious universities in the USA. 

Several of the top STEM universities in USA are featured in the table below, along with their respective QS WUR Rankings for 2023.

Best STEM Universities in the USA

QS World University Rankings 2023

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

1

Stanford University

3

Harvard University

5

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

=6

University of Chicago

10

University of Pennsylvania

13

Princeton University

=16

Yale University

18

Cornell University

20

Columbia University

22

Johns Hopkins University (Hopkins)

24

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

25

University of California, Berkeley

27

Northwestern University

32

New York University (NYU)

39

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

44

Duke University

=50

Carnegie Mellon University

52

University of California, San Diego

53

Brown University

63

Best USA Universities for STEM Courses – Engineering & Technology 

Mentioned below are the top 10 best US universities for STEM courses in the field of Engineering and Technology studies for international students as per the latest and most recent QS World University Rankings by Subject of 2023:

Universities in the USA

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Engineering & Technology

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

1

Stanford University

2

University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

5

Harvard University

8

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

10

Georgia Institute of Technology

12

Carnegie Mellon University

15

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

17

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

19

University of Texas at Austin

23

Best USA Universities for STEM Courses – Natural Sciences 

Apart from Engineering and Technology, here are the top 10 best US universities for STEM courses in the field of Natural Sciences studies for international students as per the latest and most recent QS World University Rankings by Subject of 2023:

Universities in the USA

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Natural Sciences

Harvard University

1

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2

Stanford University

4

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

6

University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

7

Princeton University 

10

University of Chicago

12

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

=14

Yale University

=20

Cornell University

24

Best USA Universities for STEM Courses – Life Sciences & Medicine 

Last but not least, according to the most recent QS Global University Rankings by Subject for 2023, here are the top 10 best US universities for STEM courses in the subject of Life Sciences studies for international students:

Universities in the USA

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Life Sciences & Medicine

Harvard University

1

Johns Hopkins University

3

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

=4

Stanford University

=4

University of California, San Francisco

8

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

=10

Yale University

14

University of California, San Diego (UCSD)

15

University of Washington

16

University of Pennsylvania

17

Top STEM Majors to Study in the USA

Did you know that there are more than 300 STEM majors or specialisations available in the USA. Hence it can be a little overwhelming for aspirants to select a proper specialisation. Let's take a quick look at the list mentioned below that depicts some of the most opted STEM majors among international students to study in the USA:

Best STEM Majors to Study in the USA

Aeronautical or Aerospace

Statistics

Animal Science

Pharmacology

Agricultural Engineering

Nuclear Physics

Architectural Engineering

Physics

Astronomy

Petroleum Technology

Biochemistry

Mechanical Engineering

Biology / Biomedical Science

Mathematics

Chemical Engineering

Geology

Civil Engineering

Forensic Science and Technology/Genetics

Computer Programming / Computer & Information Science

Zoology

Top STEM Fields Among Int'l Students in the US

One-Year STEM Courses in USA

There are some prestigious universities in the USA that are offering one-year STEM courses to international students. Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, Caltech, and others are among them.

These universities are offering one-year STEM courses in a variety of disciplines or fields of study, including Astronomy, Architectural Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Botany, Behavioral Sciences, Biomedical Technology, Biochemistry, Civil Engineering, and Chemistry, to mention a few.

Find Out the Right STEM Course to Study in the USA!

Eligibility Criteria to Study STEM Courses in USA

Though the eligibility criteria and requirements vary among the best universities in the USA to pursue STEM courses for international students, enlisted below are some general requirements that you must know about:

  • You must have completed 10+2 from a recognised educational board.

  • You must possess 3-4 years of formal Bachelor's degree in your respective field of study from a recognised university.

  • You should have obtained an F-1 USA student visa status.

  • A competitive GRE/GMAT score is also required along with scores of the English language proficiency tests like TOEFL, PTE Academic, Duolingo or IELTS.

  • GPA on a scale of 3.0 to 4.0.

Document Checklist to Study STEM in USA

Here is a quick checklist of all the important documents that you will be needing at the time of admission into a STEM course at any US university:

USA Universities for STEM Courses Without GRE

The GRE exam is one of the most important prerequisites for US universities for granting admissions to international students in STEM courses. Having said that, several universities have started admitting applicants without GRE scores. Here is a small list of some of the best universities in the USA to pursue STEM courses without the GRE exam:

Top Universities in USA to Pursue STEM Courses without GRE

Top STEM Courses

California State University Sacramento

MS in Computer Science

MS in Computer Engineering

Masters in Electrical and Electronic Engineering

University of Dayton

Masters in Applied Mathematical Economics and Psychology

Masters in Biochemistry

Masters in Computer Engineering

Purdue University

Actuarial Science

Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Civil Engineering

Aviation

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Masters in Computer Science

Masters in Artificial Intelligence

Masters in Programming Language

Masters in Mechanical Engineering

Masters in Mathematics, General

University of Pittsburg

BSE Bioengineering

BS Bioinformatics

BS Biological Sciences

BS in Computer Science

Stevens Institute of Technology

MS /PhD Pure & Applied Mathematics

MS in Computational Science

New Mexico State University

Microbiology

Computer Modeling

Genomics in Medicine

Systems Neuroscience

Biotechnology

Molecular Biology

Career Prospects After Studying STEM Courses in USA

STEM graduates can take advantage of the attractive job opportunities in the USA. STEM jobs offer good salary packages that are similar to the standard of living in the USA. The list below includes potential job opportunities as well as their estimated average income in USD.

Job Prospects

Estimated Average Yearly Income in USD

Biochemist

189,000

Geologist

174,000

Computer Scientist

157,000

Statistician

152,000

Mathematician

134,000

IT Managers

94,000

Materials Engineer

94,000

Nuclear Engineer

93,000

Chemical Engineer

90,000

Epidemiologist

88,000

Mechanical Engineer/Civil Engineer

87,000

As a result, when it comes to pursuing courses and specialisations in the Science and Technology stream, studying STEM courses in USA takes the lead in providing a world-class education. The US universities indeed encourage international students to pursue STEM courses in the USA. Nonetheless, the government has imposed a wide range of regulations and provisions in favour of international students to attract them to study at the best US universities and pursue their STEM education.

Hope this article helps you find the ideal STEM course for you! You can write to us at abroad@collegedekho.com in case you still have doubts or seek admission to US universities offering STEM courses.

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FAQs

Why should you choose STEM courses in the USA?

You should choose STEM courses in the USA because the course or the program will expose you to a wide range of work chances and research opportunities that will encourage you to think creatively and outside the box. It improves your academic profile for pursuing a degree through a world-class education system. 

What are STEM courses in USA?

STEM courses in USA refer to subjects that fall within the fields of science, engineering, technology, and mathematics. This area includes courses such as biology, biochemistry, civil engineering, chemical engineering, computer science, aerospace engineering, chemistry, astronomy, and others.

Where does the USA rank in STEM education?

The USA is one of the best destinations to study STEM courses. Several countries have seen varying fortunes in terms of STEM education rankings over the years. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the USA ranked 8th and 11th in reading and science, respectively, and 31st in mathematics. Nonetheless, the USA remains the top global study destination for STEM courses at all levels. 

How to find the perfect school for STEM courses in the USA that matches your academic profile?

In order to find the perfect school for STEM courses in the USA that matches your academic profile, you should seek majors that are related to the stream or program you studied in high school or college. Then, look into the many scholarships available and begin applying to universities in the United States that provide the best STEM programs.

What jobs in the STEM field are most in-demand in the US?

Some of the most in-demand job roles in the STEM field in the US are astronomers, biomedical engineers, data scientists, dentists, medical and health services managers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, scientists, software developers, statisticians and more. 

Can STEM courses be done online? Which are the best universities in the USA to pursue STEM courses online?

Yes, nowadays you can pursue STEM courses online as more and more US universities are providing an option to international students to pursue STEM courses online. Some of the best universities in the USA where you can pursue your STEM courses online are: 

  • Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Harvard University
  • The University of Florida
  • Northeastern University
  • Johns Hopkins University 
     

What are the benefits of STEM courses in the USA?

The top 6 unmatched benefits of pursuing STEM courses in the USA are as follows: 

  • A plethora of job prospects with high salaries 
  • Ever-growing and demanding career field 
  • Increasing job demand 
  • Job satisfaction and diversity 
  • Opportunities to travel 
  • Ability to make an impact in the society 
     

What is the importance of STEM education?

STEM education equips students with skills that make them more employable and prepared to fulfil current labour demands. It includes a wide range of experiences and capabilities. Each STEM component contributes significantly to a well-rounded education. Science provides students with a comprehensive awareness of the world around them.
 

What is the best STEM major in the US?

Some of the most demanding and best STEM majors that international students can study or pursue in some of the prestigious US universities are as follows:

  • Petroleum Engineering

  • Computer Engineering

  • Mathematics & Statisticians

  • Aerospace Engineering

  • Nuclear Engineering

  • Software Development

  • Chemical Engineering

What can the US do to ensure the jobs in STEM get filled?

To ensure that STEM positions are filled, the US intends to expand spending in community institutions, which are responsible for a substantial portion of workforce training. Continuing to invest in workforce training programs and collaborating with state and local governments to create a demand-driven workforce system that assists in developing skills that companies require.

Are STEM graduates in demand in the US?

Yes, STEM graduates are in demand in the US. STEM occupations are growing at a higher rate than non-STEM jobs for post-secondary students. Furthermore, the abilities developed while studying STEM courses, such as critical thinking and problem solving, are transferable to practically all jobs and are in high demand for the majority.
 

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