MBBS in USA: Everything You Need To Know!

Among the noblest professions, a career in Medicine is revered more than any other line of work. Almost everyone harbors a dream of becoming a doctor at some point in their time until they realize their true ambition. MBBS is one of the most sought-after Medical Science courses in the world and certainly the one demanding intensive learning and rigorous training. A large number of students aim for cracking an entrance exam for the degree but comparatively only a handful of them are selected. When it comes to study in USA, is perhaps the first name that comes to mind. Listed on the top among the countries with the best education system, the USA has a great potential for research and development in almost every field. In this blog, we will cover the essential information related to pursuing an MBBS in USA.

Highlights

Course Name	MBBS/MD
Level	Postgraduate
Country	USA
Eligibility	50% in PCB for General and 40% for SC/ ST/OBCs in 10+2
NEET	Required
MCAT	Required
IELTS and TOEFL	Required
Average Course Fee	INR 67 Lakhs
Cost of Living in USA	INR 15,000 to 18,000 per month
Duration of Course	Minimum 4 years
Medium of Education	English

Why Pursue MBBS in USA?

The USA has etched its name in conducting research in technology and medicine. It is also visible in the fact that some of the world’s leading institutions for research are housed in the country. One of the biggest benefits of pursuing MBBS in the USA is that the degrees are globally recognized and are given preference. To augment research and learning, the country has an abundance of facilities and resources. Since the MBBS degree requires a high level of dedication and hard work, the USA fulfills the requirements needed for a professional degree program like MBBS. Hosting more international students than any other country in the world, the USA boasts a multicultural study environment, a healthy exchange of discourse, and debates among the students. 

MBBS in USA: Top Colleges

Imparting quality education has been the core principle of educational institutions in the USA and the medical schools in the country hold an indisputable position among the prestigious universities in the world. Running for a period of 4 years with 3-4 years of a residency program, the medical schools provide students with world-class teaching infrastructure, comprehensive MBBS Syllabus, and hi-tech technologies. Some of the top medical schools for studying MBBS in USA are listed below: 

University/Med-College	QS World University Rankings: 2022	Duration of the Program in years
University of California, San Diego	48	4
University of Pennsylvania	13	4
Duke University	52	4
Columbia University	19	4
University of California, San Francisco	–	4
Yale University	=14	4
University of California, Los Angeles	40	4
Johns Hopkins University	25	4
Harvard University	5	5
Stanford University	=3	6

Sign Up Here for a FREE Study Abroad Consultation with Our Experts!

List of Other Med-Colleges in USA 

• Cornell University
• University of Michigan
• Baylor College of Medicine
• Boston University
• University of Colorado
• Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• University of Maryland
• Mayo Medical School
• New York University
• Emory University

To know more, check out Best Medical Colleges in USA!

Course Structure & Duration

MBBS in USA is actually offered MD, i.e. Doctor of Medicine by most of the medical schools and universities in the country. MD in USA is a 4-year medical degree which is considered as the equivalent of MBBS in India and is globally accredited around the world. The medical schools in the USA offer a residency program for MBBS/MD graduates which is more of a postgraduate level course and its duration varies as per the specialization selected by the student. Often both MBBS/MD and residency programs are integrated together by American universities can span across 7-9 years in duration. During the course duration, students also need to undertake the USMLE exam I, II, III, and on successfully clearing the third exam, you will be provided with the MBBS degree. Further, MBBS/MD degree in the USA is internationally accepted and accredited, and here are the major medical council across the globe accepting this degree:

• Medical Council of India (MCI)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)
• The Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER)
• Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
• Ministry of Education, USA

MBBS Admission Process

To apply for a Doctor of Medicine, you must complete a pre-medical course and have an MCAT score (MD). MBBS applications are accepted at universities in the United States for the autumn and spring semesters. International students can apply to universities in the United States through AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service). Some of them accept applications directly through their websites.

Eligibility Requirements

Unlike other countries, the basic requirement to meet the eligibility criteria for US medical schools needs you to have a 4-year bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with Physics, Biology, and Chemistry as majors. Other requirements for admissions in the medical schools in the USA include:

• Language Test: To Study in USA, you need to qualify a proficiency test for the English language. Depending on the institution, you may require any of the three language tests which include IELTS, TOEFL or PTE. All three tests have different scoring schemes and patterns. Before applying, you should go through the website of the medical school for the accepted language test and their minimum percentile.
• MCAT: Medical College Admission Test or MCAT aims at testing the aptitude of the candidate on various parameters. It is the mandatory eligibility criteria to pursue MBBS in USA. The computer-based test consists of multiple-choice questions to examine the reasoning, aptitude and comprehension skills of the prospective medical candidates. The exhaustive test is 7.5 hours long and is conducted 15 times a year. The maximum score for the total of six sections is 528 with 500 being the median score. 
• NEET: Clearing the National Eligibility exam with qualifying marks is mandatory for Indian students to pursue MBBS abroad. 

Documents Required for MBBS in USA

• Transcripts of previous academic study
• Evaluation of foreign transcripts by an accredited agency
• Relevant test scores (as asked by the university)
• English Proficiency Test Certificate 
• Valid passport copy 
• Letters of recommendations
• Statement of purpose
• Resume
• Criminal background check of the applicant
• Student visa 
• Passport size copies of photographs

Note: Even though the primary prerequisites of medical schools in USA remain the same but the MBBS Admission Process may vary from one medical institution to another in terms of qualifying marks and documents. It is advised to go through the eligibility criteria and other requirements before proceeding with the application.

Cost of Study for MBBS in USA

There is a wide range of medical programs available in USA and when it comes to MD/MBBS in USA, you can choose from top universities like Harvard University, University of California, etc. offering this course at higher tuition fees and the University of North Carolina, University of Central Florida, etc. providing quality medical degrees at affordable tuition fees. The average cost of studying MBBS in USA can range somewhere between 24,000 USD (roughly 18,00,000 INR) to 66,000 USD (roughly 49,48,000 INR) varying as per the university you have opted for. Given below is the estimated average cost of overall tuition fee for the program at some of the top med-colleges in USA. 

University/Med-College	Total Fees in USD (estimated average)	Total Fees in INR (estimated average)
University of California, San Diego	165,500	1.23 crore
University of Pennsylvania	240,000	1.79 crore
Duke University	248,000	1.84 crore
Columbia University	73,800	55.04 lakhs
University of California, San Francisco	187,100	1.39 crore
Yale University	252,000	1.87 crore
University of California, Los Angeles	105,300	78.54 lakhs
Johns Hopkins University	214,000	1.59 crore
Harvard University	325,000	2.42 crores
Stanford University	482,000	3.59 crores

Note: You can calculate the living cost of studying in USA using our exclusive Cost of Living Calculator! Also, the aforementioned costs are only for indicative purposes and can differ as per the university.

Scholarships for MBBS in USA

Many medical schools and prestigious universities in the United States, as well as numerous external organizations, provide a range of scholarships to students so that they can complete their studies without financial constraints. Some scholarships for international students in the United States are listed below:

Scholarships in USA	Awarding Institute	Amount in USD
ASAHP Scholarship of Excellence	Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions	1,000
AHIMA Foundation Merit Scholarship	AHIMA Foundation	Varies
AMTIE Student Scholarship	American Medical Technologists (AMT)	Up to 500
Vagelos Scholarship	Columbia University	Tuition fees + cost of living
Financial Aid for Non-US Medical Students	John Hopkins University	Varies
Stanford Institutional Aid	Stanford University	Varies
Harvard Medical School Scholarship	Harvard University	Tuition fee waiver

Job Prospects and Salary after MBBS in USA

When students achieve their goal of completing MD/MBBS in the United States, a universe of options opens up for them. After becoming a doctor, Indian students have a variety of career options in the United States, such as starting their own practice, obtaining good jobs with high wages in private and public government institutions, or working in the research area. However, students should keep in mind that in order to practice in the United States, they must finish a residency program, and a bachelor’s degree in medicine is not adequate. Having stated that, Indian students who finish their MD/MBBS in the United States are eligible to practice in India without having to pass the NMC screening test and because  Because medical degrees from the United States are respected globally, it ensures that Indian students will be able to practice their profession at either government or non-government facilities in the United States.

The average annual income for physicians and surgeons in the United States is around USD 208,000 which is around INR 1,55,06,254. The average salary for various specializations or job prospects in the United States are listed below:

Job prospects/ specializations	Average annual salary in USD (estimated)	Average annual salary in INR (estimated)
Surgeons	255,500	1.90 crore
Psychiatrists	220,500	1.64 crore
General Pediatricians	183,500	1.36 crore
General Internists	196,500	1.46 crore
Obstetricians and Gynecologists	238,500	1.77 crore
Family and General Physician	212,000	1.58 crore
Anesthesiologists	267,000	1.99 crore

FAQs

A career in medicine is highly demanding and equally rewarding. After putting years of hard work into it, the fame and satisfaction that comes with it are unmatched. If you have set your mind to pursuing an MBBS in USA, Leverage Edu can help you turn it into reality. Our professional career experts will guide you in cracking the MCAT exam and write engaging SOPs for you to help you land in one of the top medical schools in the USA.