Why are students choosing to study in the US?

Almost one million international students from over 200 countries enrolled in US higher education institutions in the 2021/2022 academic year, solidifying America’s reputation as a strong educational powerhouse. Many institutions continue to see an increased year-over-year rebound in new international student enrolments post-pandemic. We consider the reasons why students are choosing to study in the US.  

A beacon of academic excellence 

More than 200 US institutions were ranked in the latest QS World University Rankings, of which 27 featured in the top 100, indicating that American institutions uphold the highest academic standards. This remains true irrespective of the subject you want to study – in fact, US institutions come out on top for several subject areas in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.  

For example, if you’re interested in studying economics, seven US universities are featured in the top 10, with Harvard University ranked as the best university in the world. In the life sciences category, Harvard takes the top spot for medicine and the University of Pennsylvania is ranked as the best university for nursing.  

Whilst the east coast is home to some of the highest-performing institutions, including MIT (ranked as the best university in the world overall), rest assured a high quality of education is also guaranteed on the west coast. The top 10 for electrical and electronic engineering includes Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley in second and third place respectively.  

You can learn more about the top-performing institutions on each side of the coast, as well as general differences between both sides of the country here.  

Career opportunities are plentiful  

Whether you plan on sticking around after graduating or want to find a summer internship, studying in the US can  provide a variety of opportunities on your doorstep to enhance your employability.  

According to the QS Best Student Cities 2023 ranking, Boston in Massachusetts is ranked as best city in the US, in 11th place overall. Home to MIT and Harvard, Boston also ranks an impressive third place for the employer activity indicator, a clear sign that the city is a great place to start your career. Some of the biggest sectors include trade, manufacturing, biotechnology and life sciences. 

If a career in tech sounds appealing to you, aside from the world-renowned Silicon Valley based in California, Monster.com ranks Austin in Texas as the best city to live in. Nicknamed “Silicon Hills”, Austin posts the sixth most tech jobs in the US and includes major firms such as IBM, Amazon, Dell and Tesla. It’s also more affordable than cities like San Francisco or New York, with average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment amounting to US$1,668.  

You can sample different subjects before choosing your major 

Emily Rose Ogland, a US citizen who has studied in the UK and the US, said one of the benefits of the US higher education system is being able to study a variety of subjects throughout your degree.  

Having majored in both philosophy and French at Bryn Mawr College (a private women’s liberal arts college in Pennsylvania), she said: “Many colleges, especially smaller ones, will make you take modules that aren’t related to your field of study in order to graduate. So I had to study French for a year, but I continued afterwards because I  really enjoyed it. After two years of exploring different subjects, you then declare your major.  

“I didn’t know what philosophy was before studying it at Bryn Mawr and was surprised to find that I loved it a lot more than math or science. I wouldn’t have discovered philosophy if it hadn’t been for the liberal arts requirement. A lot of students in the US don’t entirely know what they want to do until the end of the first year and can then specialise from there,” she adds.  

“I would have been very stuck at college if I had gone in thinking I wanted to do math and ended up hating it, so I absolutely love the fact that studying in the US means you have the freedom to find out what you enjoy.” 

Which US university should you apply to?  

With hundreds of institutions to choose from, each one providing a unique student experience, it can be an overwhelming choice.  

Use the QS World University Rankings to start your search and consider working with a QS Counsellor to help you decide the right US universities for you. We also help with admissions advice and visa requirements, and you can manage your offers in one place with a single application.