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Over one million international students choose the USA as their study abroad destination, making it the most popular international study destination in the world! America is known for its comprehensive approach to postgraduate education, combining enhanced subject knowledge and research opportunities with the development of a suite of transferrable skills.
Masters in USA - Overview | |
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Universities | 3,982 |
Oldest University | Harvard University (1636) |
International Students | 833,204 |
Course Length | 2 years |
Average Fees | $20,000-35,000 (at public universities) |
Academic Year | September to June |
With more than 3,000 universities, there is a lot to choose from. US universities constantly rank well in world university rankings. We've looked at the top 5 universities according to three popular university rankings below. Keeping in mind the scale of the postgraduate education in the USA, we have a full guide explaining the kind of universities you can apply to and a deeper look into some of the best ones for a Masters in USA.
University | THE 2025 | QS 2025 | ARWU 2024 |
---|---|---|---|
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Harvard University | 3 | 4 | 1 |
Princeton University | 4 | 22 | 7 |
Stanford University | 6 | 6 | 2 |
California Institute of Technology | 7 | 10 | 8 |
Information in this table is based on the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings and Academic Ranking of World Universities. Visit their websites for more information. |
If you’re doing a Masters in America, you’ll be studying at a more advanced level and be expected to think and study more independently. However, your day-to-day experience will depend on the type of graduate programme you enrol on and what its intended outcomes are.
First things first: Americans don't tend to use the term 'postgraduate'. At least not in the same way as universities and students in other countries. Rather than studying as a 'postgraduate' in the USA, you’ll probably enrol onto a 'graduate' programme. This may also be organised within a specific 'graduate school' (or 'grad school') at your university.
The word 'postgraduate' (or 'post-graduate') is still sometimes used at American universities. But it normally refers to someone who has completed graduate-level training up to PhD level. Such a person would probably be looking for a post-doctoral or early career academic position, not a Masters degree.
We have continued to use the term ‘postgraduate’ in this guide and our other study in USA content, but don’t worry if you see American universities using the term 'graduate' instead.
A Masters degree at an American university usually takes around two years of full-time study to complete (though some courses are shorter). Part-time courses take longer (usually double the time of a full-time degree).
Even though this is longer than in some other countries, you’ll have additional development opportunities and, in some cases, the chance to shorten the time required to earn a PhD, if you decide to do one.
The academic year in American universities is structured slightly differently than in other countries. Universities work on either the semester or the quarter system which determines how long semesters last, when they begin, and how many modules students can take at once.
If you’re enrolled on an American Masters, you'll be working towards your degree, with regular assessments and training tasks. Courses are usually organised into modules and your final grade will be determined by a weighted combination of the grades you receive across these individual units (including any dissertation project or internship).
But what makes the USA unique is its emphasis on continuous assessment and its use of a Grade Point Average (GPA) system (see below). Masters programmes in countries such as the UK are more likely to assess students at the conclusion of modules. The USA, on the other hand, favours regular evaluation and feedback via routine coursework and assignments.
Put simply, a Grade Point Average is the weighted average of all the grades you have received so far on your course. The weight of each mark will depend on its significance within your course. This usually corresponds with the number of hours of study it is held to represent. Maintaining a strong GPA can be important if you receive funding for your Masters degree. Scholarships may set performance requirements for financial support to continue or renew during your course.
If you're interested in studying a Masters in the USA, We've covered everything you need to know in our guides including:
If you’re interested in studying your Masters in the USA, we’ve covered everything you need to know in our selection of guides below, including applications, visas and funding.
Ready to start looking for your ideal study abroad opportunity? Browse and compare Masters degrees in the USA on FindAMasters.com.
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