Ever since the flood gates have opened up for international education possibilities, Indian students have grabbed the torch and made a run for it.
More and more of the Indian youth are seeing foreign degrees as a viable option for global education, better international exposure, a way to tap in on better education resources, and international employment opportunities upon graduation.
USA has been the bearer of promises for a better future for years and continues to trend upward in hosting a dominant number of international students looking to study abroad.
According to the Open Doors Report, the total number of international students studying in US colleges and universities rose 4% in 2021/22 to 948,519, only a handful short of a million.
Considering that it was only about 600,000 at the turn of this century, the rise is quite rapid, barring a little dip seen during the global pandemic.
China and India, being some of the largest provider of students lead in numbers with the two countries often competing neck to neck for the first spot. China sent 290,086 students in 2021/22 with a dip of nearly 9% from the year before, while India sent 199,182 students with a rise of nearly 19% from the previous year.
MBA, being the most popular business degree and one of the most popular graduate degrees for lucrative employment and career growth, naturally sees a large fraction of foreign students.
Here are some numbers in the table below, for international students by field of study. Keep in mind that these numbers include undergraduate and graduate degrees.
However, a majority of the Indian student population is in graduate studies (102,024) as compared to undergraduate (27,545). This should help build a picture.
| Field of Study | Number of International Students in 2021/22 | % Change from previous year |
|---|---|---|
| Math and Computer Science | 200,301 | 10% |
| Engineering | 188,194 | -1.3% |
| Business and Management | 147,293 | 1.1% |
| Physical and Life Sciences | 78,712 | 4.9% |
| Social Sciences | 78,770 | 3.1% |
With the MBA degree established as quite a popular choice with 13.3% of international students with an Indian origin pursuing degrees in Business and Management, we can ask the related question – where?
Which business schools are the best for Indian students looking for an MBA degree in the USA?
Ranking lists are obviously a good place to filter out the best business schools out there. But when it comes to the extra comfort and edge that can be a good resource for Indian students, we can explore deeper.
What makes a good b-school even better for Indian students? Let us look at a few perspectives that you might want to consider.
What are the factors that can help Indian students in MBA programs in USA?
Strength of the alumni
Numbers breed numbers. One strong indication of which MBA programs are most suited to international students in the USA from Indian origin are the population of existing Indian students.
A large percentage of Indians indicate that the adcoms are aware of the strengths of Indian grad students and that they are more in tune with the background they come from.
The year by year student population also indicate continued support and the benefits that come with having a large alumni population who share the same background and MBA education.
Here’s a list of top b-schools with most Indian student population in business degrees as compiled by Poets & Quants. According to their findings, the average Indian population was about 30% in 2021 with some of the top well-known b-schools listed among those with high numbers.
| Business School | % Indian Students in business programs in 2021 |
|---|---|
| University of Chicago Booth | 31% |
| University of Pennsylvania Wharton | 23% |
| University of Michigan Ross | 41% |
| Duke University Fuqua | 27.9% |
| NYU Stern | 28.2% |
| University of Virginia Darden | 33% |
| Carnegie Mellon Tepper | 45% |
| UCLA Anderson | 32.5% |
| University of Texas Austin McCombs | 62% |
| Georgetown University McDonough | 44% |
| University of Washington Foster | 58.3% |
| Notre Dame Mendoza | 30% |
| Rice University Jones | 50% |
| University of Florida Warrington | 27% |
| University of Texas Dallas Jindal | 42% |
Scholarships and Funding Opportunities
No explanations necessary as anyone pursuing an MBA degree abroad is also painfully informed about the stupendous costs in the form of tuition and living expenses.
While the RoI of a good MBA program certainly helps to cushion the future debt, being able to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars (Average MBA tuition in USA is upwards of $100,000) while living in a foreign country and also missing out on regular employment is a big ask.
Loans, scholarships and other forms of financial aid are a common source of funding opportunities to look for. However, being able to seek out help chalked out for specific niches is a big step from general scholarship categories.
There are MBA programs that provide scholarships or fellowships targeted to just Indians, whether merit or background based. Such added financial incentives can be a good reason to choose certain b-schools.
Here are some of the scholarships for Indians and international students associated with certain MBA programs in the US and elsewhere. This is not a comprehensive list and we urge you to check out scholarship options in the schools of your choice.
| Business School | Scholarship Name | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| INSEAD | INSEAD Alumni Fund (IAF) Diversity Scholarship(s) | Amounts vary from €10,000 to €18,000 |
| IMD | Diversity Scholarships | CHF 30K |
| London Business School | BK Birla Scholars Programme | 1 x 100% tuition |
| Yale School of Management | JN Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians | $1,400 to $14,000 |
| Yale School of Management | P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship (IPS) for international women | $12,500 |
| Ohio State University Fisher | International Student Ambassador | 50% tuition + $715 stipend per month |
Here are other first-hand success stories from candidates who secured a scholarship with their admission offer – Indian students with MBA scholarships abroad.
Work permit and OPT facility for MBA employment
International students studying in USA under the F1 visa have the opportunity to apply for an Optional Practical Training (OPT) upon or right before graduation. This 1 year long period allows recent graduates to work in the US while their H1B work visa is processed.
The stipulations for a valid OPT or the subsequent Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is that graduates need to have a job in the same field of their study for a certain number of hours. For more details, we refer you to this article.
This OPT provides, as mentioned before, a 12-month employment validity in the country to international students. This is true for all degrees except for those in the STEM fields. Designated STEM degree holders have an added advantage.
They are allowed to extend the OPT period by an additional 12 months, giving a total of 2 years cushion to the process of obtaining an H1B work visa.
For international students, this is a huge bonus considering the typical level of bureaucratic hurdles one needs to overcome in visa and immigration processes.
Now, most MBA degrees do not fall under the umbrella of STEM programs. However, there is an increasing number of MBA programs that are officially converting to a STEM designation.
Business analytics is in high demand by recruiters and affords b-schools the opportunity to convert the MBA degrees to STEM MBAs. Consequently, these programs fall under the purview of STEM OPT extensions and make both the b-school and certainly its international student population happy. As an Indian international student, applying to MBA in the US, such STEM MBA programs may interest you.
| Business School | STEM MBA |
|---|---|
| University of Rochester, Simon | STEM MBA option for all specializations |
| Cornell University, Johnson | The Johnson Cornell Tech MBA program
One Year Management Science MBA Two Year Management Science MBA |
| Northwestern University Kellogg | Kellogg’s Full-Time MBA, Evening/Weekend MBA and MSMS programs |
| University of Wisconsin Madison | MBA in Technology Strategy and Product Management, and Supply Chain Management specializations are STEM |
| University of Notre Dame, Mendoza | MBA/Master of Science in Business Analytics Dual Degree |
| Duke University, Fuqua School of Business | MBA with second major in Management Science and Technology Management (MSTeM) |
| University of Virginia Darden | MBA with Management Science specialization |
| UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School | All MBA program types |
| Carnegie Mellon University Tepper | MBA is now STEM designated |
Other top MBA programs in the STEM MBA run include names like Michigan Ross, Stanford GSB, MIT Sloan, Berkeley Haas, and more. Here is a detailed article on some of the top STEM MBA programs.
Employment Opportunities
Again, a no-brainer. MBA is a career boosting degree, packaged in a wholesome format with an expensive price tag. As an international student from India, your goal would also include a quick return on such a hefty education investment.
Hence, the need to secure gainful employment upon graduation. This is one of the reasons why MBA brand and employer perceptions of good business schools matter.
Apart from the best ranked MBA programs, you should definitely seek out the best possible “fit” for your education needs that will not only prepare you for a successful career but also help you get your foot in the door.
While all good b-schools do a good job of the same, there are those that excel in certain specializations. Which one fits your needs? Search and research and check out how those can help you reap the benefits of an international degree.
Here are some related articles that can help you get started.
– Career in Management Consulting
– Best MBA Programs in Finance
– Best MBA Programs for Entrepreneurship
– Best MBA Programs in Human Resource Management
– Best B-Schools for Logistics and Supply Chain Management
And finally, the all-encompassing – Best MBA for Placement
These tips should help you narrow down your choices for securing an international MBA degree in the US as an Indian applicant. Check out our MBA success stories for more inspiration and guidance.
And if you need professional help, don’t hesitate to drop us a line at info [at] mbacrystalball [dot] com
Good Luck!
