MA in USA is an advanced master's degree program in arts for 1.5 -2 years. There are approximately 1700 universities that provide courses under masters degree in USA. Candidates can pursue MA in United States in various fields like Journalism and Mass Communication, Fashion Design, Political Sciences and many more. Master's degree in US is available on both full-time and part-time basis. The average GPA to be qualified for MA in USA is 3.0 on a scale of 4.0. A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or above or TOEFL score of 88 or above is necessary for pursuing Masters in USA. The average yearly cost of attending an MA in USA varies from 35,000 USD to 55,000 USD (INR 28,75,267 - INR 45,18,277). The top universities in USA offer candidates with various job profiles and high-salaried jobs. The salaries of the candidates differ according to their specialization. The average annual salary of the candidates pursuing an MA in USA is 68,000 USD (INR 55,86,234).

Table Of Contents 

  1. Highlights of MA in USA
  2. Why Study MA in USA?
  3. MA in USA Areas of Specializations
    3.1 MA in USA vs MBA in USA
  4. Top Universities for MA in USA
  5. Admission Process
    5.1 Eligibility Criteria
    5.2 Admission Documents Requirement
    5.3 MS in USA Application Fee
    5.4 Admission Deadline
  6. Admission Requirements for MA in USA
  7. MA in USA Cost of Attendance
  8. MA in USA Scholarships
  9. Jobs after MA in USA
    9.1 Top Recruiters for MA in USA
  10. Work Permit
  11. ROI for the top colleges providing the MA in USA
  12. FAQs

Highlights of MA in USA

Some key features to study, travel and stay in USA for Masters prorgams are as follows:

Program Name Master of Arts (M.A.)
Top Courses MA in Anthropology USA Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication in USA Masters in Political Science USA MA in Philosophy USA MA in History USA Masters in Fashion Design in USA
Program Duration 1.5- 2 years
Program Mode Full-time, Part-time, Online
ELP Requirements

IELTS score: 6.5 - 7.5
TOEFL score: 88 - 100

Standardized Test Scores GMAT Required
GRE score: 330
Average Tuition Fee 35,000 USD to 55,000 USD (28.96 lakhs to 45.52 lakhs INR)
Top Universities Harvard University | Cornell University | Stanford University | Yale University | University of Pennsylvania| Columbia University
Average Salary 68,000 USD (56.28 lakhs INR)
Top Job Profiles Economist Financial Analyst | Business Development Associate | Professional Counselor
Recruiting Organizations HIM Recruiters | Robert Half Lucas Group | Adecco | Aerotek | Korn Ferry

Why Study MA in USA?

The USA is the best-known country to deliver the candidates effective masters courses. Considerable reasons for choosing sto study MA programs in top private and public universities in USA are as follows:

  • In June 2021, USA gave rise to approximately 4.6 million jobs. Adding these many jobs to the US economy provides opportunities for the candidates.
  • The weekly median salary is USD 1574 which is huge as compared to other degrees. 
  • Candidates get the benefit of scholarships to pursue their MA USA courses.
  • Some universities with high acceptance rates are also available for international students.
  • USA welcomes students across the world with various ethnicities, religions and cultural beliefs.
  • The employment rate is above 95%. This means there are abundant job opportunities for masters students in USA. 
  • MA in USA offers Maters in Arts in various fields like biotechnology, Psychology, Fine Arts. Candidates can choose from various subjects in MA in USA.

MA in USA Areas of Specializations

MA USA earns fame for various specialization courses in top universities. Candidates can opt for Masters in Linguistics online USA. Here, stating below are some of the top specializations of MA in USA:

  • Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication in USA - Journalism and mass com teaches students about Print Media, Electronic Media and New Media.
  • Masters in International Relations USA - Focusses on political principles, foreign affairs, and the relations between countries.
  • Masters in Fashion Design in USA - Offers courses related to designing that include a wide range of areas including textiles and knitwear.
  • Masters in Political Science USA - Candidates learn to represent the public, based on their understanding of social dynamics. This also teaches international relations between nations
  • MA in Philosophy USA - Candidates learn philosophical discussion and debate in MA in Philosophy in USA.
  • Master in Education USA - This is similar to MS or MA but awarded to study programmes in the area of education.
  • Masters in Psychology USA - This includes thesis work and can be done with the doctoral degree on philosophy.
  • Masters in Mass Communication USA - Prepares candidates to work in Technology, Media Industry, schools and museums.
  • Linguistics Master Programs USA - This is a science based study on human languages. This deals with context, structure, and meaning of languages.
  • Masters in History USA - Teaches about the past and how the historians understand the past based on investigations.
  • Masters in Fine Arts USA - This is a terminal degree in fine arts, including visual arts, creative writing, graphic design, photography, filmmaking, and many more.
  • Master in Anthropology USA - This delas with theoretical and methodological foundations of social and cultural anthropology.
  • Masters in English USA - Teaches students perform research, writing, or other fields that value a strong grounding in language, literature, rhetoric, and the study of culture.

MA in USA vs MBA in USA

Both MA and MBA programs offers certain benefits of studying in USA. There are multiple differences between MA in USA and MBA in USA. Few differences are tabulated below:

Parameters MA in USA MBA in USA
Annual Tuition Cost Cost of MA in USA is average USD 60,000 (INR 49,42,266) Cost of MBA in USA is average USD 80,472 (INR 66 LPA)
Experience No experience required Minimum 2-3 years work experience
Annual Salary Average: USD 70,000 (INR 57 LPA) Salary of different types of MBA jobs in USA is USD 1,10,000 (INR 90 LPA)
Applicants Fresher Graduates Experienced working professionals

Top Universities for MA in USA

A list of top universities in USA for Masters programs along with annual tuition fees are as follows:

Name of University Program Offered Tuition Fees (Per Year)
Stanford University MA in Philosophy | MA in Journalism | Masters in International relations USA | MA in History USD 58,746 (INR 4838996)
Harvard University MA in Anthropology | MA in South Asian Studies | Masters in International relations USA| MA in Music USD 57,246 (INR 4715438)
Yale University MA in Anthropology | MA in Statistics | Masters in International relations USA| MA in Design 46,900 USD (INR 38,54,828)
Columbia University MA in Statistics | MA in Biomedical Informatics |Masters in International relations USA| MA in Journalism USD 67,864 (INR 5590059)
Cornell University MA in Human Resource Management(Executive) | MA in Design | MA in Anthropology USD 29,500 (INR 2429959)
University of Pennsylvania MA in Liberal Arts | MA in Mathematics | MA in History USD 32,796 (INR 2701455)
University of Chicago MA in Humanities | MA in Social Service Administration | MA in Political Science 65,000 USD (INR 53,43,032)
Northwestern University MA in English Literature | MA in Economics | MA in Clinical Psychology USD 64,650 (INR 5325317)
New York University MA in Economics | MA in Psychology | MA in Journalism USD 67,232 (INR 5538000)
Johns Hopkins University MA in Liberal Arts | MA in International Economics and Finance | MA in Public Management USD 60,480 (INR 4981828)

MA in USA Admission Process

The admission process for applying MA in USA universities are listed below:

  • Shortlist the courses of MA in USA as per the candidates' ambitions and goals.
  • Check the application documents, eligibility criteria of the chosen universities and their courses
  • Understanding what is grading systems in USA.
  • Collect all the documents required for admission.
  • Checking availability of without GRE universities in USA.
  • Fill out the application form and submit the required documents.
  • Payment of application fee.
  • After receiving the offer letter, apply for a US student visa to pursue the offline courses.

Eligibility Criteria for MA in USA

Candidates must meet the eligibility criteria for applying to MA in USA. The basic eligibility criteria are as follows:

  • Bachelor's degree for 3 to 4 years in related fields.
  • IELTS score: 6.5-7.5
  • TOEFL score: 88-100
  • A GPA of 3.5 or higher or 87% in UG programs
  • GRE score of a minimum of 330 is required.
  • Research Internships mostly preferred.
  • Published Research papers.
  • F1 student visa application.
  • Social & Leadership activities.

Documents Requirement for MA in USA

The documents required for applying MA in USA are stated below:

  • Official transcripts from university or college attended
  • Academic credentials
  • Updated CV
  • Minimum 2-3 LOR for USA (Letter of Recommendation)
  • Bank statements of the last 3 months
  • Health Insurance certificate
  • SOP for USA (Statement of Purpose)
  • Passport for visa process.
  • Portfolio with work samples (for creative arts programs admission)
  • 2-3 Writing essays/samples ( for Research-based courses)
  • Copy of CSS profile for international students.

MS in USA Application Fees

There are certain universities in USA wihtout application fees. The application fees for MS in USA are:

Name of University Application Fees
Stanford University USD 125 (INR 10296)
Harvard University USD 85 (INR 7001)
Yale University USD 105 (INR 8649)
Columbia University USD 95 (INR 7825)
Cornell University USD 105 (INR 8649)
University of Pennsylvania USD 90 (INR 7413)
University of Chicago USD 160 (INR 13179)
Northwestern University USD 95 (INR 7825)
New York University USD 110 (INR 9060)
Johns Hopkins University USD 75 (INR 6177

1USD = INR 82.37, dated: 13th July, 2023

Application Deadlines

The application deadlines for top universities in USA for Masters programs are as follows:

Name of University Application Deadlines
Stanford University January 8, 2024
Harvard University Application Closed
Yale University Closed
Columbia University Biomedical Informatics (Sept 1st, 2023)
Cornell University Master of Architecture - January 3 (Closed) Master of Science in Design Technology - January 3 (Closed) Master of Regional Planning, Historic Preservation Planning, or Regional Science - January 10 (Closed) Master of Fine Arts in Creative Visual Arts - January 15 (Closed) Real Estate priority deadline for financial aid - January 15 (Closed) Master of Fine Arts - February 15 (Closed)
University of Pennsylvania Fall 2024 - December 15, 2023
University of Chicago MA in Applied Economics - Feb 1, 2024
Northwestern University April 15th, 2023 (closed)
New York University Spring 2023 - November 1, 2023
Fall 2023 - December 1
Johns Hopkins University Fall Deadline - March 1, 2023 (Closed)

Admission Requirements for MA in USA

Here, tabulated below the required scores of exams to study in USA for Masters programs:

Name of University Standardized Score ELP Score
Stanford University GMAT: 790
GRE: 320
TOEFL iBT: 100
IELTS: 7.0 or higher
Harvard University GRE Test Scores are Optional TOEFL iBT: 100 or higher
IELTS: 7.5 or higher
Yale University No minimum GMAT or GRE scores TOEFL iBT: 105
IELTS: 7.5
Columbia University GRE: 310 TOEFL iBT: 100 or above
IELTS: 7.5
Cornell University GMAT: 720
GRE Quantitative: 165,
GRE Verbal: 155,
GRE AWA: 3.5
TOEFL iBT: 77 or above
IELTS: 7.0 or higher
University of Pennsylvania GMAT: 540
GRE Verbal: 155 (verbal)
GRE Quantitative:166
GRE AWA: 3.8
TOEFL: 100
IELTS: 7.5 or higher
University of Chicago GMAT: 80th percentile and above
GRE: 70th percentile and above
TOEFL iBT: 79
IELTS: 7.0
PTE: 70
Northwestern University GRE Scores are not required TOEFL iBT: 100 or higher
IELTS: 7.0
New York University GRE Scores are optional TOEFL iBT: 90 or above
IELTS: 7.0 or above
PTE Academic: 125 or above
Johns Hopkins University GRE Scores are Not Required TOEFL iBT: 100 or above
TOEFL PBT: 600
IELTS: 7.0 or higher

MA in USA Cost of Attendance

\An estimated total cost of studying in USA for international students are as follows:

Particulars Annual Cost
Accomodation USD 15,000 (INR 12,35,572)
Meals USD 8,000 (INR 6,58,972)
Travel USD 900 (INR 74,134)
Miscellanious (Laundry, cleaning, Internet etc) USD 1500 (INR 1,23,557)
Health Insurance USD 600 (INR 49,422)
Total USD 26,000 (INR 21,41,659)

1USD = INR 82.37, dated: 13th July, 2023

MA in USA Scholarships

There are several scholarships for studying MA in USA. The table is given highlights some popualr scholarships to study in USA for international students:

University Name Name of Scholarships Eligibility Criteria Award granted
Stanford University Knight-Hennessy Funding Candidates must enroll in an additional graduate program Stipend for living and academic expenses, and a travel stipend for one annual trip to and from Stanford
Harvard University Harvard University Graduate Degree Students Scholarships Candidates with better academic scores Cover entire Tuition fee
Yale University Global Excellence Scholarship Candidates who complete their applications for admission by the deadlines USD10,000 or USD5,000 per year (INR 8,23,715 or INR 4,11,857)
Columbia University CouponoBox Smart Student Scholarship Applicant must be in High School, College or University education programme currently. USD500 (INR 41,185)
Cornell University New International Scholarship Opportunities Monthly Be admitted to, or enrolled in, a full-time degree program at a U.S.
International student permitted to legally study in the U.S.
USD2,000 (INR 1,64,743)
University of Pennsylvania Zolve Global Scholarship All Masters Degree, or PhD starting in 2023
All Non-US Citizens who are moving to or have moved to the US in 2023.
USD5,000 (INR 4,11,857)
University of Chicago MPOWER Global Citizen Scholarship Awarded annually to international and DACA students enrolled at Universities MPOWER supports in the U.S. USD5,000 (INR 4,11,857)
Northwestern University Jay Holstine Scholarship Any actively enrolled college and university students, excellent academic record holder and an essay on given topic. USD1,000 (INR 82,371)
New York University Learning Goals Essay Scholarship Eligible participants are graduating US high school seniors or undergraduate students (including international students) with a cumulative GPA above 3.0 over the previous school year. The submission deadline is August 1 at 12:00 p.m. (Eastern) USD500 (INR 41,185)
Johns Hopkins University MPOWER Monthly Scholarship Be admitted to, or enrolled in, a full-time degree program at one of the schools mpower supports in the U.S.
Be an international student permitted to legally study in the U.S.
USD1,000, USD500, USD500
JN Tata Endowment Scholarship At least 60% in UG Must be an Indian Citizen 1,216-12168 USD (INR 1,00,000- INR 10,00,000)
Fulbright Nehru Masters Scholarships for International students Indian citizen | Academic excellence | English proficiency Monthly stipend, Tuition and cost of attendance coverage
SelfScore International Student Scholarship Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required Must rank in top 15% in SAT/ACT score 5,000 USD (INR 4,10,877)

Jobs after MA in USA

Candidates will attain several job profiles after completing their master’s degree in US. The salary strucute of popular jobs in USA for international students are tabulated below:

Job Type AVerage Annual Salary (Estiamted)
Project manager USD 72,533 (INR 59,74,729)
HR Manager USD 73,755 (INR 60,75,362)
Executive Director USD 79,445 (INR 65,44,075)
Program Manager, Non-Profit Organization USD 58,319 (INR 48,03,893)
High School Teacher USD 56,157 (INR 46,25,740)
Marketing Manager USD 69,718 (INR 57,42,837)
Data Analyst USD 67,441 (INR 55,55,263)

Top Recruiters for MA in USA

The top recruiters offering both full-time as well as part-time jobs in USA are as follows:

  • Robert Half
  • Kelly
  • Korn Ferry
  • Adecco
  • Aerotek
  • Randstad
  • Lucas Group
  • HIM Recruiters

Work Permit in USA

After completing an MA in USA, international candidates need to have a post-work visa. The post-work visa in USA is either an H-1B visa or Optional Practical Training (OPT) visa. Candidates willing to attend an internship for 6 months to 1 year can opt for OPT visa. Candidates possessing F1 visas can apply for H-1B visas to work as non-immigrant employers in USA. However, aspirants need to meet certain eligibility criteria to get the visa:

  • US employer must be a student of the US
  • Bachelor degree from a top university in US is required.
  • Applicants need to have a degree from an authorized university.

ROI for Top Colleges Providing MA in USA

The ROI for the top college offering the MA in USA are tabulated below:

Name of University Tuition Fee per year Cost of Living Total Expense Average Annual Salary ROI
Stanford University USD 58,746 (INR 4838996) Cost of living in USA for top universities is around USD 26,000 (INR 21,41,659) USD 84,746 (INR 69,80,655) USD 70,000 82%
Harvard University USD 57,246 (INR 4715438) USD 83,246 (IRN 68,57,097) 84%
Yale University 46,900 USD (INR 38,54,828) USD 72,900 (USD 60,04,882) 96%
Columbia University USD 67,864 (INR 5590059) USD 93,864 (INR 77,31,718) 74%
Cornell University USD 29,500 (INR 2429959) USD 55,500 (INR 45,71,618) 126%
University of Pennsylvania USD 32,796 (INR 2701455) USD 58,796 (INR 48,43,114) 119%
University of Chicago 65,000 USD (INR 53,43,032) USD 91,000 (INR 74,95,806) 76%
Northwestern University USD 64,650 (INR 5325317) USD 90,650 (INR 74,66,976) 77%
New York University USD 67,232 (INR 5538000) USD 93,232 (USD 76,79,659) 75%
Johns Hopkins University USD 60,480 (INR 4981828) USD 86480 (INR 71,23,487) 80%

Studying MA in USA is a great step for candidates to develop their careers. The top universities for MA in United States offer various job opportunities to applicants with high paid salaries. Candidates can also get scholarship assistance to pursue their courses in USA.

FAQs

Ques. What is an MA in America?

Ans. A Masters degree at an American university is a course which candidates can do after their bachelors degree. It usually takes around two years of full-time study to complete (though some courses are shorter). Masters in USA focusses on structured training and regular assessment on a graduate programme.

Ques. How long is MA in USA?

Ans. The duration of MA in USA is usually 2 years. Some colleges or countries might complete the course in 1.5 years.

Ques. What are the requirements for MA in USA?

Ans. Candidates require 3 to 4 years of a bachelor's degree in the relevant field with an average GPA of 3.0 and above. The English language proficiency test scores and GRE scores are required for international students.

Ques. Is Masters in USA expensive?

Ans. The average cost of an MS in US varies. The average tuition cost for earning a master's degree in the USA is between USD18,000 and USD65,000 USD (about INR 16.5 and 53.6 lakhs) each year. However, this depends on which college the candidates is choosing

Ques. Is GRE required for MA in USA?

Ans. GRE is an official prerequisite for technical master's degrees like MS, MCA, MSC, MTech, MBA in countries like the US. It is mandatory to give the GRE test for the candidates. However, as of now, GRE is waived off for most colleges and universities.

Ques. Which exam is required for Masters in USA?

Ans. The GRE is the most common test for applicants to graduate school programs. International candidates must provide IELTS, TOEFL or other English language proficiency test scores. .

Ques. What is the salary after masters in USA?

Ans. The MA in USA average salary is around USD 70,000

Ques. What is the IELTS score required for USA?

Ans. International students are required to score a minimum of 6.0 band in each module with an overall score of 6.5.

Ques. Do Indian students get jobs in USA after MS?

Ans. After completing MA in USA, candidates can apply for the OPT (Optional Practical Training) card or EAD (Employment Authorization Document) and find a job with OPT within 90 days of the starting date. The employing company will then apply for your H1-B visa.

Ques. Is it hard to get a job after Masters in USA?

Ans. A majority of MS universities in the US do not provide international students with direct job opportunities after MA in US. Candidates must apply for jobs to be able to work after completing the course.