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Bryant University leaders discuss admissions, scholarships, AI learning and career prospects for Indian students planning higher education in the United States.
Bryant University officials speak on admissions, scholarships, AI learning and career prospects for Indian students.
With the United States remaining a preferred study destination for many Indian students, questions around admissions, cost, scholarships and job prospects continue to shape decisions. In an exclusive interview with News18.com, Bryant University President Ross Gittell and Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr Rupendra Paliwal spoke about student interest from India, popular programmes, the use of Artificial Intelligence in classrooms, and guidance on visas and career pathways.
Here are the edited excerpts of the interview:
Q. How many Indian students are currently enrolled at Bryant University, and which courses are most preferred by Indian students?
Gittell: The number of undergraduate students from India has remained stable over the past three years, despite visa-related uncertainties. That consistency reflects Bryant’s growing brand recognition and sustained outreach efforts across India.
Indian students predominantly choose business-focused programmes. The most popular areas include Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Management and International Business.
International Business, in particular, is one of Bryant’s flagship strengths. Students typically combine it with a focused discipline such as Finance or Marketing, enabling them to graduate with both global context and technical depth.
A defining feature across these programmes is the integration of Artificial Intelligence into the curriculum. AI is not treated as a standalone concept but embedded within business education, ensuring students graduate with both domain expertise and applied AI exposure.
Most undergraduate enrolments from India come through direct engagement with schools, long-standing institutional relationships, and a strong alumni network that continues to advocate for Bryant across the country.
Q. What is the approximate annual cost of studying at Bryant for an international student, and what scholarships are available specifically for Indian applicants?
Gittell: Undergraduate tuition at Bryant is approximately $53,000 per year. The university offers merit-based scholarships of up to $40,000 annually. Indian students with a CGPA of 9.0 or higher may qualify for the highest scholarship tier. At the graduate level, partial scholarships are available for students with strong academic performance.
Bryant also underscores its return on investment. The university cites an independent study conducted by Georgetown University that evaluated lifetime earnings of graduates from nearly 5,000 U.S. institutions relative to the cost of education. According to that study, Bryant graduates rank in the top 1% nationally for lifetime ROI.
The institution positions this combination of scholarship support and post-graduation earnings outcomes as a key consideration for international families evaluating value alongside cost.
Q. You mention 99% career outcomes within six months, could you clarify what this includes? Does it refer to full-time employment, internships, or further study?
Gittell and Paliwal: Approximately 90% of Bryant graduates secure employment or enrol in graduate school within six months of completing their degree. This outcome includes two primary pathways: students entering full-time employment and those pursuing further academic study through graduate programmes. It does not refer to internships, but rather confirmed professional placements or continued education.
The university reports an average starting salary of approximately $76,000 at the time of graduation, reflecting outcomes across disciplines.
Bryant attributes these results to its career-focused academic model, which integrates experiential learning, industry engagement, and professional preparation throughout the undergraduate experience.
Q. Bryant talks about integrating AI across disciplines. What does this actually look like inside the classroom?
Paliwal: AI integration at Bryant operates on two levels: changes in teaching methodology and redesign of discipline-specific curriculum.
First, at the faculty and pedagogy level, professors are being trained through the university’s Center for Teaching Excellence to rethink how assignments and assessments are structured. Traditional essay-based evaluation is being reconsidered in light of AI tools.
In some cases, students are asked to use AI to complete an assignment, present the AI-generated output, and then improve upon it. Assessment focuses on how effectively students refine, critique, and apply the AI output using their subject knowledge and critical thinking. The emphasis is on value addition rather than simple content generation.
Second, Bryant is reviewing individual disciplines including Accounting, Finance, Healthcare, and Marketing to align coursework with how AI is being used in industry workflows. The objective is to ensure that students graduate with practical exposure relevant to current professional environments.
Bryant also states that it is among the first institutions to require all business students to complete a mandatory course in Machine Learning, positioning AI literacy as a foundational skill rather than an elective add-on.
Q. Artificial intelligence is changing many professions. What skills should students starting college today focus on to stay relevant?
Gittell and Paliwal: Students need to develop AI knowledge within their chosen specialisation. AI will be a tool across industries, but students must learn how to apply it in finance, accounting, healthcare, marketing or management, not just use it generically.
At the same time, communication skills, teamwork, people skills and empathy remain critical. Employers are looking for graduates who can collaborate, think critically and add value beyond what AI can generate.
Bryant frames this through its model of Beyond Books, Beyond Boundaries and Beyond Borders, emphasising experiential learning, interdisciplinary study and global exposure.
The leadership’s view is straightforward: AI will produce outputs. The real skill lies in improving, interpreting and building upon them.
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Q. When you refer to strong career outcomes, what types of roles and industries do Bryant graduates typically enter?
Paliwal: Bryant graduates primarily enter sectors such as financial services, accounting and consulting, healthcare, investment management and corporate leadership roles.
The university cites employers including Fidelity Investments, Fidelity International, Bank of America, UnitedHealth, General Electric and Goldman Sachs among organisations where alumni are employed.
Bryant also notes that many graduates progress into senior leadership and C-suite positions over the course of their careers, reflecting long-term career advancement across industries.
Q. For Indian students, visa and work opportunities are a major concern. How should they realistically plan their education and career pathways?
Gittell and Paliwal: Bryant acknowledges that visa processes can present challenges, particularly at the graduate level. However, the university notes that its undergraduate enrolment from India has remained steady in recent years.
As a smaller institution, Bryant emphasises personalised support, with students receiving individual guidance on visa documentation and preparation throughout the process.
The university advises Indian students to begin research at least a year before applying, engage directly with universities early, and look beyond only top-ranked institutions to identify the right academic and cultural fit.
Bryant is also exploring partnerships with institutions in India, including potential dual-degree and 2+2 pathway models, aimed at offering students greater flexibility and cost-effective routes to international education.
February 27, 2026, 19:19 IST
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