Chapter 1
Overview
The cost of a master’s degree in the United States is one of the most essential factors to consider before deciding to pursue a master’s degree in the United States. When it comes to studying abroad, the United States is a popular choice among Indian students. Stellar examples such as Satya Nadela and Sundar Pichai are among the few accomplished people who have made it big in the United States. This creates a high bar for people wishing to pursue a Master’s degree in the United States. However, most students are concerned about the cost of MS in the United States, which may hinder their plans.
Universities in the United States offer a high level of education, employment prospects, flexibility, career progression, worldwide experience, internships, and much more. As a result, among Indian students, the USA is always the most preferred destination for master’s degrees. In this article, we have compiled all the cost factors you need to know before planning to pursue MS in the USA.
Overview of Cost of MS in USA :
Type of Expense |
Amount in INR |
GRE Fees (one-time) |
15,800 |
TOEFL Fees (one-time) |
14,200 |
Application Fee (one-time) |
5,000-11,997 |
Counselling Fee (optional) |
25,000 |
Additional Application Expenses (one-time) |
12,000 |
VISA Processing Fee (one-time) |
11,840 |
SEVIS Fee |
F and M visa status: 26,000 J visa status: 16,360 |
Flight Expenses (one-way) |
50,000-85,000 |
Tuition Fee (annual) |
29,60,000-30,00,000 |
Accommodation Expenses (annual) |
11,10,000-16,00,000 |
Total Expense |
42,20,200-48,02,000 |
Chapter 2
Pre- Arrival Costs
Entrance Exams Cost for MS in USA :
Before you may move to the United States to pursue your master’s degree, you must first submit the results of the tests required to study in the United States. These include the IELTS, TOEFL, and GRE. Your overall costs will vary depending on which exam you opt to take. Though the difference is small, certain exams are less expensive than others.
Test Name |
Registration Cost in INR |
Number of Free Scorecards |
Cost of Late Registration in INR |
GRE |
15,800 (general) 11,146 (subject) |
4 |
1,850 |
TOEFL |
14,200 |
4 |
3,000 |
IELTS |
14,700 |
5 |
N.A |
PTE Academic |
13,300 |
unlimited |
13,300 |
CAEL |
15,900 |
5 |
2,960 |
Cost of TOEFL :
The TOEFL exam is approved by over 11,000 colleges throughout the world and is the most often used ELP test in US colleges. The registration fee for the TOEFL is Rs. 14,200. Students can apply up to 7 days before the exam date via their ETS account or the official TOEFL application. TOEFL provides four free scorecards, after which students must pay Rs. 1500(about) for each additional scorecard.
TOEFL Expense |
Amount in INR |
Registration Fee |
14,200 |
Late Fee |
3,000 |
Retake Fee |
12,750 |
Additional Scorecard Request |
1,500/ scorecard |
Cost of IELTS for Indian Students :
The British Council also administers IELTS, which is another widely acknowledged ELP test. The registration fee is Rs. 14,700. If the candidate wishes to retake the exam, he or she must spend an extra Rs. 14,000. Candidates can request up to five free scorecards after taking the exam.
IELTS Expense |
Amount in INR |
Registration Fee |
14,700 |
Late Fee |
3,000 |
Retake Fee |
12,000-15,000 |
Additional Scorecard Request |
250/ scorecard |
Cost of GRE for Indian Students :
The majority of MS programs in the United States require students to submit a legitimate GRE score. GRE scores are valid for five years, and students can register online, over the phone, or by mail. Candidates may repeat the GRE exam up to five times in a 12-month period.
GRE Expense |
Cost in INR |
Registration Fee |
15,800 |
Retake Fee |
15,800 |
Additional Scorecard Request |
1,997/ scorecard |
The cost of a master’s degree in the United States for Indian students would be insufficient if the cost of these entrance exams, which play a critical part in your MS applications, were not included.
Application Cost of MS in USA for Indian Students :
Candidates must pay an application processing fee in order to register for admission to US institutions. In most circumstances, the application price is non-refundable and can vary from 3,700 INR (50 USD) to 12,000 INR (150 USD) or more.
When applying to a graduate program, most students apply to at least 3 to 5 universities. As a result, your total entry cost could be much higher than 22,000 INR. Furthermore, several universities in the United States ask students to submit a hard copy of their application materials. In this scenario, you will have to pay additional courier fees. The postal envelopes have a maximum of roughly 10,000 INR.
If you are registering for master’s programs such as architecture or fine arts, you should consider adding a fee to this application fee. The cap varies depending on the number of portfolios involved, but it is often between 5,000 and 10,000 INR.
Student Visa Cost of USA for Indian Students :
You must apply for a visa once you have gotten the Form I-20 from your university in the United States indicating that your place at the college has been confirmed. Indian students who wish to study in the United States typically apply for the F-1 or J-1 student visa.
The SEVIS costs or F1 visa fees add an extra 25,000 INR (360 USD) to the cost of your trip to the United States. This is the only one-time cost that cannot be avoided or reduced.
Applying for a student visa in the United States entails not only a costly application fee, but also the burden of going through a demanding requirements phase.
(The J-1 student visa SEVIS cost is 16,720 INR.)
We have already surpassed 80,000 passengers, and we have yet to depart for the United States. This brings us to another key component of the price of MS in the US for Indian students: flight.
Airfare Costs from India to USA :
The price of your flight ticket will vary depending on a variety of factors, including your departure and arrival locations, how close to your travel date you purchase the ticket, and which airlines you travel with. Flights to the United States typically cost between 50,000 INR and 1,00,000 INR for a single trip.
Let us round this up to 75,000 INR on average. We already know that a student will spend 1,55,000 INR even before departing for the United States. These are the features of the cost of a master’s degree in the United States for Indian students that will change just slightly. For example, the total cost of your registration will depend upon the number of schools you apply to, and airfare will differ depending on your selections. The remaining costs will be the same.
All of this is when you DIY the entire procedure. If you decide to use a counsellor to help you study abroad, add an additional 10,000 to 50,000 INR to your present budget.
Chapter 2
Post- Arrival Costs
Once in the United States, expenses such as tuition, housing, and living expenses add up to the cost of a master’s degree in the United States for Indian students. Universities in major cities like New York City, California, and Chicago, for example, have much higher living costs. Your lifestyle choices will also contribute to the costs you will incur while studying in the United States.
Tuition Cost of MS in USA :
The following are the MS tuition costs in the United States at some of the major universities:
Top Universities |
Tuition Fee in INR |
Harvard University |
41.5 lakhs |
Stanford University |
28 lakhs- 41 lakhs |
Yale University |
33 lakhs- 40 lakhs |
Columbia University |
28 lakhs- 60 lakhs |
Duke University |
43 lakhs |
MIT |
13 lakhs |
University of California, Berkeley |
24 lakhs |
Cornell University |
14 lakhs |
California Institute of Technology |
46 lakhs |
Princeton University |
36 lakhs |
University of Chicago |
42 lakhs |
Affordable Universities to Study MS in USA :
There are numerous affordable universities in the United States for students on a tight budget. Listed below are a few of the universities with relatively low tuition fees:
Budget Universities |
Tuition Fee in INR |
Alabama State University |
14.22 lakhs |
University of North Carolina |
15 lakhs |
University of Minnesota |
21.20 lakhs |
Purdue University |
10.88 lakhs |
Florida State University |
15.90 lakhs |
Cost of Living in the USA :
The cost of living in the United States varies based on where you reside in the country and whether you reside in an urban, rural, or suburban environment. Many of the data discussed in this article are based on national averages, and you may notice significant variances in some cases. The Midwest region of the United States, for example (Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, and so on) will have lower numbers than those mentioned in this article, but New England will have considerably higher figures. The college that you are attending can assist you in determining how much money you need to spend per year on living expenses.
Type of Expense |
Cost Per Month in INR |
Housing Expense |
70,000- 1,48,000 |
Food Expenses |
2,200-3,000/ meal |
Travel Expenses |
7,398- 22,194 |
Health Insurance |
33,000- 51,000 |
Miscellaneous Expenses |
22,000- 44,000 |
Housing and Utilities in USA :
Outside of tuition, your residence rent will be the most significant portion of your spending. The price you pay for rent is determined by a variety of circumstances, including the location of your university, personal choices, and so on.
Renting a one-bedroom flat in rural areas will cost approximately 44,000 to 44,500 INR. Renting the same flat in a big city like Boston will cost you at least 2,22,000 INR. Some of the most affordable states in which to reside in the United States are:
State |
Cost of Living in INR |
South Dakota |
14 lakhs |
North Dakota |
15 lakhs |
Mississippi |
16 lakhs |
Texas |
17 lakhs |
Utah |
17.2 lakhs |
Kansas |
17.6 lakhs |
New Mexico |
17.8 lakhs |
Here are some of the most common costs for several utilities:
- Electric: $50 to $100 a month, based on the scale of your apartment and whether or not you utilise energy-efficient equipment and lighting. Electric heating can increase your monthly bills by up to $150.
- Gas: Not in every flat. It will only cost $10 to $15 a month if used for cooking, based on how much you cook. When used for heating, it might cost between $50 and $100 per month.
- Internet: Averages $45 to $50 per month.
- Cellular service: Most services cost around $50 per month unless you add a data package, which can cost up to $100 per month.
Other Costs :
Here are some additional expenses that you may incur while in the United States. These figures are only provided to assist you in determining how much you may spend.
- Groceries for one individual for one week might cost between $20 and $40, depending on your diet. A gallon of milk costs around $3.50, a loaf of bread costs roughly $2.50, rice cost roughly $1 per pound, and eggs cost roughly $2.00 per dozen. Fresh produce is expensive and varies in price based on whatever fruits and veggies are in season.
- Gas costs about $3.50 per gallon. If you live in an area with public transit, you may purchase a monthly pass for about $50-$60. .
- Unless you go to a huge chain department store, clothing is relatively pricey (Wal-Mart, etc). A good pair of jeans will set you back roughly $40.
Conclusion :
The United States is one of the most popular places for Indian students pursuing master’s degrees abroad. It provides substantial research opportunities as well as world-class amenities and educational standards. However, the cost of an MS in the United States for an Indian student is prohibitively expensive, ranging from 43 to 48 lakh INR each year.
Planning the cost of MS in the United States for Indian students is an important aspect of their study abroad strategy. Living abroad entails not only arranging for your tuition cost, but also funding for your accommodation, food, personal expenses, travel costs, and other expenses.
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