Recognizing the Three-Year Indian Bachelor’s Degree in the U.S.

In the United States, some schools and employers might hesitate to recognize a three-year degree, since most domestic bachelor’s degree programs take four years to complete. Because of this, some Indian students encounter difficulties having their three-year bachelor’s degree recognized in the U.S. 

As a result, Indian students may be asked to repeat coursework or complete extra credits to be admitted to an academic program or secure employment. This can take time, money, and effort. The good news is that a WES credential evaluation can help applicants avoid this hurdle. 

How WES evaluates three-year Indian bachelor’s degrees 

In 2006, WES established its latest policy for evaluating three-year degrees earned in India. The policy was updated to account for changes in the Indian education system in the decades prior.  

WES recognizes some three-year bachelor’s degrees from India as equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree when the following conditions are met: 

• The degrees have been earned in Division I (a classification that indicates a student’s academic performance) and 
• The awarding institutions have been accredited by India’s National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with a grade of “A” or better 

This means that if an individual has earned a bachelor’s degree in Division I from a university accredited by NAAC with a grade of “A” or better, then WES may evaluate their degree as equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. 

This article further discusses WES’ policy and methodology for evaluating three-year bachelor’s degrees from India.  

Some U.S. universities may accept three-year Indian degrees 

Universities in the U.S. set their own admission requirements, which may change at any time. WES always recommends that applicants contact the universities of their choice for specific information on admission requirements. 

Below is a small sample of universities and graduate programs that are more likely to consider candidates who have a three-year bachelor’s degree: 

• Carnegie Mellon University 
• Columbia University 
• University of Virginia 
• Northwestern University 
• State University of New York at Potsdam 
• Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth 
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte 
• Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania 
• Syracuse University 
• Yale University

We encourage applicants to contact the university they are interested in attending to confirm admission requirements and if it accepts WES credential evaluation reports. 

Receiving a WES credential evaluation 

If you have earned a three-year bachelor’s degree in India, a WES credential evaluation can help ensure that your credentials are recognized in the U.S. In fact, here is what a WES applicant had to say about their experience.  

“Despite having a master’s degree from the U.K., my three-year degree was not considered an equivalent of a four-year undergraduate degree in the U.S. So I had my degree evaluated from WES. I had earlier used a different evaluation agency, which was not familiar with the Indian system. I spent an additional four weeks in getting my transcripts re-evaluated by WES, who was familiar with the Indian system.” 

Are you ready to begin the credential evaluation process? Get started with your application today!