Comparing Higher Education in India and US College Admissions

Comparing Higher Education in India and US College Admissions

There are many reasons students may decide to study in another country. If you’re deciding whether to pursue higher education in India or the US, you’ll want to consider various factors before you begin working towards your college admission letter. Indeed, there are many differences between attending university in India as compared to the US. And, these differences are certainly present in the admissions process.

In this article, we’ll look at the many differences and similarities between higher education in India and the US. We’ll discuss: 

• Quick facts about higher education in India vs the US
• Requirements to apply to university in India and the US
• Applying as an international student
• Paying for higher education in India vs the US
• Tips on applying to university in India and the US
• College admissions assistance for international students

So, if you’re considering attending university in India, then you’re in the right place! First, let’s look at some quick facts about higher education in India vs the US.

College in the US vs India: Quick Facts

Today, more students from India are deciding to pursue higher education in the US rather than higher education in India. Even though these students may have support from their parents, who have received advanced degrees from attending university in India, applying to US colleges can be overwhelming. Plus, how do you decide if you should pursue higher education in India or in the US?

Learning all you can about the similarities and differences can help you make the best decision for you.

Here’s a table to help you compare and contrast higher education in India vs the US:

US College Admissions vs Higher Education in India

Now that we’ve gone over some quick facts about higher education in India and the US, let’s dive a little deeper into the process of applying to university in India vs the US. 

There are many differences between applying for higher education in India and applying to universities in the US. But now more than ever, there are also increasing similarities. Attending university in India used to largely depend on performance on a few high-stakes exams. However, many institutions in India are adopting a more holistic approach. This approach is more similar to US college admissions as it takes into account factors other than just grades and test scores. 

In the next part of our guide on higher education in India, we’ll first look at all of the steps of applying to college in the US. Especially if you’re an international student, like students who apply from India, make sure to take note of the distinct requirements that international students must follow. 

Throughout, we’ll discuss how the general application process in the US compares to the application process for higher education in India. We’ll also compare the types of tests and documents that schools in these different countries require. 

Applying to College in the US

Before we talk more about higher education in India, let’s break down how university admissions work in the US. Even though millions of students apply to college in the US every year, it is still a daunting process that can be stressful for many. Although there are plenty of helpful online guides, many students seek out college admissions assistance from experts, such as CollegeAdvisor. 

In recent years, there has been a large increase in applicants, but no matching increase in university admissions. This has resulted in lower and lower admission rates at many elite universities, and a heightened precarity in the already overwhelming university admission process. 

This is similar in some ways to higher education in India. In the US, there are far more qualified students than available spots at the top universities. Likewise, at the best colleges in India, acceptance rates have fallen below 1%. Though we don’t have acceptance rates that low in the US, the top universities routinely accept less than 10% of applicants. 

The college admissions landscape

Recently in the US, we have also had a number of changes in legislation and legal challenges that have changed the way that college admissions operate. With different rules around early decision practices and a historic Supreme Court decision that prohibits affirmative action based on race, higher education as a whole is still scrambling to adjust to the new normal and keep admissions fair and equitable. 

As US college admissions currently stand, American universities are the most represented in the Times Higher Education World University Ranking of best global universities. Many students hope to gain admissions to Ivy League schools like Harvard, Yale, or Princeton, or similarly high-ranking universities like MIT or Stanford. Among these universities, the acceptance rates are quite low. They all fall on the list of the lowest acceptance rate colleges, along with schools like California Institute of Technology and other Ivies like Columbia and Brown. 

Don’t panic about US college admissions rates

However, it’s important to remember that the few elite universities in the US do not set the trend. Even among panic around shrinking acceptance rates, the majority of US colleges still admit most of the students who apply. Importantly, many of these schools with higher acceptance rates are still stellar colleges For example, Rutgers, which is ranked #40 by U.S. News, has a 66% acceptance rate, and the University of California Merced, ranked #60, has an 89% acceptance rate.

Applying to college in the US does cost money—the average application fee for college is $45, and many elite schools have higher fees. Especially when most students apply to between 8-12 colleges, these fees can add up. However, there are fee waivers that students who require financial assistance can apply for. 

Given the fees and energy put into applying, it can be difficult for students to narrow down their college list. However, there are tools to help them do so. The College Scorecard evaluates different colleges against each other, and U.S. News’ admissions calculator estimates students’ chances of admission at various schools. 

Before we look at applying to higher education in India, let’s check out the application requirements in the US.

US Applications and Requirements

In the US, you can apply to many schools using one online platform. The Common Application is the most frequently used college application platform, and most schools accept it. Some accept the Coalition Application, but it is only available at schools that meet the Coalition’s requirements for accessibility and equity.

If you only wanted to use the Common App, you could gain university admission at many colleges in the US. However, there are some schools that don’t accept the Common App. Some universities require students to apply through their school-specific platform. There are also some state university systems that have their own application portal, such as ApplyTexas.

The only way to know whether the school you want to apply to accepts the Common App is to check the university admission website. This brings us to the first rule of university admission in the US: do your research. Always start planning ahead of time, and learn as much as you can about each school’s offerings and college admissions requirements. 

Application requirements and holistic admissions

College admissions requirements will differ from school to school. Generally, most schools in the US will have a few common requirements:

• Transcripts of grades
• College recommendation letters
• College admissions essays
• Demographic information about you and our family
• Optional standardized test scores 

Your grades are an important part of your application for university admissions. College admissions requirements ask for official transcripts, which are delivered electronically from your school directly to the college that you apply to rather than reported to the college by the applicant. 

Even though your grades are very important, in the US, many colleges will evaluate students holistically. This means that there is no one piece of your application that will be significantly more important than any of the others. Unlike higher education in India, where test scores and grades often reign supreme, these reports in the US are just one part of your larger application.

However, this is no excuse not to work hard in high school. Just like in secondary school in India, your high school academic career is a significant part of who you are as an applicant. As such, admissions officers will be looking at how you conducted yourself in high school when they evaluate your application. 

Additional application materials

In US college admissions, you will also have an opportunity to talk about your extracurriculars. Just like your grades, your extracurriculars are an important part of gaining university admissions. You want your extracurriculars to demonstrate leadership and commitment. They should also speak to who you are and what you’re passionate about. 

To apply for university admissions in the US, you will almost always have to submit at least one college recommendation letter. These college admission letters should be written by teachers who know you well. Generally, students ask for college recommendation letters from their Junior class, or third-year, teachers. Usually, these teachers are best poised to write you college recommendation letters because they worked with you most recently and can speak to your strengths academically. 

Whereas your college recommendation letters provide an opportunity for people in your life to speak about you, your college admissions essays offer you the opportunity to tell the admissions committee about yourself in your own words. The college admissions essay is very important, especially at elite institutions. These schools receive so many qualified applicants that they are looking for unique individuals with passion and personality. You can show university admissions these qualities through your college admissions essay. 

Unlike in higher education in India, where test scores are paramount, the US has moved towards making standardized tests optional. Colleges still allow you to submit SAT or ACT scores, but not all of them require these scores. Generally, we recommend that if you can, you should still take the SAT or ACT and do your best—having competitive scores will never hurt your application. 

The SAT is also used by some Indian universities to evaluate students’ aptitudes. So, if you’re considering applying to university in India and the US, take the SAT just to be safe. 

Applying as an International Applicant

Students from India are currently the second largest body of international students in the US. If you’re applying as an international student, there may be some additional requirements. 

Demonstrating English proficiency

First, you will likely have to take an English language aptitude test, like the TOEFL. The TOEFL is just under two hours and tests students on their ability to understand English in both an academic and real-life setting. If you’re preparing to attend university in India and are already attending secondary school in India, it’s likely that you have already studied English and are proficient. Interestingly, students who want to attend university in India also have to take the TOEFL.

As an international applicant, you should follow all of the regular college admissions requirements: securing college admission letters from your recommenders, taking standardized tests like the SAT if you think it will increase your chance at admission, and working hard on your grades and extracurriculars. You may also want to get your transcript evaluated so that you can better understand how your academics compare to other applicants. 

Navigating application logistics

Additionally, when applying internationally, you’ll need to secure a visa. Student visas are available and accessible. They will generally still be available even if you find out your admissions decision late. For example, if you finally get your college admission letter and get off the waitlist at your dream school, you should still be able to get a visa. 

Many students in the US struggle to afford college, and this can be even trickier for international students. Though you can’t file for the FAFSA as an international student, you can create a CSS profile that will allow you to apply for need-based aid. 

Fulfilling all of the US college admissions requirements can be overwhelming, especially for an international student. If you need college admissions assistance, working with a college counselor or other admissions advisor can take off some of the pressure. Many US students get college admissions assistance. Especially for international students, college admissions assistance can be beneficial as it will give them personalized guidance on the US education system and college application process. 

Applying to College in India

A large body of young students graduating from secondary school in India want to attend university in India. However, there are not enough spots at the top colleges to support them. Despite the existence of a large number of schools across the country, their quality varies from state to state. And, unfortunately, there isn’t sufficient funding at both the national and state levels to support the quality of education that students crave. 

Attending university in India is also expensive, and costs are trending upward. Between 1980 and 2020, the average cost of attending university in India increased by 169%. Many people in rural areas are not able to afford university in India, and cannot always complete secondary school in India to position themselves to attend college. Just as in the US, there are various scholarships and student loans available for Indian students to pay for college, but this is not enough to increase access. 

What’s more, the best colleges in India have incredibly low acceptance rates—below 1%. This creates an environment where many students feel that they have to leave the country to access the education that they desire. 

There are some differences between applying to university in India and in the US. For example, India places more of an emphasis on testing. The college application timeline is also different. Additionally, in India, Bachelor of Arts programs are generally only 3 years in India, and more specialized programs are longer. Alternatively, in the US, most undergraduate programs are 4 years. Now, let’s see what the application process in India is like.

Understanding the Application Process

If you are interested in attending university in India, it is important to learn more about the landscape of higher education in India. As the competitiveness of higher education in India increases, the application process has become more complex as well. Whereas test scores used to be the singular factor dictating university admissions in India, high test scores are now often the minimum requirement to be considered for admission. In this sense, higher education in India is becoming more holistic in nature and more like higher education in the US.

Another aspect of higher education in India that has been changing is efforts to level the playing field for students from different backgrounds. For example, affirmative action measures now exist in some Indian universities to ensure that students from marginalized backgrounds have equal opportunity to attend university. While affirmative action was banned by the Supreme Court in 2023 in the United States, many schools are still hoping to achieve diverse classes that reflect the talent pool of American students.

These trends in higher education in India have affected admissions processes to university in India as well. In this section, we will introduce general information about how the current university admissions process works in India. 

Seat Allotment Processes

In India, there are special university admissions systems called seat allotment processes. These processes were designed to provide Indian students with a more equitable and streamlined process for applying to university in India.

Students apply online and rank their top programs. Then, there are a series of rounds of admissions offers during which students can freeze, or accept, their offer. If they are not satisfied with their offer, they may wish to float the offer, meaning that they tentatively accept unless a future round provides them with an offer more aligned with their interests. Along the way, students can receive counseling to help ensure they enroll in a program that meets their academic goals.

Some examples of the seat allotment processes are the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) and the University of Delhi’s Common Seat Allocation System. JoSAA was created by India’s Ministry of Education to manage admissions for 121 schools and institutes across India. Seat allocation processes tend to include quotas for students from marginalized backgrounds, such as lower castes or students with disabilities. In creating these systems, schools hope to promote educational accessibility across higher education in India, especially at some of the best colleges in India.

While seat allotment processes are popular, they are just one of the many ways students can seek higher education in India. Below, we will share admissions requirements that are part of the admissions process to university in India.

College Admissions Requirements in India

As higher education in India includes over 1,000 schools, there are many variations in college admissions requirements. Further, requirements differ depending on whether you are an international or Indian student. Here is a list of college admissions requirements you may be expected to complete to enter university in India:

After you make a list of schools to apply to, make a list of requirements for each school. Starting early will help you complete these requirements and avoid stress. Up next, we will share the timeline of university admissions in India.

Timeline of University Admissions in India

To pursue higher education in India, international students should begin the process a year before they hope to enter college. The academic year in India starts in July or August and ends in May or June. 

Most students begin college in the Fall semester. Here is a timeline of Fall university admissions in India, focused on international students:

Note that for Indian nationals, this process can begin later. For example, some Indian students only take entrance exams in the spring before they hope to enroll. Since international students need additional requirements and must acquire visas to attend university in India, their process begins months earlier.

Still, this timeline is a bit later than United States admissions processes, which have early admission deadlines as early as October of students’ senior years of high school. Most students who wish to attend college in the US are advised to start their applications in the summer before their senior year. Even so, more and more students start planning their application approach in their sophomore and junior years. If you want to apply to university in India or the US, seek out college admissions assistance from a reputable source, like U.S. News or CollegeAdvisor. 

Eligibility Requirements for Foreign Students

Whether you wish to go to university in India or the US, if you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the country, there are additional requirements for eligibility. In addition to the standard college admissions requirements for all students which we described above, international applicants are required to:

One of the most important factors to consider when applying to colleges abroad is cost. Since acquiring financial aid is more difficult as an international student in general, you will have to be aware of a school’s sticker price and whether your family can afford to pay for the cost. 

Cost of College in the US vs India

In general, the cost of attending college in the US is higher than it is to attend university in India. In fact, the US has some of the highest tuition rates worldwide. In the United States, tuition costs also vary greatly by school, depending on whether the school is public or private and whether the student is attending a public school in their own state or outside of it. In India, in-state and out-of-state tuition differences do not exist, but there is a large difference between the cost of public and private schools. 

Here are the average tuition rates per year for university in India and in the US, as of 2020:

Unfortunately, the full cost of attending college is much higher than tuition alone. In addition to tuition costs, students must account for fees, living expenses like rent and food, books and materials, health insurance, and travel costs if they plan to go abroad. As such, be sure to put together a complete budget and a plan for how you will pay for college.

Paying for College in the US

When it comes to paying for college in the US, there are many options. Some of these options are based on a student’s financial need, while others are based on achievements. Here are some of the ways that students in the US pay for college:

If you are an international student hoping to attend school in the US, you won’t be able to access all these forms of aid. For instance, federal aid is only available to US citizens. To help finance your education, you might wish to look more closely at schools in the US that offer generous institutional aid and merit scholarships for international students. 

Paying for College in India

One of the major differences between higher education in India and the US is the cost. In general, university in India is much cheaper than university in the US. However, the cost can still be out of reach for some Indian students. As such, there are ways to finance higher education in India, including:

If you are an international student applying to university in India, tuition rates may be higher for you. Additionally, international students do not have access to the same types of aid as domestic students pursuing higher education in India. However, government and university-specific scholarship programs such as the Study in India scholarship, General Scholarship Scheme, and KIIT University International Scholarship Program are available to support international students.

Tips for Applying to College in US and India

Still interested in pursuing higher education in India or the US? Up till now, we have offered a great deal of information on how to do so. Since we provide succinct and clear college admissions assistance, we have compiled a list of the top three tips for applying to college in both the US and India.

As higher education in India has become increasingly competitive in recent years, we recommend that students:

When it comes to applying to college in the US, there are a few tips that will change the game:

Comparing Higher Education in India and US College Admissions – Takeaways

In this article, we compared higher education in India to admissions processes in the US. In addition to sharing similarities and differences in the educational offerings and costs of attendance across the two countries, we also shared tips for applying in both countries. Our analysis covered what is required to apply both as a domestic and an international student. When making the choice about whether to pursue higher education in India or the US, cost is a big factor. Moreover, we highlighted important considerations for affording college in both India and the US.

No matter where you hope to apply, seek out thorough college admissions assistance, like what CollegeAdvisor can provide. With our wealth of resources and expertise, we can help you navigate US admissions and secure your college admission letter.

This article was written by advisor Rachel Kahn and senior advisor Courtney Ng. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.