Numerous students harbor the desire to take their educational career to the US and worry about the minimum percentage required for the USA after 12th. It is a part of the American dream, perhaps, to get a fresh start and build your life from scratch on your terms. However, getting your degree in the United States can offer numerous academic opportunities and exposure to students that traditional Indian universities might not. The way of learning and pedagogy is vastly different, and so is the philosophy and approach towards education. Not only will this provide a boost to your career trajectory, but it will also improve your quality of life.

This article explores the crucial details you need to plan your higher education in the USA after graduating from school.

Minimum Percentage Required For USA After 12th Science

Any admission process requires you to present a set of scores according to your choice of major and subject pool. However, it is important to note that international admissions often prioritise your overall resume and entrance scores over your percentage in 12th. As such, there is no fixed percentage to study in USA after 12th science that guarantees your admission to the institution of your choice. However, it is important to maintain a minimum passing percentage. For Science, the minimum percentage is around 65% to 85%. While aiming for well above 90% is always desirable, it does not advance your chances of admission over your SAT scores and overall achievements unless the university of your choice categorically states this. However, higher scores can help you secure merit-based scholarships.

Minimum Percentage Required For USA After 12th Arts
Similar to Science, the arts follow a similar rule. It is necessary to maintain a passing score of 65% to 80% in your exams. This shows your overall academic performance for the year, which can factor into characterizing your academic acumen. However, as stated earlier, it is only one part of your entire resume and not the focus. Your extracurricular activities and achievements also factor in greatly when it comes to admissions to universities in the US. High SAT scores are arguably the most important factor, and it’s important to follow the admission criteria enlisted by your university of choice thoroughly. But, having a high school examination score can help you secure scholarships and awards from India, which can boost your resume and chances to study in USA after 12th arts.

Minimum Percentage Required For USA After 12th Commerce
Commerce, too, does not follow a fixed test score percentage for admissions. Getting well above a passing percentage of 65% to 75% is the minimum requirement. However, a higher score can always embellish your academic performance and resume. If not, your other achievements, personal projects, and non-academic skills will also factor into your overall evaluation during admission. That’s why it’s necessary to segregate the admission criteria for the universities of your choice and build your performance, scores and achievements accordingly. There is no fixed percentage to study in USA after 12th commerce that guarantees your admission, which is why it is necessary to have a holistic approach to your application.

Why Should You Study In The US After School?

According to data, on average, around 160,000 Indian students apply to study in the US annually. This number is steadily growing each year. The United States and its educational system attract students from all over the world, and there’s a reason for that. When talking about educational systems, people in India generally refer to the pedagogical model, subject pool and evaluations.

So to speak, there is no stringent education system to study in USA for Indian students. Students are free to choose any combination of subjects they want, and the evaluation systems may differ according to the professor and the course taught. This provides students with immense liberty to curate their own educational experience according to their interests, niche or professional plans.

The American Dream is strongly rooted in Asian countries, and India is no exception. In fact, Indian students are some of the most populated student pools in the US. Families who are trying to set up their children for success abroad idealize the educational infrastructure of the United States for the following reasons:

1. The USA is home to the most renowned educational institutes, colleges and universities that offer the best courses in USA after 12th. It comprises 33% of institutes ranked in the top 100 universities in the global QS ranking.

2. The education system in the US is known for being flexible and liberating and allowing students to exercise minimum freedom over what they want to learn. There are no restrictions based on streams like in India, and it’s easy to shift programs.

3. One of the biggest reasons why people want to study in the US is the “salad bowl” or multicultural identity of the country. The racial and ethnic diversity makes it an ideal place for international and Indian students to build community.

How To Study In The USA After The 12th?

As an Indian student, these are the steps you need to follow in your admission to your university of choice:

1. Locate your university of choice. The first step to your admission starts when you begin researching the different universities offering your degree. Go through your program details, course structure, fees and location to narrow down your choices.

2. Go through the Eligibility criteria. Each university may enlist a different set of requirements and test scores for their admission. It’s necessary to be thorough with your research and find the updated information on their website.

3. Look into relevant exams. There are often entrance examinations that you must qualify for before you are able to gain admission into the university of your choice. In the US, SATs are extremely important for university admissions. It’s also important to take English proficiency test scores into consideration.

4. Fill in your application and submit it. Locate the application portal from your university of choice and fill out the application without any error. Upload the relevant documents and submit the form. Pay the application fees.

5. Pay your admission fees. Once you get your acceptance letter, you must pay your admission fees. There’s a limited time period within which you must pay your fees. Scholarship details may change the amount that you have to pay.

6. Apply for Visa Once you’ve completed your admission process, apply for a visa with proof of your acceptance and funds. If you have scholarships, they will factor in during the visa application. There is a list of documents that you need before you can get your visa- starting from your ID proof to your police clearance report.

Requirements To Study In The USA For Indian Students

The eligibility criteria for universities in the US depend on your major and the rules set by the university. However, there are some basic requirements to study in USA for after 12th:

1. The primary and most basic requirement for pursuing higher education in the USA is to have finished 10+2 schooling. While there is no stringent minimum percentage required for USA after 12th, it’s best to maintain a score above 90% English Proficiency Test: Being proficient in English is a primary requirement for you to be able to follow along with the courses- all of which are taught in English.

2. Universities may specify which test they accept. This is IELTS for most universities. However, scores of TOEFL and PTE can allow you to study in USA without IELTS. They might also specify the test scores they expect the students to have. A high score is always desirable, but you should always refer to the university website for updated details.

3. You might also have to clear exams like the SAT, GMAT, GRE, and TOEFL. Depending on your specific major, you may also have to apply for PCAT, MCAT, VCAT, and DAT. However, unlike Indian universities, your test scores are not the holistic determinant of whether you get in or not. Other factors such as your personal achievements, aptitude and experiences also count to bolster your resume.

Documents Required To Study In USA For Indian Students

Once you’ve met the eligibility criteria, you must produce a set of documents attesting to your qualifications. These can differ according to your choice of university. However, these are some of the fixed study in USA requirements:

1. Academic transcript from your previous level of education
2. Your relevant entrance test results
3. English proficiency test scores and certificate
4. Your passport
5. A letter of recommendation from your previously affiliated institute
6. Your CV or Resume
7. A statement of purpose
8. An F1 Visa
9. Police Clearance Certificate
10. Proof of funds and scholarships, if any.


Academic Cycle for USA Intake 2024 Universities in the US follow a bi-annual intake cycle. This means they have their admissions once in the Spring, which is between January and May, and then in the Fall, which is between August and December. Generally, Indian students find the fall semester to fit their admission timeline the best. This is also when you get more scholarship opportunities. It is important to keep track of USA intake 2024 for your admissions. However, certain universities may also have a tri-monthly intake, with a third admission in the summer.

Tuition Fees And Living Expenses In The USA

The cost of studying in the USA study abroad is quite steep. However, it ultimately depends on your major and where you’re living to fully designate your expenses. While community colleges can be quite cheap, liberal arts and four-year colleges can be quite expensive. The costs are generally around $35,000 to $60,000 per year. The College Tuition Inflation Rate report states that the inflation for expenses at educational institutions is at 8%. The average fee for any 4-year program is around $37,000. The cost of living in the USA for students is around 10k to 12k per year.