What to Study in USA

Looking Forward – Top Subjects to Study in the US

Nearly 1.2 million international students traveled to the US for their undergraduate studies in 2016. From its range of institutions, array of fields of study, and many post-graduate career options, it’s no surprise that students from around the globe are seeking to take advantage of the opportunities provided there. The country offers over 2000 accredited colleges and universities, each with complete 4-year programs leading to a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS). But with so many choices, how do you narrow down what you want to study?

Here are the 3 most popular majors for international students coming to study in the US:


Consistently at or near the top of the list for popular subjects studied by international students, engineering deserves the first mention in this list. Over 200,000 international students focus on engineering in their studies, representing a 9% increase from 2016 to 2017.

Engineering is one of the highest paying and most stable careers both in the US and on a global scale. Electrical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering lead the emphases, accounting for some of the highest number of job opportunities post-graduation. Perhaps this is why so many students from Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, India, Kuwait, and Iran study this subject in the US.

US universities known for their programs in engineering include University of South Carolina, West Virginia University, and UC Irvine.

Business Administration and Management

The US remains a world leader in business administration and management, both as a professional field and as a field of study. Like engineering, it attracts over 200,000 international students to the US, and has for a decade topped the list of most sought-after degrees internationally. Even still, it has continued to witness a growth of 1.5% from 2016 to 2017.

One of the best degrees to attain in order to go on to further education in graduate studies or to begin a career nearly anywhere on the planet, business administration and management programs in the US is mostly populated with international students hailing from China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Venezuela, Germany, and France.

US universities known for their programs in business administration and management include American University, University of Toledo, and James Madison University.

Computer Science

Computer science quickly climbed the charts to become one of the most popular areas of study for international students in the US, likely due to its popularity in post-graduate career opportunities. Accounting for over 107,000 students from abroad, the field witnessed an increase of almost 30% from 2016 to 2017.

Graduates of with a degree in computer science consistently have high-paying, stable careers based upon the problem-solving skills they acquired during their studies of software design, development, and analysis, which are frequently used to contribute to create innovative solutions in business, scientific, and social settings.

US universities known for their programs in computer science include La Roche College, Auburn University, and Central Washington University.
