Each year, thousands of Indian students travel to the US to enroll in some of the top universities there. Although the USA continues to be the top destination for study abroad, the costs for Indian students can seem quite prohibitive.
Some people’s situation is made worse by their lack of preparation for the (actual) costs, which causes them to eventually turn to employment in the US as a means of paying the bill. This blog covers topics such as the price for Indian students, tuition costs, the best universities in the USA, etc. Continue to read.
How much does it cost for an Indian student to study in USA?
There are many costs involved for an Indian to study overseas in the US as an international student. Generally, the costs will be –
Overall cost of studying in the US for Indian students
| Expenses For | Courses & Applications | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Language and entrance examinations | GRE: Graduate Record Examinations | INR 16,000 approx. |
| TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language | INR 14,450 approx. | |
| IELTS: International English Language Testing System | INR 14,700 | |
| GMAT: Graduate Management Admission Test | INR 20,000 approx. | |
| SAT | INR 9,000 approx.[Registration fee USD 55 + Regional fee USD 49] | |
| 2. University application fee | – | INR 2,600 to INR 6,000 approx. |
| 3. US Student Visa | Visa application fee | INR 12,200 approx.[USD 160 for Form DS 160] |
| Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee | INR 26,600 approx.[USD 350] | |
| 4. Tuition fees | B Tech | INR 25 lakhs (in a year)* |
| MBA | INR 27 lakhs (in a year)* | |
| BBA | INR 20 lakhs (in a year)* | |
| Master of Science (MS) | INR 22 lakhs (in a year)* | |
| Medicine | INR 40 lakhs (in a year)* | |
| Law | From INR 16 lakhs in a year | |
| 5. Living expenses | – | USD 7,60,500 (in a year) |
* an Average
What is the tuition fee in US universities in 2023?
Generally, government-funded institutions have a much lower tuition fee when compared to private institutions.
Course-wise Highest and Lowest Tuition Fee in US in 2023
| Course | Type of University | Highest Annual Tuition Fee | Average Annual Tuition Fee | Lowest Annual Tuition Fee |
| 4-years or above | Public | INR 17,96,909 | INR 6,40,000 | INR 36,504 |
| Private, not-for-profit | INR 46,98,977 | INR 21,74,801 | INR 1,71,112 | |
| Private, for profit | INR 31,86,495 | INR 12,71,784 | INR 2,98,116 | |
| 2-year | Public | INR 9,13,056 | INR 2,85,948 | INR 70,878 |
| Private, not-for-profit | INR 40,91,794 | INR 11,55,579 | INR 2,56,288 | |
| Private, for profit | INR 25,52,314 | INR 11,36,795 | INR 5,06,493 | |
| Less than 2 years | Public | INR 14,26,317 | INR 6,78,366 | INR 1,76,892 |
| Private, not-for-profit | INR 16,27,470 | INR 12,80,834 | INR 8,11,833 | |
| Private, for profit | INR 23,04,315 | INR 11,49,647 | INR 4,86,491 |
Source: US Department of Education
What are the living expenses for study abroad in the US?
The yearly living expenses include –
- Books and study materials: From INR 68,445.
- Accommodation: From INR 3,80,250.
- Room, if living off-campus: Around INR 38,025 in a month.
- Food: Variable
- Traveling within the US: Up to INR 53,235.
- Weather-appropriate clothing: Variable.
- Entertainment expenses: Variable.
The expenses you incur will be influenced by a variety of elements, including whether you choose to board on campus, where the university is located, and which US state you choose to attend.
Are there scholarships available for study abroad in the US?
Even though it may seem like studying in the US is expensive, many US universities give international students scholarships and financial aid. among other things, the best US scholarships are for Indians.
- Microsoft Tuition Scholarship,
- Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships,
- K.C. Mahindra Scholarship for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad,
- Golden Key Graduate Scholar Award,
- Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship 2023,
- Western Union Foundation – Global Scholarship Program
- #youarewelcomehere scholarships, and
- AAUW: American Association of University Women.
Can I get an education loan for US study abroad?
Yes. To pay for your US study abroad program, you may be eligible for student loans. There are also loans that don’t require security or collateral. The Income Tax Act’s Section 80E, which allows for tax deductions on educational loans, allows students applying from India to claim a tax benefit.
