The good old ‘American Dream’ is still everyone’s aspiration when they commence their journey to the USA.
Seeking a promising future, a competitive pay scale, and a successful career, studying in the USA for Indian students is easily a dream come true for many.
According to the 2021 Open Doors Report, about 1,67,582 Indian students enrolled to study in the USA for the academic year 2020-2021.
From Ivy Leagues to some of the finest universities, Indian students can opt from a wide range of public and private institutes for their degrees.
While there is no doubt about the quality of US education, most of us can be concerned about the cost of studying in USA for Indian students.
The overall cost of studying in USA for Indian students can be expensive as compared to studying in India.
Nonetheless, to tactfully manage the cost of studying in USA for Indian students, plan well in advance to be well prepared.
Thus, helping you prepare, this blog will provide you with all the essential expenses and details of the cost of studying in USA for Indian students below:
Overview of Cost of Studying in USA for Indian Students: Visa, Living, Tuition, Accommodation, and Others
The cost of studying in the USA for Indian students vary depending on the type of degree and type of institute you are applying to.
Tuition fees are generally cheaper in public universities.
The fees of some institutes and universities are inclusive of the health insurance while some other institutes ask for a separate payment.
The various expenses to study in the USA for Indian students are
- Flight, health insurance, and visa
- Tuition fees cost
- Cost of living in the USA for Indian students
- Other expenses
Now, let us take a deeper look at each of these components.
Flight, Health Insurance, and US Visa Costs:
To begin with, your journey begins with a visa, flight ticket, and health insurance to arrive at your final destination, i.e., the USA.
For USA flights you can expect to spend anywhere between $626.45 – $1,382.52 (₹48,580 – ₹1,07,211)depending upon when you’re booking.
Whereas, your health insurance will cost you about $1,500 – $2,500/year (₹1 lakh – ₹2 lakh/year).
For a USA student visa, you have to be accepted by a US institution of higher education certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). You should also have Form I20 to apply for a visa.
Students can proceed with the DS-160 form application to get their visa at $160.
| Type | Specialisation | Costs |
| F | Students (academic) | $ 160 |
| J | Exchange visitors | $ 160 |
| M | Students (Vocational) | $ 160 |
To make sure your visa arrives on time, apply for the US student visa three-four months in advance.
In addition to this, students pay the SEVIS fee of $350 (₹26,256) for F and M visas or about $250(₹19,380) for a J visa, depending on the duration of their course.
Note: Study abroad exams Indian students take to study in US
Tuition Fees: University & Degree Costs
There are a variety of options available to choose from.
Be it public universities, Ivy League, or private colleges, students can choose Diplomas, Undergraduate programs, Post-graduation and Ph.D. in the USA.
Some of the popular courses to study in the USA include Mathematics, Computer Sciences, Physics, Life Sciences, Engineering and Liberal Arts.
Depending on the type of degree you opt for, the range varies accordingly. Such as:
| Types of degree | Cost | Cost |
| Community colleges | $6000-$20,000/year | ₹4,65,207-₹15,50,690 |
| Undergraduate | $20,000- $40,000/year | ₹15,50,690-₹31,02,220 |
| Graduate | $20,000-$45,000/year | ₹15,50,690-₹34,89,997.50 |
| Doctoral | $28,000-$55,000/year | ₹21,71,554-₹42,64,012.50 |
While studying in USA for Indian students is a dream come true, it is best if you opt for the top universities in the world.
Giving you an overview, here are top US universities and their fees:
| Universities | Cost ($) | Cost (₹) |
| Princeton university | $49,450-$57,690 | ₹38,33,210.71-₹44,71,949.96 |
| Columbia university | $50,496-$109,860 | ₹39,14,293.38-₹85,16,226.35 |
| Harvard university | $51,143 | ₹39,64,549.10 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $77,020-$185,500 | ₹59,70,505.68-₹1,43,79,755.95 |
| Yale University | $44,500-$74,500 | ₹34,49,591.05-₹57,75,158.05 |
| Stanford University | $70,476-$88,320 | ₹54,63,222-₹68,46,469.25 |
| University of Chicago | $56,034-$74,919 | ₹43,43,694.04-₹58,07,638.47 |
| University of Pennsylvania | $23712-$29820 | ₹18,38,158.98-₹23,11,652.36 |
| California University of Technology | $83,598 | ₹64,80,533.68 |
| Duke University | $58,176-$70,000 | ₹45,09,815.16-₹54,26,414 |
| John Hopkins University | $45,260-$73,980 | ₹35,08,564.25-₹57,34,944.40 |
| Northwestern University | $56,286-$76,368 | ₹43,63,161.26 -₹59,19,871.71 |
| Dartmouth College | $55,605-$71,816 | ₹43,11,194.66-₹55,68,074.02 |
| Brown University | $89,241 | ₹69,19,077.83 |
| Cornell University | $74,394-$83,296 | ₹57,67,952.81-₹64,58,147.12 |
| Georgetown University | $49,103-$60,894 | ₹38,07,078.35-₹47,21,264.06 |
| New York University | $44,144-$90,484 | ₹34,22,594.68-₹70,14,609.23 |
Tip: Use SelectRight to Shortlist Universities Depending on Your Profile
Cost of living in the USA: Accommodation, Food and Transport
Calculating the cost of living in USA for Indian students can be tricky as it changes depending on the place of your stay.
The cost of living is lower in cities like Chicago, Detroit and Kansas as compared to living in cities like New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
Living off-campus in a rented apartment is cheap in most cities in the USA.
However, living on campus offers more advantages like safety, security, proximity and affordability.
| Type | Cost | Cost |
| On-Campus | $11,000 – $15,000/ year | ₹8,52,802.50-₹11,62,920 |
| Off-campus/private accommodation | $6,000- $49,000/year. | ₹4,65,168-₹37,98,872 |
| Homestay | $7,000 (a year) + $300 up-front fee | ₹5,42,696-₹23,258.40 |
| Student Hostel | $15 – $45/ night | ₹1,162.92-₹3,489.54 |
The average cost of living in USA for Indian students thus comes up to $9,800 – $11,100 /year.
Cost of Food:
The major part of planning your budget and determining your cost of living in the USA depends on your everyday food cost.
You can always cut your expenses by making your own meals. This will bring your monthly food expenses to $50-$100/month.
To get an idea, refer to the table below:
| Food | Cost ($) | Cost (₹) |
| Mid-range meal | $15 | ₹1,162 |
| Mc Donalds | $8 | ₹620 |
| Domestic beer | $5 | ₹387 |
| Cappuccino | $4.45 | ₹344.95 |
| Water (1.5l) | $1.84 | ₹142.63 |
| Milk (1L) | $0.90 | ₹69.77 |
| 500gm Bread | $2.86 | ₹221.70 |
| White rice (1kg) | $4 | ₹310.07 |
| Chicken (1kg) | $10.41 | ₹806.96 |
| apples(1kg) | $4.68 | ₹362.78 |
| Potato (1kg) | $2.63 | ₹203.87 |
Transport cost:
By including your commute expenses in your cost of living, you will know exactly how much you need to study in the USA.
Students can take a monthly bus pass costing around $75 (₹5813)/month.
USA also offers well-connected metro lines.
With a U-Pass, students can access the metro easily. This can cost you about $30-$40/ month.
Other expenses
Along with the above expenses, Indian students studying in the USA have to bear additional expenses of stationery items, utilities, electricity bills, entertainment costs etc.
You can set aside about $500 – $800/month for the same.
Studying in USA for Indian students is an expensive affair. However, FundRight can offer you financial support depending on your personal needs.
By opting for professional assistance, you will not only manage the cost of studying in USA for Indian students but also, be pre-prepared for the expense in hand in the US.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Cost of Studying in the USA for Indian Students:
Question 1: What is the cost of studying for an undergraduate degree in the USA?
Answer: Undergraduate degrees usually cost around ₹15 lakhs – ₹31 lakhs in the USA depending on the type of course and university you opt for.
Question 2: What is the cost of living in USA for Indian students?
Answer: Depending on the lifestyle students opt for, you can expect to spend about ₹4 – ₹ 20 lakhs/year in the US.
Question 3: Can scholarships cover the cost of studying in USA for Indian students?
Answer: Yes, various universities offer a wide range of scholarships and stipends for undergrads, graduates, and doctoral programs. You can expect $30,000-$70,000 depending on the university.
Question 4: Is living in the USA cheap for Indian students?
Answer: The cost of living in the USA for Indian students is expensive. But, education loans provided via FundRight and working part-time will help you manage your expenses in the US.
Question 5: What is the cost of entrance exams?
Answer: Exams like TOEFL, GRE, IELTS, and GMAT cost an average of $180-$275 for Indians.
