Cost of MBBS in USA for Indian Students (Latest Update)

November 25, 2024

The USA, known for its high living standards and world-renowned educational institutions, is often seen as a dream destination for many Indian students aspiring to pursue MD/MBBS. MBBS studies in the USA are undeniably expensive, with its costs being so high that it buries many international students under it. The question often crops up for the Indian students: what is the approximate cost of MBBS in USA for Indian Students In this post, we break down the major expenses associated with studying MBBS in the USA and give some insights into what medical education structures look like. This would make this dream a little more affordable for Indian students.

Structure of Medical Education in USA

In the USA, medical education is undertaken differently as compared to the rest of the world, especially India. The passing through medical school in the United States has three different stages.

Phase	Duration	Cost (USD)	In Rupees
Pre-Medical Program	4 years	$20,000 – $50,000 per year	16 lakhs to 40 lakhs
Medical School (MD)	4 years	$40,000 – $75,000 per year	33 lakhs to 62 lakhs
Residency Program	3 – 7 years	$60,000 – $70,000 per year	49 lakhs to 57 lakhs

1. Pre-Medical Program

A bachelor’s degree with science subjects including Biology, Chemistry, and Physics that ascertain medical college passage. A GPA of 3.5 or above (on a 4.0 scale) is often required to be a competitive applicant.

2. Medical School (MD)

Equivalent to the MBBS degree covering both clinical and theoretical knowledge. Admission to medical school in extremely competitive, requiring applicants to meet stringent criteria, including strong academic performance and a good score on the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test).

3. Residency Program

On-campus training in one of the medical fields, where students work as residents under supervision and receive some stipend. After medical school, they go to their residency programs for practical training on a given specialty. Residency is the most important phase because it gives the students a chance to experience and be well-prepared to practice as independent doctors.

In all, it is around 11 to 15 years to get the degree of a practicing doctor in the USA. However, this duration may increase with additional fellowship programs.

Cost of Medical Studies or MBBS in USA for Indian Students

Cost of MBBS in USA for Indian Students is high, the overall cost includes tuition fees, living expenses, examination costs, and additional expenditures.

1. Tuition Fees

Tuition Fees for studying MBBS in the USA can vary significantly depending on the type of institution.

Institution Type	Phase	Annual Fees (in USD)	Annual Fees (in INR)
Public Universities	Pre-Medical Program	$20,000 to $40,000	16 lakhs to 33 lakhs
Private Universities	Pre-Medical Program	$30,000 to $50,000	25 lakhs to 41 lakhs
Public Universities	MD Program	$40,000 to $60,000	33 lakhs to 50 lakhs
Private Universities	MD Program	$60,000 to $75,000	49 lakhs to 62 lakhs

Tuition Fees for 8 years

Public Universities: $480,000 (4 crore)
Private Universities: $600,000 (5 crore)

2. Living Expenses

Living Cost is pretty high compared to a country like India. Living Expenses in the USA vary depending on different factors such as City, What lifestyle you opt for, and housing arrangements. Below is the typical monthly living expenses for Indian students in the USA.

Expenses Category	Cost Range (Per Month)	In Rupees (₹)
Housing (Rent)	$500 – $1,500	42,000 – 1,26,215
Food and Groceries	$200 – $400	16,882 – 33,764
Transportation	$50 – $120	4,221 – 10,130
Health Insurance	$80 – $250	6,753 – 21,102
Utilities	$100 – $200	8,441 – 16,882
Miscellaneous Expenses	$100 – $300	8,441 – 25,323

Estimated Living Expenses per Year: $17,000 to 28,000 (14 – 23 lakhs estimate)
Estimate Living Expenses for 8 years: $137,600 to 219,200 (1 – 2 crore).

3. Examination Fees

Examination fees are a significant part of medical education and licensing in the USA. To become an MBBS or MD, the journey of the Indian student is full of several rigorous examinations which test both knowledge and clinical skills. This examination plays a significant role in ensuring that medical students and professionals do not default from the expected values of education and practice.

Examination	Cost (in USD)	Cost (in INR)
MCAT	$320	26,500
USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) Step 1	$1000	82,000
USMLE Step 2 CK	$1000	82,000
USMLE Step 3	$900	74,000

Since the USMLE process is comprehensive and rather expensive, every student needs to plan for his/her finances prior. Most students would plan their finances way ahead of time, especially if they are bound to retake any of them.

4. Application Fees

Probably the most significant aspect of American medical education is medical school applications. Applications to medical schools, as with all other U.S. medical schools, are extremely competitive. Each medical school has its unique requirements, deadlines, and fees. At each step of the application process, application fees are mandated from primary applications to the fees paid at the time of application into secondary applications and for interviews. Awareness and allocation of fees is another must for multicollege applicants.

Expense	Cost (in USD)	Cost (in INR)
AMCAS Application Fee	$170	14,000
Additional School Fee	$43 per school	3,600 per school
Secondary Application	$50 – $100 per school	4,000 – 8,200 per school

Cost Comparison: MBBS/MD in USA vs Other Countries

Country	Total Cost (in INR)	Duration	Advantages
USA	2 – 5 crore	7 – 10 years	Global Recognition, Advanced Infrastructure
UK	1 – 2 crore	5 – 6 years	Shorter duration, Strong Healthcare System
Germany	20 – 30 lakhs	6 years	Free/low tuition, World-class education
India	10 – 30 lakhs	5.5 years	Affordable, Familiar System

Scholarships for Indian Students Pursuing MBBS/MD in USA

With expensive tuition, scholarships and grants greatly make MBBS in the USA affordable. Scholarship applications could be very competitive, and students need to be well-prepared for the eligibility criteria and a good application. In addition to being a financial assistive option, scholarships increase their networking opportunities and experiences for the time spent in medical education in the United States.

University-Specific Scholarships

University	Scholarship Name	Details
Harvard Medical School	Financial Aid	Cover up to 100% of tuition based on financial need
Stanford School of Medicine	Merit-Based Scholarships	Partial or full tuition waiver
Mayo Clinic Alix School	Mayo Clinic Scholarships	Full or Partial tuition coverage

External Scholarships

Scholarship Name	Award Amount (in USD)	Eligibility
Fullbright-Nehru Fellowship	Full Tuition, Living, and Travel Costs	For Postgraduate Indian Students
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation	Partial Tuition	High academic achievements
AAUW International Fellowship	Up to 30,000 dollars	Women pursuing education in the USA

Conclusion

Pursuing an MBBS degree from the USA is a substantial financial and academic commitment for Indian students. Some of the mbbs fees in USA for international students and the USA MBBS fees for Indian students are pretty steep. Cost of MBBS in USA for Indian Students is very high but the benefits associated with such education are enormous, both in terms of education and future employment prospects. Nevertheless, the result would be well worth the investment since the global acknowledgment of the education degree, the advanced training received, and the perspective opportunities in their careers make the efforts worthwhile. It can be achieved with good planning, scholarships, and financial aid

FAQs

1. How much does it approximately cost to study MBBS in the USA?

The entire period, which is a little over five years, together will range from ₹2.6 crore to ₹5 crore, along with tuition fees and living expenses.

2. Does one get scholarships?

Yes, these scholarships include the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship, Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship, university-specific grants, and so on, which decrease the costs incurred.