PG Diploma in USA: Top Universities, Eligibility, Job Opportunities

Highlights

• Advanced Program: PG diploma in USA is an advanced level short-term course, designed to provide advanced knowledge and practical skills.
• Career-Ready Curriculum: PG diploma programs are career-oriented, requiring lesser time and tuition fees as compared to master’s courses.
• PG Certificates: Postgraduate certificate programs are more common in USA as compared to postgraduate diploma courses, unlike Canada.
• Extension Courses: PG diplomas and certificates in USA are often delivered to students as extension courses.
• Hybrid Study Model: PG diploma and certificate courses in USA are offered through both on-campus and online modes.

Postgraduate diploma in USA, is a 1-year specialized program at graduate level, focused on practical skills in a particular field. PG diploma in USA for international students are gaining popularity for their affordability and shorter course duration. The main reason for the shorter span of PG diploma is, it does not include research, unlike masters courses.

Admission requirements for PG diploma programs in USA are similar to that of masters courses. International students with a a GPA of 3.0 GPA out of 4.0 (85%) in bachelor’s degree can apply for admission to the PG diploma programs. Tuition fees for PG diploma in USA range between 18,192 to 25,924 USD (15.15 to 21.59 lakhs INR).

Following are the top 10 PG diploma programs in USA, offered across some renowned higher educational institutes:

1. Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting
2. PGDM in Banking and Finance
3. PG Diploma in Digital Marketing
4. PGDM in Human Resource
5. Postgraduate Diploma in Big Data Technologies
6. Postgraduate Diploma in Education
7. Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering Management
8. PG Diploma in Sports Management
9. Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Microbiology
10. Postgraduate Diploma in International Hotel and Tourism Management

Details about 5 popular postgraduate diploma programs in USA are as follows:

Top Universities for PG Diploma in USA

Some top universities offering 1 year PG diploma courses in USA for international students, and their popular diploma and certificate courses are as follows:

Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering Management in USA

PG diploma in engineering management is especially designed to make an individual apply knowledge in a technical environment, using a practical approach. University of California, Riverside is one of the top universities offering this program. Many top companies are looking for those candidates who possess both technical and managerial skills.

After completing a diploma in engineering management, the graduates can be hired for jobs like:

• Operations
• Data analytics
• Automation engineering
• Marketing management
• Economic consultant, and global market analyst.

Postgraduate Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management in USA

Postgraduate diploma in tourism and hospitality management is highly based on the management aspects of the hospitality industry. A special focus is given on marketing, event management and operations during this course. The students are trained and mastered to become skilled and professional:

• Managers
• Marketers
• Planners

PG Diploma in Sports Management in USA

Sports enthusiasts planning to make a career in sports should consider applying for a PG Diploma in sports management. This program is available in UC, Riverside. This course will teach not only the basics of the sports industry, but also the leadership skills they may require. The sports management diploma in the USA will help you understand how the sports industry is governed. You will learn about the policies, finance, and management. In USA, sports managers reportedly earn an average salary of 162,000 USD per annum (1.35 crore INR).

PG Diploma in Digital Marketing in USA

Digital Marketing courses in USA are high in demand among international students. The PG diploma program in digital marketing will help students to learn the importance of digital media, sales generation, services, and revenue generation techniques for online businesses. Digital marketing professionals in USA reportedly earn an average salary of 76,000 USD per annum (63.33 lakhs INR).

Postgraduate Diploma in Big Data Technologies in USA

The Postgraduate Diploma in Big Data Technologies teaches students to master their skills in datasets and statistics. Also, the students will learn to analyze the patterns of consumer behaviours. Some top recruiters in USA hiring big data technologies professionals include:

• Amazon
• Oracle
• Cloudera
• Teradata
• Analytics8, and
• Azure Data Lake.

How to apply for a PG Diploma in USA

Admission to postgraduate diploma courses in USA takes place in the winter and summer semesters. Follow the steps below to apply for a PG diploma course in the United States.

• Step 1: Select the PG Diploma course and the college where it is offered based on your preference.
• Step 2: Check the eligibility criteria for the course by visiting the university's official website.
• Step 3: If you find yourself suitable for the course based on eligibility criteria, move ahead and apply for the course.
• Step 4: Apply through the online application from the university's official website and upload all the necessary documents.
• Step 5: Wait for the letter of acceptance or admission decision from the university.
• Step 6: Confirm your admission decision if admitted by the university through email.

Note: Remember, some universities may require a tuition fee deposit from students to confirm their place.

PG Diploma in USA Eligibility

The requirements for admissions to post graduate diploma courses in USA for international students may differ for each university. The commonly required documents by the universities offering post graduate diploma in America are as follows:

• Minimum 16 years of education including 12 years schooling and 4 years of bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• 3-years bachelor's degree with 3.0 GPA out of 4.0 (85%) or higher.
• Statement of purpose
• Financial documents
• 1-2 Letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency test score:
  • IELTS- 6.5
  • TOEFL iBT- 80
• CV
• Work experience (If any)
• US student visa

PG Diploma in USA Fees

Tuition fees for PG diploma courses in US universities range anywhere between 18,192 to 25,924 USD. For an Indian student, this cost is equivalent to 15.15 to 21.59 lakhs INR. Apart from the tuition fees, international students should also consider the living expenses in USA, which is currently around 15,700 to 22,200 USD (13.07 to 18.48 lakhs INR) per year. A breakdown of the cost of living in USA for an international student is provided in the following table:

PG Diploma in USA Job Opportunities

International students can pursue high paying jobs in USA after PG diploma, with an average salary of 73,000 USD per annum (60.83 lakhs INR). The average salary in various professional roles after PG diploma courses in USA are provided below:

A graphical representation of the average salaries across some commonly pursued professions after PG diploma in USA is provided below:

Pursuing a PG diploma or certificate in USA is not only cost-effective but may also help you in profile and resume building for career goals. The courses are especially designed to help students in learning certain skills that may be required in an organization. Some diplomas are delivered through online mode, while others may have weekend or alternate classes.

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