Your major shapes the four-year experience and your career after graduation — including how long you can work in the U.S. on OPT. Explore the fields popular with Vietnamese students: what you study, the job outlook, and starting salaries in the U.S.
Pick a field for the detail: representative majors, career outlook and starting salaries.
For creatively talented students. A portfolio is required when applying, and art schools offer many talent scholarships.
You have an eye for aesthetics, like creating and expressing ideas visually — and are ready to build an impressive portfolio.
Art Academy of Cincinnati,SCAD,Full Sail University,Webster University,Alfred University
Get advice on choosing a major →A flexible group fitting many directions — from finance and marketing to entrepreneurship. Some programs (Business Analytics) count as STEM with 36-month OPT.
You're energetic, like working with people and numbers, sense market trends, and want a wide range of career options.
Lim College,North Park University,Tiffin University,Valencia College,University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Get advice on choosing a major →Fields about creating and spreading messages — journalism, media, advertising and public relations. Broad opportunities in digital media and content marketing.
You like writing, storytelling, following trends, and connecting a message to the right audience.
SCAD,Full Sail University,Webster University,Lim College,University of Oregon
Get advice on choosing a major →The hottest field for Vietnamese students — programming, data, AI and cybersecurity. Broad job opportunities and one of the highest starting-salary ranges.
You enjoy logic and problem-solving, pick up new tech quickly, and don't mind spending hours debugging code until it runs.
Northern Virginia Community College,University of Maryland, Baltimore County,Rochester Institute of Technology,Wilmington University,New York Institute of Technology
Get advice on choosing a major →A foundation for industry and technology, demanding solid math and physics. A U.S. engineering degree is recognized globally and opens many stable career paths.
You're strong in math and physics, like to design and build, and understand how things work — from circuits to bridges.
Rochester Institute of Technology,University of Toledo,University of Dayton,Alfred University,Stanford University
Get advice on choosing a major →Demand for healthcare workers in the U.S. is consistently high. Many majors are a stepping stone to medical or pharmacy school, or to working directly in the care system.
You care about people and the life sciences, are patient and meticulous, and want a stable, meaningful long-term career.
MCPHS,South University,Purdue University Northwest,University of Michigan–Flint,Rutgers University–Camden
Get advice on choosing a major →Fields that build critical thinking, analysis and writing — languages, literature, history and philosophy. A flexible base for careers that need strong reading, writing and reasoning.
You like deep reading, writing well, learning languages, and reflecting on people, history and ideas.
Golden West College,Southern Utah University,Santa Monica College,Lane Community College,Bellevue College
Get advice on choosing a major →Highly practical fields with many paid internships — hospitality, tourism, event and service management. A fit if you enjoy international environments.
You're outgoing, like communicating, working in international settings and creating great experiences for others.
Metropolitan College of New York,National Louis University,Greenville University,Southwest Minnesota State University,Colleges of Contra Costa
Get advice on choosing a major →For those who love research and discovery. A solid foundation for graduate study or work in labs, biotech and the environment.
You're curious, like asking "why", persist through experiments, and are ready to study further to go deep into research.
New York Institute of Technology,Saint Michael's College,University of Maryland, Baltimore County,Oregon State University,University of Florida
Get advice on choosing a major →Builds critical thinking, communication and social understanding — a foundation for careers in media, law, public policy and international relations.
You like reading, writing, debating and understanding people and society — and want a flexible base that opens many paths.
Ohlone College,Lycoming College,CSU Channel Islands,SUNY Geneseo,California State University San Marcos
Get advice on choosing a major →Choosing the right major balances passion, ability and career reality — don't just chase a passing trend.
Pick a field where you're both strong and genuinely interested — the foundation for doing well and going the distance.
Weigh hiring demand, salary, and the ability to work after graduation (OPT).
Some fields have more scholarships; balance passion with your family's budget.
For the same major, schools differ — pick one that's strong in the field you're pursuing.
See cost and scholarships by field on the U.S. cost page →U.S. scholarships →
STEM graduates can work in the U.S. on OPT for up to 36 months — three times the 12 months for other fields. It's a real factor worth weighing when you choose a major.
Book a session and an AAE advisor will assess your ability, interests and goals, then suggest the fields and strong schools that fit.
Salaries, hiring outlook and OPT durations are indicative U.S.-market figures and can change by field, region and policy. Representative strong schools are based on each school's program-mix data.
