Why American University Education Remains Highly Coveted Globally

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In a world of ever-changing social and geopolitical landscape, it is not uncommon to hear commentaries about how the United States is a global superpower that is basically on its way out. It challenges ideas of American predominance not just in terms of military prowess but also in terms of cultural exports, research and development, and indeed, education. 

However, for decades, American higher education has maintained a level of prestige that surpassed those of many other countries’ higher education systems. For much of the 20th century, it has been an almost universally accepted idea that getting an American education is an excellent way to open plenty of future professional opportunities for students who are willing to do the hard work. Much of this actually remains true up to this day.  

In  this short guide, we’ll explore some of the reasons why American university education remains highly coveted globally today, and why secondary school students in and around Asia continue to study in American Schools in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, and elsewhere to prepare themselves for college life.
 

Many of the World’s Most Esteemed Universities Are in the U.S. 

In the Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2022, American universities led the pack, occupying 12 of the top 20 spots for the best institutions of higher learning globally. In the QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University Rankings 2022, the results were similar, with 9 American universities being listed in the leading 20 higher education institutions around the world. Although not everyone might agree on the value of these rankings, they do provide an excellent benchmark for the quality of education one might expect to receive in a particular country.
 

American Universities Offer Plenty of Options for People from All Walks of Life 

By virtue of having some of the world’s best universities, the United States also offers an extensive and range of higher education programs. Prospective students can choose from a diverse range of college majors, including the most popular ones related to business, the health sciences, social sciences, engineering, biological and biomedical sciences, computer and information sciences, psychology, education, communication, and visual and performing arts. There are also plenty of opportunities in some of the most advanced fields of research, including those under physics and astronomy, aeronautical engineering, cancer research, climate science, and more. 

Another area in which American universities excel is student sorting. This means that American universities generally don’t offer just one and the same option to prospective students. Often, academic and co-curricular options are offered to peer groups that share similar interests, so students can be exposed to many other individuals who can help them in both their academic and personal pursuits. 

American Universities Pay Well, Attracting the Best Instructors 

Higher education institutions in the United States have always been among the highest-paying in the world, which means they also attract some of the best instructors and researchers globally. This can be partly illustrated by the fact that the U.S. today leads the world in the number of Nobel laureates, which, in turn, points to how American universities are actually some of the most productive in the world in terms of research and development.

 American Higher Education Institutions Spend a Considerable Amount on R&D 

Building on the last point, American universities indeed channel a considerable amount of resources to research and development. According to Forbes, in fiscal year 2019, these institutions spent almost USD 83.7 billion in R&D, some USD 4.5 billion more compared to the previous year. If you are a graduate or postgraduate student who desires to complete your training through fellowships and grants, enrolling in a U.S. university will likely be an excellent decision.  

Some of the best public research universities include the University of Michigan, the University of Washington, the University of California at Los Angeles, the University of California at San Diego, and the University of California at Berkeley. Top private research universities, on the other hand, include Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, John Hopkins University, the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, and Columbia University.
 
Multicultural Environments That Foster Freethought and Independence

 Finally, big American universities generally offer cosmopolitan environments where students learn tolerance, independent thinking, self-reliance, and cooperation. It won’t be difficult for foreign students, in particular, to adjust to these multicultural hubs of learning that celebrate diversity and organize various cultural and social activities and peer groups that students can join. The benefit of joining such organizations and activities extend even beyond one’s college days, as personal networks formed in school can prove to be very useful for when graduates pursue their professional goals later in life.

Studying in the United States is certainly not for everyone. However, foreign students who desire to take advantage of the opportunities presented by top American universities will not be disappointed with the doors that American education will certainly open for them.