Masters in Engineering Management in USA: Course Guide for International Students

Masters in engineering management (MEM) in USA is a 1 to 2 year program streamlined particularly for engineering graduates. The course broadly encompasses business know-how and leadership concepts that align with advanced engineering techniques.

Presently more than 179 colleges in the USA provide Masters of Engineering Management, accredited with world-class quality. However, with quality come hefty course fees but scholarship programs are in place to fix this issue as well.

Students with a bachelors degree in engineering related field and valid GRE/GMAT score can apply for MS in Engineering Management in USA.
Average annual tuition fees of universities in the USA offering Masters in Engineering Management is around 32,000 USD to 120,000 USD.
After completion of MS in Engineering Management in USA, students can expect to draw a handsome annual package of at least $90,000 at the entry-level.

Why Study Masters in Engineering Management in the USA?

Although, job growth for engineering managers is projected to be only 3% till 2028 (slower than the national average), following are the factors contributing to the attractiveness of MS in Engineering Management in USA among study abroad aspirants:

The median salary of engineering managers in the USA is 144,000 USD per annum. This is higher than the average pay scale of management occupations ie. 105,660 USD per year.

Salary in USA

Total employment in this sector rose by 1% from 2017 to 2018 to 194,250.
Similarly, the mean annual wage for engineering managers increased by 0.3% from 2017 to 2018.
Architectural and engineering sectors employed the highest number of graduates from this field in 2018 ie. 51,020.
However, the highest salary of 177,840 USD per year was earned by engineering managers employed in scientific research and development services.

Top Universities for Masters in Engineering Management in USA

MS in Engineering Management in USA is offered as both full-time and part-time program. Duration of a full-time course is 12 to 24 months while part-time courses usually last for 6 to 9 months.

As per the QS News World University Rankings for 2020, following are the top universities in the USA offering a Masters of Engineering Management program.

QS Global Ranking 2020	University	Programs Offered	Program Fees (in USD)
14	Cornell University	MEng Engineering Management; 2 years	108,814
24	Johns Hopkins University	Master of Engineering Management; 2 year	110,770
25	Duke University	Master of Engineering Management; 1 year	56,664
31	Northwestern University	Master of Engineering Management; 1.3 years	64,548
35	University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	MS in Engineering with Specialization in Engineering Management; 2 years	36,000
56	University of Wisconsin (UW) – Madison	Master of Engineering Management	53,072
65	University of Texas at Austin (UTA)	Master of Engineering Management	53,668
93	Pennsylvania State University (PennState)	Master of Engineering Management	76,932
101	Ohio State University (OSU)	Master of Engineering Management	32,010
108	Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL)	Master of Engineering Management; 1.5 years	84,450

All About Masters in Engineering Management in USA

Masters in Engineering Management may sound like a management degree but it is more specialized than MBA or Masters in Management (MIM). The program is primarily designed for engineers interested to pursue a management role in their career.

The core curriculum of the MS in Engineering Management in USA covers finance, intellectual management, marketing, and management laws. Procedures like staffing, planning or scheduling and business monitoring are also taught in the program.

MBA vs. Masters in Engineering Management (MEM)

Masters in Engineering Management and MBA in the USA are both in demand from an international student’s view. Given below is a difference between the two to help you choose a suitable program:

Determinants	MBA	MEM
Course duration	2 years	2 to 3 years
Curriculum	Six Sigma, Quality systems, Project management, leadership and law, engineering statistics and information systems.	Marketing, finance, accounting, human resources, organizational behavior, and international business
Skills developed	Organizational leadership, business communication and problem-solving	Strategic thinking, communication and innovation.
Eligibility	Engineering graduates or mid-career engineers with managerial experience	With at least 2-3 years of paid experience of working
Placement	Preferably in Tech-companies	Mostly in non-tech companies
Median salary (after 10 years)	107,765 USD per annum	98,626 USD per annum

Admission Process for Masters in Engineering Management in USA

Admissions to masters in the USA universities are difficult to crack. Merely fulfilling the minimum requirements does not assure admissions in the university.

Given below is a brief detail on the procedure and requirements for an international student applying for masters of engineering management in USA.

How to Apply for MS in Engineering Management in USA

Students are required to fill up the application form available online on university websites. Some universities have separate graduate admission portals for masters program.

Then, you must send in the additional documents required along with the application package to the admission department of the respective universities.

Eligibility Criteria for MS in Engineering Management in USA

4-year bachelors in engineering or related sciences
GPA in the range of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale (equivalent to 80%) in engineering or STEM discipline along with 1-2 years of work experience.
Academic background in Science, Engineering, Statistics, and Calculus.
Minimum GRE score of 300 or equivalent GMAT scores

Students who do not qualify with this academic constraint then, case-by-case admissions are considered. However, this is not a profound confirmation for admission.

Documents Required for MS in Engineering Management in USA Admission

Resume: A detailed summary of educational qualifications, personal profile, work experience, and extracurricular activities.
Letters of recommendation: For each university, applicants need to provide 2-3 hard copies of letters of recommendation.
English proficiency test scores
GRE/GMAT test scores must also be submitted.
Mark sheets: Applicants have to submit all the necessary academic proofs that is, pass certificates for 10th and 12th standards along with undergraduate degrees.
Statement of Purpose: Statement of purpose should explain the sole purpose of opting for the program.
Transcripts: This is a brief scorecard from an academic institution which the applicant had last attended.

Proof of English Proficiency for International Students

International students who are from country where English was not the primary language are required to demonstrate proficiency in the this language by submitting IELTS, TOEFL or equivalent test scores. Minimum score required for admission in masters of engineering management in USA are:

IELTS: 6.5 to 7.5
TOEFL (iBT): 89 to 100

Visa Requirements for International Students

Students need to have valid passports and expiry dates need to exceed 2 years of the postgraduate program.
Bank balance needs to cover the tuition fee and living cost of the first year.
Bank statements that stand proof of scholarships offered by USA universities, in case the applicant has applied for any.
Eligibility forms like I-2O in the case of F-1 Visa.
Pay fees of SEVIS that is 180 USD for 200 USD in case of an F-1 visa.
Schedule visa appointments and carry an online form for DS-160 visa for the interview.
Visa Acceptance rate varies for different universities and more than 80% of students usually receive one.

Cost of Studying Masters in Engineering Management in USA

Cost of studying abroad is rather expensive for a student because it has many components associated with it such as test scores registration fees, tuition fees, living cost etc. This section further discusses such costs in brief by diving them in three broad categories: Pre-arrival Cost, Tuition Fees and Cost of Living.

Pre-arrival Expenses

Even before heading to the US, students have to take care of the considerable amount of expenses such as flight charges, visa fees, application, the registration fee of tests required to study in the USA, etc. Such one-time costs are tabulated below:

Type of Expense	Cost (in USD)
Program Application Fees	100-200
Visa Application Fees	160
IELTS Fees	185-190
TOEFL Fees	160-250
GRE Fees	205-230
GMAT Fees	250

Tuition Fees of MS in Engineering Management in USA

Tuition fees for MEM programs range between 26,000 USD and 55,000 USD for one year. Some of the cheapest universities for masters of engineering management in USA are University of California, Los Angeles and Ohio State University. Cost of pursuing MEM from these universities is within 20,000 USD per annum. Tuition Fees of MEM in USA

Cost of Living in USA

Living expenses majorly includes accommodation cost in the USA andcan range anywhere around 1000 USD/month. This is equivalent to 74,000 INR. Tabulated below are the details of some of the expenses an international student will experience on a regular basis while studying in the USA.

Expense type	Monthly Expenses (in USD)
Hostel/ Share rentals	200
Groceries	200
Eating outs	150
Transport	100
Entertainment and shopping	250
International calls	15

Scholarships for Masters in Engineering Management in USA

Looking at the cost of attendance of tuition fees of MS in Engineering Management, international students face a huge financial burden while pursuing higher education in USA.To tackle this issue, universities, non-government agencies and other third-party organizations provide scholarships, fellowships and loans to help students.

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Some of the funding options available for students pursuing Masters of Engineering Management in USA are provided below:

Scholarship	Awarding Institute	Amount (in USD)
Knight Engineering Management Diversity Fellowship	Cornell University	Up to 40,000
Master of Engineering Committee (MEC) Scholarships	Cornell University	Up to 20,000
Knight Scholarship	Cornell University	Up to 40,000
Teaching Assistantship	John Hopkins University	16.50 per hour
Albert H. Rubenstein Memorial Scholarship	Northwestern University	Varies
Warren V. Musser Fellowship in Entrepreneurial Studies	Pennsylvania State University	25,000

In addition to this, some of the popular scholarships offered to international students in USA are detailed below:

Fulbright-Nehru Foreign Student Program: This scholarship program applies to postgraduate programs across all universities in the US. However, the Fullbright-Nehru scholarship requires students to return to the country after course-completion.
Go Clean scholarship: The Go Clean scholarships apply to postgraduate students of Engineering Management in the USA. The scholarship value amounts to $3,500 which can be utilized for tuition fees only.
BrokerFish International Student Scholarship: The BrokerFish scholarship program for international students targets to save expenses in the academic years. The scholarship amount is applicable for tuition fees and amounts to $1,000.
Global Study Awards: British Council (IELTS), ISIC Association and StudyPortals had launched this scholarship program to encourage students for studying abroad. This popular scholarship values to 12,995 USD which can be spent on tuition fees and living expenses.

For more scholarships offered in USA, refer to this link.

Scope of Masters in Engineering Management in USA

The average salary of graduates after completion of MS in Engineering Management from the USA is 117,000 USD per year. This pay grade varies depending upon the organization, location and skills you have. Top recruiters give preference to skills like project management, people management and leadership. Top Recuiters

Some of the job roles in USA available for engineering managers are:

Job Prospect	Average Salary (USD)	Job Prospect	Average Salary (USD)
Design Engineer	86,100	Chemical Process Manager	92,300
Product Engineer	79,200	Technical and Project Manager	101,000
Quality Control Manager	75,900	Process Engineer	75,800
Project Coordinator	79,000	Automation Engineer	88,500

Other options for students interested to pursue a management degree include MBA and Masters in Management in USA. These degrees do not specifically cater to engineering students but they also deal with teaching on how to manage a project, people or organization.

COST OF STUDYING IN USA

The United States of America is the top study destination of the world right now. Due to its high academic standard, students from across the world flock to it in large numbers to pursue their higher education and get internationally recognized degrees.

US University Fees for International Students

It differs from college to college, based on which type of colleges in USA you want to study in. Although the average fees that one has to pay without any financial assistance is quite high, there are a large number of sources of funding available, making studying in the American universities affordable.

Tuition Fees at Public Universities

As mentioned, the university fees are different for different universities and depend on the courses students choose to pursue. On average, however, the college tuition fees vary from USD 5000 to 50000 per year, and this could go up for certain courses like MBA, Medical, Law, etc. The average tuition fees for two-year courses in public universities is USD 3520, while for four-year courses it is USD 9650 (in-state), and USD 24930 (out of state).

Tuition Fees at Other Type of Institutions

The average college tuition fees depend on the kind of institution (public or private), and the course one pursues. As we have already mentioned, even for public universities, the average can go up in a steep manner if the course’s duration doubles. For example, private non-profit universities can charge USD 33480 for a four-year course.

Cost of Undergraduate Degree in USA for International Students

Cost of undergraduate students on average for international students is USD $26290 for the four-year institutions. A large number of international students opt for studying in the USA for their undergraduate studies right after their 12th, for the courses like MSc, MS and BA in USA. The course fees will of course change with the programs one chooses and institutions they apply to. There are also two-year and three-year private/public colleges and universities in USA for international students and the fees will change accordingly.

Cost of Masters Degree in USA for International Students

The average tuition fees for a Masters Degree in the USA can cost anywhere between USD $20,000-$35,000 depending on the course and universities. The business courses, such as MBA in USA and medical in USA can be more expensive than this. Talking about Masters in USA, a large number of international students opt for STEM courses that comprise courses in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. These courses also offer Optional Practical Training and upto 2 years of Stay Back.

PhD in USA Fees vary from $28,000 to $40,000 depending on the course and the institution.

Affordable Universities in the USA

The most affordable universities in USA are the University of Texas, the University of Texas at Austin, Iowa State University and the University of Utah. Some other universities and the average tuition fees they charge are as follows:

Affordable University	Average Tuition Fees
University of Texas at Dallas	13000 USD/year
University of Texas at Arlington	9000 USD/year
Texas A&M University	9000 USD/year
Arizona State University	13000 USD/year
Illinois University of Technology	31000 USD/year

Tuition Fees at Top Ranked Universities

For anyone who wants to study abroad, especially in the United States, it becomes important to know which are the top universities in USA that offer their courses and programmes at affordable costs. Here is a list of such universities in America:

Top-Ranked University	Average Tuition Fees
University of Florida	12000 USD/year
Missouri University of Science and Technology	12000 USD/year
Washington State University	13000 USD/year
University of Wisconsin-Madison	13000 USD/year
North Carolina State University	10000 USD/year

Scholarships in USA

Scholarships are a very important aspect of a student’s plan to Study in USA. For Indian students, especially, the fees that most American universities charge may not be affordable. So here is a list of the scholarships in USA, Indian students can avail for both graduate and undergraduate courses in USA. A scholarship for MS in USA is one of the most sought after by the students:

The Fulbright Nehru Master’s Fellowship
ETS TOEFL Scholarship
Tata Scholarships for Cornell University
American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship
Inlaks Scholarships to Study Abroad
Inlaks Research Travel Grants, and
Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust Scholarships

For more information about scholarships click: Scholarships in USA

International Students Loan USA

International Students loan is a realistic way to fund your expenses for the time when you are going to study abroad. If you are exhausted with your scholarship and financial aid, and the family funds, and there is still the gap of funds that are needed to be proved, an international Students Loan is the way to go. It will not only help you bridge the gap, but will give you the luxury of extended payments and low interest rates.

Education loan Benefits

International Students loans are a great way to fund your education abroad. Because they are designed for the students, they are very flexible when it comes to repayment of the loan. The amounts are high enough to pay for your programs, but the repayment is done over an extended period of time. The interest rates are also low compared to other types of loans. There are also convenient options like repayment after graduation. Keep in mind that most of the time, international students loan for USA are provided by private organisations.

Cost of Student Visa

There are two fees related to F1 student visa for the USA

SEVIS fee which currently cost $350
Visa Application Fee (MRV Fee) which is cost $160

For more details click: Student visa in USA

Cost of living in USA

The living cost in usa for international students actually depends on the location the student decides to stay in. For example, in states like Washington, California, and in the areas around New York, the living costs may be quite high. In general, for students from countries like India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, the living cost may be in the range of 6000 to 20000 dollars a year. This is based on the assumption that students would reside in shared apartments, live outside campus, and live in a modest manner.

Accommodation in USA

There are three kinds of accommodation options available for international students- on campus accommodation, off campus accommodation and host family accommodation. In the first case, the student lives on the university’s campus, in a student room or student apartment. This arrangement is an expensive proposition, but helps in becoming familiar with the university and the students really fast. In off campus accommodation, one hires a private or shared apartment outside the campus. This costs lesse. Finally, living with a family can be more expensive than off campus accommodation, but helps in becoming familiar with the American culture.

Food Costs in USA

Students are not supposed to live in luxurious manners. America offers all kinds of options to people. Students have the option of having meals in inexpensive restaurants for just thirteen dollars. A three-course meal for two people in a mid-range restaurant costs fifty dollars. McDonald’s combo meals cost just seven dollars. Domestic beer costs four dollars, and imported five.

Transportation in USA

Usually, students live either on campus, or just outside it. Therefore, transportation is not a big issue. They avail the public transport system, which comprises of buses, cabs and trains. Also, there are vehicle rental facilities available. Students often use the carpools to move from one place to another.

Extra Costs and Savings in USA

America is full of options and temptations that may incur extra costs. So one needs to be careful. In addition, health insurance is an extra cost. Also, there are the costs related to buying books, stationeries, etc. One can save on the food costs by dining in inexpensive restaurants. One may use pool cars for travelling, and the libraries to borrow all books.

So whether one wants to become a graduate from an American university, or pursue a Masters or any other post-graduate programme, one can be absolutely sure of getta ing top quality education, and in English.