Engineering, once the primary choice for Indian students heading to the United States for higher education, is gradually losing its dominance. According to the latest Open Doors report, an annual survey examining international student exchanges in the US, there has been a noticeable decline in the number of Indian students pursuing engineering programs.
In the 2023-24 academic year, about 24.5 percent of Indian students in the US opted for engineering, a drop from 29.6 percent in 2021-22. In contrast, math and computer science have seen a significant rise in popularity, with 42.9 percent of Indian students enrolling in these fields during the same period.
Rising Popularity of Math and Computer Science
The growing prominence of technology-driven industries has made math and computer science attractive choices for students. Sachin Jain, country manager for Educational Testing Service (ETS) India and South Asia, explained that these fields are closely aligned with emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning.
“Even according to the TOEFL insights data, Computing and Information Technology has consistently been a top choice among Indian test-takers in recent years, surpassing conventional engineering preferences,” Jain stated. “This change is primarily driven by factors such as higher employability and flexibility in career options. Computer science and mathematics provide pathways to lucrative careers in high-demand industries such as information technology, software development, and analytics.”
Dr. Sridevi Sarma, vice dean for Graduate Education and Lifelong Learning at Johns Hopkins University, emphasized that engineering is not losing popularity entirely but is undergoing transformation. She said, “Engineering now interacts with and indeed is transforming fields once thought of as not amenable to ‘quantitative’ analysis and description. This includes the interaction with biology, medicine, and healthcare…that are all being transformed by data science, AI, machine learning, and the like.”
Foreign education consultants echo these sentiments, attributing the shift to job market demands in rapidly growing fields like AI, cybersecurity, and data science. Jain noted, “With the rapid growth of AI and related technologies, the computer science market is expanding significantly to include industries wherever technology has been able to make an impact. Moreover, these disciplines open career opportunities in a range of sectors, from finance to healthcare, unlike traditional engineering fields that can often lead to fixed career pathways.”
Interdisciplinary areas combining engineering, mathematics, and computer science are reshaping traditional engineering fields. Sarma explained, “These interdisciplinary areas often fall under mathematics and computer science rather than under traditional engineering disciplines like civil, mechanical, or chemical engineering. Flexibility and applicability in mathematics and computer science offer broad applicability across industries. A strong foundation in these areas allows students to pivot into a wide range of roles, from finance and healthcare to tech and consulting, making them highly attractive.”
Global Interest in Math and Statistics
The appeal of mathematics extends beyond India. Dr. Shantanu Awasthi, assistant professor of data analytics at Missouri Southern State University, pointed out that students from countries like China, Germany, and India are gravitating toward math and statistics. He said, “Not just Indians or Chinese, but even Germans are also taking a keen interest in maths, to be precise statistics, as it plays a vital role in data science, enabling analysts to identify patterns and trends in large and complex data sets. Using statistical methods, data scientists can extract insights and interpret results.”
He further explained, “No matter which branch you take, if you do the right major, you will be able to excel in this field. Now, even in the stock exchange, they use physics equations to solve things.”
In contrast, enrollment figures for other popular courses like social sciences, management, and education have remained relatively stable. For example, 11.5 percent of Indian students in the US pursued management in 2023-24, compared to 11.6 percent in 2022-23 and 13.3 percent in 2021-22.
STEM Fields and Return on Investment
Indian students often prioritize the return on investment (ROI) when choosing their educational paths. According to Sarma, STEM fields, especially computer science, are perceived as gateways to high-paying, high-demand jobs in global tech hubs like Silicon Valley. “Increasingly, modern engineering problems involve computational thinking and data analysis. As a result, students might feel they can achieve their goals more efficiently through computer science or related fields,” she said.
Why Indian Students Prefer the US
The United States remains the top destination for Indian students despite high tuition costs. In 2023-24, approximately 331,602 Indian students were enrolled in US institutions, marking a 23 percent increase from the previous year. Graduate-level enrollments grew by 19 percent, while the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program saw a 41 percent rise.
Jain attributed the US’s continued appeal to its encouragement of Indian students across various disciplines, particularly STEM fields. He highlighted the flexible curriculum, top-ranked universities, and visa policies like the F-1 and OPT, which allow STEM graduates to work in the US for up to three years post-graduation.
“The US has a growing demand for skilled professionals in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics, which continues to draw Indian students and researchers,” Jain added.
Scholarships and financial aid from American universities also make higher education accessible. Additionally, graduate programs in math, computer science, and data science often include funded research assistantships, enabling students to gain practical experience while pursuing their studies.
Raj Echambadi, president of the Illinois Institute of Technology, emphasized the alignment between India’s undergraduate infrastructure and the US education system. He said, “Our undergraduate infrastructure in India is phenomenal and most of these students are in STEM fields, so there is a natural fit… That fit is what is driving a lot of admissions towards Indian students.”
He also pointed to geopolitical factors, saying, “Over the last few years, there has been a very strong relationship between the Indian and the US governments and it has not been the same (with China). That is actually what is accounting for this disparity, if you will.”
Challenges in India and Global Trends
Indian students face intense competition at home, with over a million applicants vying for limited seats in prestigious institutions like IITs through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). The low acceptance rates and the availability of education loans make studying abroad an attractive alternative.
Sarma observed a shift in preferences among international students, citing Graduate Record Examination (GRE) data. “Over the past five years (2018–2023), the percentage of Indian students opting for engineering through GRE has consistently hovered around 11–13 percent, reflecting a decline from the more prominent figures seen a decade ago,” she said.
While Indian technical institutions are introducing interdisciplinary courses in AI, electric vehicles, and green technology, traditional branches like mechanical engineering struggle to offer sufficient job opportunities.
Kshitij Pathak, a former MSc Data Science student at the University of Sussex, shared his perspective. “My core branch was Mechanical Engineering during graduation, but there are fewer options in India or even abroad. From ME, you can switch to data science. Maths is the core of data science. If you are a good mathematician, you can easily become a programmer. Looking at the global market, there are more opportunities in maths or CS,” he said.
Math-Driven Careers on the Rise
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, math-related occupations are projected to grow significantly, with over 30,000 new jobs added annually by the end of the decade. The median annual wage for mathematicians stood at $116,440 in May 2023. This trend explains why traditional engineering fields are becoming less attractive globally, with students favoring math and computer science for their versatility and higher job prospects.
