Are you one of those people who is finding it difficult to decide between pursuing MBA from India or MS from US? Are you in your final year of college and hoping to make the right decision? If yes, this article is for you.
Choosing to pursue MBA in India or MS abroad depends on a lot of critical factors. Finances, career aspirations, interest, aptitude and knowledge quotient to list a few. And this is exactly why we're here to help you make the right decision.
India & USA as Study Destinations for Higher Education
After pursuing engineering in India, a lot of students are confused as to where to continue their higher education. While a lot of students dream of completing their higher education abroad, many students continue to study further in India.
India has no dearth of educational institutions for higher education. You can find many autonomous institutions, public universities and private universities around the country. Despite the number of institutions, quality institutions are limited in number and most of them are highly competitive such as the IIMs and IITs.
The United States is one of the most preferred choices among international students for higher education. The quality of education, high research output, excellent faculty are among the top reasons why the US is a top study abroad destination. Apart from this, the kind of choice in the universities and courses that the US offers is unparalleled.
MBA in India vs MS in USA
Let us start by understanding the basic difference between the two courses i.e., MS vs MBA in India:
|
MBA in India |
MS in US |
|
2 years |
1.5-2 years |
|
Management program |
Primarily includes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Management) programs |
|
Students from any undergraduate field can pursue MBA |
Students can pursue MS only in the field related to the undergraduate degree |
|
Highly Competitive Top B Schools in India have an acceptance rate of around 1 percent. |
Highly Competitive Top Schools in the USA have an acceptance rate of around 5 percent. |
|
Main Types:
|
Has to be completed Full time |
|
Specialisations: Marketing, Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Digital Marketing, Business Analytics |
Specialisations: Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Finance, Management, Data Analytics, etc. |
|
Better suited for General Managerial and Leadership Roles |
Better suited for candidates who wish to work and specialise in their field. |
Admission Requirements & Process for MBA in India vs MS in USA
The admission requirements and process for both the programs and countries vary widely. The table below provides a comparison between MS vs MBA in India:
|
MBA in India |
MS in USA |
|
3 to 4 years bachelor’s degree in any field |
3 to 4 years bachelor’s degree in relevant field |
|
CAT/ MAT/ XAT / GMAT scores |
GRE score |
|
No English Proficiency requirements |
IELTS/ TOEFL Score for international students to prove proficiency in English |
|
Documents needed to apply in Indian institutes: Mark sheets Work Experience Documents (if applicable) Caste Certificates (if applicable)
|
Documents needed to apply in US universities: Statement of Purpose 2 to 3 letters of recommendation Transcripts Mark sheets CV & Work Experience Details Financial Statement |
|
Admission Process: Entrance Exam Group Discussion Interview |
Admission Process: Standardised Test Scores Interview (in some cases) |
Cost of MBA in India VS MS In USA
A very important factor in deciding between MBA in India vs MS in USA is the total expenses incurred. The expenses for MS in US and India can be divided into the cost of education and the cost of living. It is important to remember that the cost (living and education) varies widely with the university and city a student chooses.
If we take a look at the average cost of the programs below, is evident that studying in US is way more expensive than in India.
|
MBA in India |
MS in USA |
|
Average course tuition fee ranges between 1 lakh to 25 lakh INR. |
Average course tuition fees range between 40,000 to 80,000 USD. Private Universities are more expensive than the public universities. |
|
Depending on the Indian City, living expenses can vary between 15,000-30,000 INR per month. Expenses are incurred under the following heads:
|
Depending on the location and lifestyle, average living expenses for international students can range between 1000-3000 USD per month. Expenses are incurred under the following heads:
|
MBA in India & MS in US: Comparing Student life
MBA programs in India and MS programs in US are both quite intensive. Students pursuing these courses have to be on top of their game if they wish to fare well.
As a student pursuing MBA in India’s top B schools, your life will be all about juggling between studies, assignments, projects and extracurricular activities. The more prestigious the college, the harder work the student has to put in. However, that does not mean that you cannot have fun. You will be a part of different clubs, where they get a chance to participate in various activities and interact with other students.
When it comes to the United States, the course load in MS is quite thorough and the intensive competition makes it even more rigorous. Students are expected to conduct research, submit assignments and perform well in tests. However, the vibrant campus life is one of the best in the world. You get to experience cultural diversity by interacting with students from around the world. Apart from this most US universities offer a range of extracurricular activities that help build up interpersonal skills.
Career Opportunities after doing MBA in India Vs MS in US
India has approximately 214 engineers per million people and more than 70% of MBA aspirants studying in top business schools in India are engineers. Therefore, for engineers, MBA is quite a good choice.
Passing out from the top Business schools in India open up a lot of opportunities for a student. Most MBA colleges in India have on-campus placement, which can be quite helpful for students in finding jobs. You can land a decent managerial role in companies on passing out.
The salary you can earn depends primarily on the college and the MBA specialization. Given below is a quick look at the average salaries.
|
Position/ Profile |
Average Base Salary in India |
|
Marketing Manager |
8 Lakh INR per year |
|
Digital Marketing Manager |
6 Lakh INR per year |
|
Sales Manager |
9 Lakh INR per year |
|
Human Resources Manager |
7 Lakh INR per year |
|
Accounting Manager |
7 Lakh INR per year |
In the USA, the job market is quite different. For MS graduates, job opportunities are quite diverse, especially for students from the top schools/universities. Depending on the field, you can bag jobs in some of the top companies. Many of them are willing to hire international students.
Remember that placements in the US work in a different manner. There is no on-campus placement, therefore, a student will have to put in more effort to get the right job. However, most universities have a career center that organises career fairs. These fairs help students get in touch with prospective employers.
Here is a look at the average salary for popular roles that MS graduates get placed in:
|
Position/ Profile |
Average Base Salary in US |
|
Financial Analyst |
$72,488 per year |
|
Project Manager |
$87,446 per year |
|
Civil Engineer |
$76,364 per year |
|
Mechanical Engineer |
$83,563 per year |
|
Biomedical Engineer |
$74,796 per year |
How do you choose between an MBA in India and MS in US?
So now that you know the difference between an MBA at home and MS in the US, the final decision is a collaboration of your aspirations and your parent's taunts, just kidding! Well, it’s not so difficult to choose one amongst the two. Apart from the points above, here are a few pointers to consider:
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First you need to identify core passion and dedication towards it. If you wish to focus on your current field and work in an engineering-related sector or conduct research in engineering or take up teaching engineering as a career, then MS in US is a perfect choice for you. If you eat, sleep and repeat engineering then like a horse-eye patch just simply concentrate on MS. Also, in choosing MS, the US is definitely a better choice because of the engineering research and facilities being provided. Unfortunately, Indian institutions are yet to catch up with their UK/US counterparts.
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Next is to evaluate your skills. All you need to know is whether you are an analytically and technically bent person or you have entrepreneurial and managerial skills. If you are analytical and technical then you are more suited for MS but if you are good at management then MBA is your field and don’t look for anything beside it.
Eventually let your goals, ambitions and necessities choose your higher education degree. Do not opt for a course to just be part of a ‘herd’. Remember each course has its benefits and the world needs all kinds of people from actors to managing directors. To conclude I would like to say that the word “Success” in real life comes only in good decisions and in the dictionary.
