Bachelor Degree in USA: Top Universities, Costs, Requirements, Scholarships & Scope

 Bachelors in USA are equally as popular as Masters Courses. Studying a bachelor degree in USA programs is a practically oriented course that is perfectly the blend of theory and practice. With a range of degrees at some of the top-ranked universities and colleges, completing your bachelors degree from the USA surely will help you in stepping stones into the world of a successful career. A bachelor degree from a US university will definitely give you a great kick-start early in life.

Apart from a successful career, it helps you to receive a well-rounded education and the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills which can be applied to any of the careers you can decide on. According to a survey, it has been found that there are around 4.3 Lakh students currently studying at an undergraduate level in the US. Hence, if you are looking forward to pursuing your bachelors degree in the USA, this blog will help you to get all the information from top universities about the costs of studying and career prospects after bachelor.

Why Study Bachelors in the USA?

Pursuing a bachelor degree in the USA international students can be very beneficial for them in terms of students personal growth and industrial knowledge. Before we can discuss bachelor degrees in the USA, let's first discuss why you should start your bachelors degree from US universities.

  • Top Ranked Universities: The country boasts a number of universities, in which most of which have consistently ranked at the top university rankings by various rankings surveys. According to QS World University Rankings 2023, about 27 universities have been ranked in the top 100 universities, and the top 10 Rankings contain 5 US Universities.
  • Flexible Academic Education: The universities and colleges provide a wide range of courses and programs to choose from. They not only offer an option to choose your course content but also you have the freedom to select the academic structure too. You also have the liberty to select different courses before the declaration of major in the second year, which helps you in exploring your interested subject. 
  • Career Opportunities: Having an international degree in your resume will always play an important role in getting a job across the world. A degree from top universities like Harvard, MIT, etc, widens this scope. Most companies always seek graduates who do masters in their major and also have a global perspective, which helps in contributing to their services
Read: Guide to Study in USA after 12th

Apart from these benefits, the growth in your career is also immense, which opens up a number of opportunities in the future. Now, let's have a look at the type of bachelor degree in USA for international students.

Types of Bachelors Degree in USA

Following are the types of bachelor degree in USA for international students.

  • Bachelor of Arts (BA degree)
  • Bachelor of Science (BS degree)
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA degree)

Let’s explore them in detail:

1.     Bachelor of Arts (BA degree)

This degree is designed for the students who wish to build a career in the liberal arts. You can further choose to pursue it in the following fields.

  • Communication
  • Education
  • English
  • Foreign Languages
  • Philosophy
  • Psychology, etc.

2.     Bachelor of Science (BS degree)

This is one of the most common degrees in US that includes science-related courses. Let’s check the fields that one can choose from.

  • Biology
  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Nursing
  • Physics, etc.

3.     Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA degree)

BFA degree is a perfect option if you want to study visual or performing arts. Here are a few domains to choose from:

  • Creative Writing
  • Film and Photography
  • Visual Arts
  • Music
  • Theatre and Dance

Read: Best Courses in UK after 12th

Next, let’s check out the eligibility criteria to pursue these undergraduate courses in USA.

Eligibility and Requirement of Bachelors in USA

To study at the universities in the USA for bachelors, you must meet some specific eligibility criteria and requirements. Although, the actual one varies based on the university and the program you apply for. Here is a list of admissions requirements you must have to apply to undergraduate courses in USA universities.

  • Higher Secondary
  • English Language Proficiency
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Letter of Recommendation
  • Study Visa

Let's discuss the requirements in detail for bachelor in USA for Indian students.

  • Higher Secondary

If you are looking to get a bachelor degree in the USA, you must have to complete your necessary 12th level of education in a relevant stream. You must have a minimum of 80% marks to get enrolled in the top universities in the USA.

  • English Language Proficiency

Getting admission to a bachelor degree in USA for international students will have to prove their English Proficiency for the program. The minimum score of some popular ELP tests includes TOEFL ( 80-100) and IELTS (6.5 with a band minimum of 6).

  • Statement of Purpose

An SOP or statement of purpose for USA is a required document that you must have to submit if you wish to get admission to universities abroad. This can express your qualifications, hobbies, achievements etc that can help in showing your interest towards the field.

  • Letter of Recommendation

A Letter of Recommendation is a great way to showcase your interest and expertise in a particular field. A good recommendation letter from your academic professors will help in showing your sincerity and character, which can impress the university admission officials.

  • Study Visa

Studying at US universities can be impossible if you don't have a valid passport and visa. After receiving the admission letter, you must have to apply for a student visa in your nearest US embassy.

Suggested: Profile Building to Study in USA

Admission Process for Bachelors in USA

Enrolling in USA Bachelor degree courses is quite straightforward. Once you have shortlisted your desired institutions, you have to apply online through the university's official website.

Most US universities offer applications for admission in three different intakes, which include Winter (January), Fall (September), and Summer (May). Some of them accept applications on a rolling basis too. To get admission to bachelors in the USA you must.

  • Check out the eligibility criteria of your desired course and university.
  • Appear in the standardised entrance tests such as SAT or ACT and in English language tests i.e. TOEFL or IELTS.
  • Apply online through the official website.
  • Submit all the required documents such as transcripts, test scores, academic scores, etc.
  • Once you get the confirmation letter, apply for a student visa to the US.

Read: Spring Intake in USA

Top Universities in USA for Bachelors

The United States has dominated among the other top study abroad destinations for being the most popular choice for students across the world. The top universities in the USA have continued to maintain a strong presence in the top rankings surveys. The type of institutions that offer undergraduate courses in USA include—universities, community colleges, and liberal arts colleges. Here we have listed some of the best universities in the USA for bachelors degrees.

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Stanford University
  • Harvard University
  • University of Chicago
  • University of California, Berkeley

Let's discuss it in detail along with the popular courses for bachelor in USA for Indian students in these top universities in USA for bachelors.

1.     Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Among the other top universities in USA for bachelors, this university is focused on making a better world through its world-class education, research, and innovation. The bachelor degree programs at this university are designed to help the students in developing the knowledge needed to meet the challenges of modern society. The education at MIT joins the power of a specific discipline that is concerned with social values and goals. Computer Science, Humanities, and Engineering are some of the popular undergraduate programs offered by universities.

2.     Stanford University

Stanford University is one of the world's leading research and teaching institutions. Provides admissions to bachelor courses which broadens the student's knowledge and awareness in each of the major areas of human knowledge, which significantly deepens the understanding of one or two areas. This will prepare you for a lifetime of continual learning and application of knowledge to your career and personal life.

3.     Harvard University

Harvard University offers admissions in around 97 distinct undergraduate degrees, which are 57 majors within the 19 broad fields of study. The undergraduate courses at the university are designed with the flexibility in mind to set your academic goals to ensure that you may get a broad education in the specialisation. The popular majors to study for a bachelor degree include social science, mathematics, history, computer, information science, etc.

4.     University of Chicago

The University of Chicago offers more than 50 majors and 40 minors along with a dozen areas of specialised study and pre-professional programs. The university is committed to rigorous inquiry and intellectual freedom to draw path-breaking scholars to their global campuses. The popular majors at bachelor in the university include econometrics, biology, mathematics, computer science, public policy, statistics, etc.

5.     University of California, Berkeley

The bachelor degree programs at University of California, Berkeley have been offered in different majors and minors by different colleges of the university. The bachelors available include chemistry, engineering, environmental design, letters and science, natural resources, and business. The university focuses on serving as a center of higher learning to provide long-term societal benefits through its advanced functioning knowledge.

Cost of Studying Bachelors in USA

The overall cost of bachelor degree in USA for international students comes with two different categories which include, the tuition fees and the costs of living. Let’s explore the cost of bachelor degree in USA.

  • Tuition Fees

USA bachelor degree costs for an international student will vary from one university to another and the choice of program. The average tuition fees for bachelor degree ranges from 15,000 USD/ INR 11,94,157 which can go up to 45,000 USD/ INR 35,82,472 or more per year.

  • Costs of Living

The type of your lifestyle and your university location will determine the costs of your living in the US. On average, you have to spend between 1,200 USD to 1,875 USD/ INR 95,532 to 1,49,269 per month on your accommodation costs. Apart from it, you may also have to spend some amount on your personal expenses too, which may be around 800 USD per month.

Read: Cost of Undergraduate Degree in USA

Now you know the cost of bachelor degree in USA. Next, let’s explore the scholarships to pursue the courses in USA without any financial burden.

Scholarships to Study Bachelors in USA

If you are worried about the cost of bachelor degree in USA, then don't worry about the high tuition fees. US universities also offer a number of scholarships for international students. Here we have listed some bachelor scholarships that you can look for before applying to the university.

There are several other scholarships too for international students to choose from. Make sure you can go through the official website to apply for the university scholarship.

Read: 1-year STEM Courses in USA

Job Opportunities after Bachelors in USA

The job market for bachelor graduates in the USA is very competitive yet welcoming too for international students. As per the academic structure, if you have completed any internship while your bachelor, then you will get an edge over your competitors.

Below we have given some of the job profiles in the USA along with their average salaries.

There are multiple other job profiles that you can look for after completing a degree from top universities in USA for bachelors. However, apart from getting a job, you can also opt for getting a masters degree in your interested field. This can further help you in getting more job opportunities in the future.

So if you want to know about higher education in the USA after completing your bachelor courses and available career opportunities. Do connect with our expert counsellors and take their end-to-end guidance by subscribing to Yocket premium services.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bachelors in USA

Ques. How long is a bachelor 's degree in the USA?

Ans. The length of a full-time bachelor degree in US universities is up to 4 academic years to complete. However, many of the degrees take much longer to complete, including engineering, architecture, and other fields, while some of the bachelor degrees can be completed less than 4 years ago by some highly qualified students.

Ques. Can I get a job with a bachelor's degree?

Ans. Yes, having a bachelor degree is typically enough to get you qualified for various entry level and mid-level job positions across various fields such as business, psychology, social services, computer science, healthcare, etc.

Ques. What are the tuition fees to study in the USA?

Ans. The average tuition fee to study for a bachelor degree in the USA is somewhere between 17,000 USD to 51,000 USD/ INR 13,53,378 to 40,60,135 per year.

Ques. What is the average salary after a bachelor degree in the USA?

Ans. The starting salary after completing a bachelor degree from US universities is around 56,000 USD/ INR 44,58,188 depending upon your job field and specialisations.