Trending Career Options in the United States

Updated on 14 December, 2023

Shivangi Mishra

Shivangi Mishra

Sr. Content Editor

Every student who wishes to further their education abroad begins their research by looking into prospective career choices. In-depth knowledge of popular courses, top universities, and trending career options in the United States helps make an informed, fool-proof decision. This article covers all aspects of the most trending career choices among the several available options. 

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Top Courses in the United States

Some of the top courses students can pursue in the USA to pave the way for a promising career have been discussed below, including the universities from which they can be pursued, the job prospects after completion, cost of attendance, salary, etc. 

1. Master of Business Administration (MBA)

MBA, or Master of Business Administration, is among the most popular postgraduate courses. Pursuing a master’s degree from one of the top business schools in the United States increases the scope of better job opportunities. It allows students to participate in Optional Practical Training, which allows them to work for one year.

Top Universities for MBA

The top universities to pursue MBA in the United States are as follows-

  1. Harvard University
  2. Stanford University
  3. University of Chicago
  4. Northwestern University
  5. University of Pennsylvania
  6. Anderson School of Management, University of California
  7. Stern School of Business, New York University

Specializations

The specializations offered by these universities include

  • MBA Entrepreneurship
  • MBA
  • Ph.D. Business Administration
  • MBA Marketing Management
  • Masters of Science Business
  • Master of Science Management Studies
  • B.A. Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • MBA Entrepreneurial Management
  • B.A. International Studies and Business

Job Prospects After Doing MBA in the United States

The average salary post-MBA in the USA is $115000/year. In-demand jobs in USA include Accounting Manager (Average salary $72000/year), Business Development Director (Average salary $104000/year), Marketing Manager (Average salary $66000/year), Senior Accountant (Average salary $68000/year), and Marketing Director (Average salary $88000/year). 

Cost of Studying– The cost of doing an MBA in the United States ranges from $56000 to $150000.

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2. Business Analytics and Data Science

Data Science and Business Analytics are two fields on the rise in terms of opportunities and interest. The companies have a good demand for professionals in this field and are also the highest-paid professionals.

Top Universities for Business Analytics and Data Science

Some of the top universities for Business Analytics and Data Science in the United States are

  1. Stanford University
  2. University of Pennsylvania
  3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  4. Carnegie Mellon University

Specializations

The specializations offered by these universities include-

Career Prospects After Doing Data Science and Business Analytics in the USA

There are different options available such as you can become a data analyst, data engineer, statistician, infrastructure engineer, etc. The average salary is as follows-

Data Analyst- $65,000 per year

Data Engineer- $121,000 per year

Statistician- $98,000 per year

Infrastructure engineer- $61,000 per year

Cost of Studying Data Science in the USA

For a Bachelor’s degree, the average cost of studying data science and business analytics ranges from $26,000 to $50,000 per annum. The cost for a Master’s degree ranges from $18,000 to $40,000 per year.

3. Engineering

STEM subjects, including engineering, are the most popular courses for Indian students to study in the United States, and it is among the highest paying jobs in the country. International engineering students are second only to business students in terms of numbers. As with business schools, the United States also leads in this category, with most engineering colleges ranked in the top ten by QS.  

  • Computer Science

With the increase in digitalization worldwide, the demand for software engineers and analysts has increased. Computer science is one of the most competitive programs in the United States. Silicon Valley is the home to many of the top companies in the World, such as Facebook, Apple, Microsoft, and Google.

Mechanical engineering is one of the oldest disciplines and has long been a popular choice among students. Many students regard it as the best course in the United States. It includes various courses such as mechatronics, automobile, aerospace, and aeronautical.

It ranks third among the most popular courses in the United States for International Students due to its extensive course offerings and exposure to a world-class industrial market.

Electrical and Computer Engineering, as the name implies, combines electrical engineering and computer engineering. The difference between the two is that it is more concerned with the engineering and architecture aspects, whereas computer science is concerned with software technology.

Top Universities for Engineering 

  1. Stanford University
  2. Harvard University
  3. The University of California, San Diego
  4. Georgia Institute of Technology
  5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 
  6. Carnegie Mellon University
  7. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  8. Purdue University
  9. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Job Prospects after doing Engineering in the United States

After completing Engineering in the US, the expected yearly salary as per specialization could be: 

Mechanical Engineering – Average Salary $83,000

Aerospace Engineering – Average Salary $110,000

Chemical Engineering – Average Salary $108,000

Electrical Engineering – Average Salary $98,000

Cost of Studying Engineering in the United States-

The average cost of taking up a degree in Engineering in the United States ranges from $45000 to $60000/year.

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4. Finance

For a student looking for the best postgraduate courses in the USA, MS in Finance is a pretty good choice. This course prepares graduates for corporate finance, investment banking, and investment management careers.

Top Universities for Finance Degree

  1. Columbia University
  2. University of Southern California
  3. University of California Los Angeles 
  4. University of California, Berkeley 
  5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

Specializations

The specializations that can be obtained in the field of Finance include-

Job Prospects After Studying Finance in the United States

The average salary earned after completing Finance in the USA ranges from $45000 to $70000.

Cost of studying Finance in the USA

The average annual cost of studying finance in the USA is around $30000.

5. Medicine

Medicine is another excellent course to study in the United States. It may be challenging to get admission, but it is an advantageous field. People from the field are always in demand, and there are always opportunities for them.

Medical degrees in the United States, particularly MD degrees, are among the most sought-after postgraduate courses in the United States for international students. Medicine students have unparalleled technology access, educational quality, and intensive research opportunities.

Top Universities for Medicine in the USA

Some of the top universities offering a course in Medicine include-

  1. Duke University
  2. Harvard University
  3. Stanford University
  4. Columbia University
  5. Johns Hopkins University
  6. Yale University
  7. The University of California, San Diego

Career Prospects After Medicine in the US

There are various opportunities after doing MBBS, and one can become a physician, dentist, surgeon, clinician, etc. The average salary for general internists is $196,000, whereas for a surgeon, it is $255,000, and for anesthesiologists, it is $267000.

Cost of studying MBBS in the United States-

The average cost of studying MBBS in the USA ranges from $24000 to $66000/year. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the employment prospects for MBA graduates in the US?

In the USA, the average post-MBA salary is $115,000/year. Business development director ($104,801/year), senior accountant ($68,343/year), accounting manager ($72,318/year), marketing manager ($65,749/year), and marketing director ($88,524/year) are a few examples of these positions.

 

 


 

What are the employment prospects for engineers in the United States?

Electrical engineering ($97,665/year), mechanical engineering ($83,546/year), chemical engineering ($108,540/year), and aerospace engineering ($109,808/year) all provide a variety of work opportunities.

 

 


 

What is the ideal employment for students in the United States?

Students in all fields have access to the top employment possibilities in the US. Indian students are drawn to the business management, IT, and medical sciences/healthcare industries.

 

 

 

 

 


 

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Shivangi Mishra

Sr. Content Editor

She is an experienced writer and journalist who has extensively covered the education sector in India and Abroad. Now helping Indian aspirants realise their foreign education dream by providing them with relevant content and information through upGrad Abroad. Amateur traveller, loves to read Architectural Digest!

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