The top subjects for international students in the USA

America remains one of the top destinations for international students. In 2024, more than a million attended one of its quality higher education institutions, studying a huge range of subjects. However, some fields stood out as being exceptionally popular, as we can show you. Read on as we set out the most popular subjects for international students in the USA, and how you could study them.

What are the most popular subjects in the USA?

According to the official Open Doors International Student Data, the following fields had the most international students in the USA in 2023/24:

The huge popularity of these subjects is clear, with more than half of international students having them as their major. What's more, they are growing. All three fields had more overseas learners last year than in the one before. This reflects a nationwide growth in enrolments. According to SEVIS, the number of active F-1 and M-1 visas rose by 5 per cent year-on-year in 2024.

Next, we'll take a closer look at the top three subjects.

Computer science and mathematics

In the land of Silicon Valley and MIT, it may not be surprising that maths and computer science are the top subjects for international students. America's growing demand for tech expertise is matched by a growth in these fields of study. International enrolments increased by 20.4 per cent year-on-year in 2023/24, reaching an incredible 280,922.

A quick look at the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 can give you an idea of why the USA is particularly well-placed to attract computer science students. Each of the world's top three universities in the field are American, as well as half of the top 10. The aforementioned MIT leads the way, just as it does for maths.

Here are the USA's top five universities for computer science, according to QS:

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
2. Stanford University
3. Carnegie Mellon University
4. Harvard University
5. University of California, Berkeley

International graduates of computer science and maths in America also have other reasons to find it appealing. Under the STEM extension to Optional Practical Training (OPT), they are eligible to live and work in the country for up to three years. During that time, they could find that their skills are much needed. Software developer, data scientist and information security analyst are all among the most in-demand jobs in the USA.

Explore some more of the world's best universities for computer science.

Engineering 

The vast field of engineering keeps the world building and moving – and that's exactly what international education is about. Accordingly, international students flock to it, with more than 210,000 on engineering courses in the USA in 2023/24.

Some of the most popular engineering specialisations for international students in America include:

• Biomedical engineering
  • A job sector forecast to grow seven per cent by 2033, with a current median salary of USD 106,950 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). 
• Marine engineering
  • Working in specialised environments on and offshore, demand for marine engineers is expected to grow eight per cent by 2033. Median salaries are USD 105,670. 
• Electrical engineering
  • From robotics to communication and navigation systems, the work electrical engineers do is critical. Graduates can expect to reach an average salary of USD 118,780. 
• Civil engineering
  • As populations develop, infrastructure and construction need to keep pace. This is where civil engineers come in, with demand expected to grow 6 per cent by 2033 in the USA. 
• Software engineering
  • In a world of AI and ever-increasing automation, the demand for software engineers has never been higher. Jobs for developers, analysts and testers are forecast to grow 17 per cent by 2033, with a current average salary of USD 131,450.

Discover the best universities for engineering in the USA.

Business and management

America is the business capital of the world, and that is a major reason for its popularity with international students of the subject. The home of the MBA and Wall Street holds a unique appeal and unrivalled opportunities that are reflected in growing enrolment numbers. Almost 160,000 people are currently studying business abroad in the US.

Many come to the country as postgraduates, completing the GRE or GMAT entrance exam before enrolling at a specialist business school. Some of the world's very best are in the USA, including Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan. When studying abroad at these illustrious institutions, you'll be in good company – 39 per cent of Harvard MBA students are international.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that there are 13.5 million jobs in the USA for business graduates, with a median salary of USD 71,000. Within the field, it also expects opportunities to grow. The number of management analyst roles is projected to increase 11 per cent by 2033, while for financial managers, the figure is 17 per cent. Already, this role has a median salary of USD 161,700.  

Graduates of business and management degrees in the USA take a multitude of career paths. Options include:

• Accounting manager
• Business consultant
• Entrepreneur
• Financial analyst
• Investment banker
• Management consultant
• Operations manager

Get to know more about the best business schools in the USA. 

Other popular subjects for international students

While the fields discussed in this article make up the majority of enrolments, others also prove attractive. The following are the next most popular subjects for international students in the USA.

Ready to explore further? We have many more guides to studying in the USA. Find out all about the American higher education system, the USA's best student cities and our top reasons to study in America. You can also look for your ideal course in the country with our search tool.