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Indian students planning to pursue MS in USA have a long list of requirements they need to take care of. Cost is one of the foremost factors that students need to consider before laying out further plans for MS in USA. There are various forms of cost that come under the study abroad umbrella, such as accommodation costs, application fees, English language proficiency costs, airfare costs, and more. As MS in USA is one of the most sought after for higher education, it becomes just as important to get to know about the various costs that are included in this foray. Get to know about the cost of MS in USA for Indian students in this blog. Continue reading.
This Blog Includes:
- Cost of MS in the USA 2025: An Overview
- Cost MS in USA at Top Universities
- Top 5 Affordable Universities in the USA
- Top Scholarships for MS in the USA
- Cost of MS in USA for Indian Students: Entrance Exam
- Cost of English Language Proficiency Tests
- Cost of MS in USA for Indian Students: Student Visa
- Cost of MS in USA for Indian Students: Application
- Cost of MS in USA for Indian Students: Airfare
- Tuition Cost of MS in USA for Indian Students
- Cost of Living
- FAQs
Cost of MS in the USA 2025: An Overview
The exact cost of studying an MS in the USA varies. It depends on a lot of factors. You need to consider the tuition fee charged by the university. For example, MIT, the number 1 university in the US, charges around USD 30,995 per term as graduate tuition. On the other hand, university like Stanford University charges only USD 19,582 per quarter.
Aside from that, you must also consider the cost of living in the US, and the lifestyle you lead. The cost of living depends on factors like the accommodation you choose to live in, the transportation you choose, etc. You may also have to take into consideration additional costs like the cost of the entrance exam, cost of application fees, etc.
Cost MS in USA at Top Universities
One of the first things you need to consider is the tuition fee expenses. The following are the costs of MS in USA at the top Universities in the USA.
| Top Universities in the USA | Annual Tuition Fees (USD) |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | USD 53,790 |
| University of California, Berkeley (UCB | USD 41,196 (out-of-state students) |
| Stanford University | USD 56,169 |
| Harvard University | USD 5,500 – $33,000 |
| Yale University | USD 69,900 |
Top 5 Affordable Universities in the USA
Finding the cost of MS way too high? These are the top 10 affordable universities in the USA.
| Affordable Universities in the USA | Estimated Annual Tuition (USD) |
| Minot State University (North Dakota) | USD 5,400 |
| Southeast Missouri State University | USD 7,700 |
| Sonoma State University (California) | USD 7,400 |
| California State University, San Bernardino | USD 11,000 |
| Alcorn State University (Mississippi) | USD 7,800 |
Top Scholarships for MS in the USA
These are the top five scholarships for MS in the USA. You can apply for any of these scholarships to alleviate your financial burden.
| Scholarship Name | Description |
| Fulbright Foreign Student Program | Fully funded scholarship granted to international students |
| Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program | Granted to students from developing countries to help them cover their living expenses, tuition fees, and travel costs |
| AAUW International Fellowships | Is available to women to pursue graduate full-time courses in the USA |
| Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Program | International scholarship to postgraduate students from developing countries |
| Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships | Assists Indian students to pursue masters in USA |
Cost of MS in USA for Indian Students: Entrance Exam
Once a student decides to pursue MS in USA, the costs start lining up from their entrance exams as well. GRE is one of the most common entrance exams that is taken for Indian students to qualify for MS in USA.
GRE stands for Graduate Record Examinations, which can be taken 5 times in a year, and are valid for 5 years. The GRE cost includes registration, retake, and scorecard request fee.
| Registration Cost | INR 15,800 |
| Retake Fee | INR 15,800 |
| Request for Additional Scorecard | INR 1,997 |
Cost of English Language Proficiency Tests
Another major requirement is the need to clear English language proficiency tests. The scores are a part of the eligibility criteria for pursuing an MS in USA. The two most popular tests are TOEFL and IELTS. Let’s learn about their cost below.
TOEFL
The following make up the TOEFL cost for Indian students.
| Registration Cost | INR 14,605 |
| Late Fee | INR 3,000 |
| Retake Fee | INR 12,750 |
| Request for Additional Scorecard | INR 1,500 |
IELTS
The following make up the IELTS cost for Indian students.
| Registration Cost | INR 14,700 |
| Retake Fee | INR 12,000 to INR 15,000 |
| Request for Additional Scorecard | INR 250 |
Cost of MS in USA for Indian Students: Student Visa
Coming to the Student Visa cost of MS in USA for Indian students, we find that there are two visas that students mainly apply for. These are the F-1 and the J-1 student visa.
| Cost of F-1 visa | INR 25,000 |
| Cost of J-1 student visa | INR 16,720 |
Cost of MS in USA for Indian Students: Application
The most important step is applying for universities and courses of your choice. Taking the same into consideration, let’s go through the cost of applying below.
| General range of application fee | INR 3,700 to INR 12,000 |
| Cap on Postal Charges, if required | INR 10,000 |
| Portfolio application, if required | INR 5,000 to INR 10,000 |
Also Read: Study in USA
Cost of MS in USA for Indian Students: Airfare
After everything is said and you are ready to fly to your dream university, costs don’t stop lining up. Next is the cost of airfare for students to travel.
| Average range of one-side trip to USA | INR 50,000 to INR 1,00,000 |
Tuition Cost of MS in USA for Indian Students
Now that the student has landed in the USA for MS, they must be consistent with their tuition fees. Taking some of the top universities in USA into consideration, below is how the tuition costs look.
| Name of University | Tuition Fee |
| Stanford University | INR 28 lakh to INR 41 lakh |
| Harvard University | INR 41 lakh |
| Yale University | INR 33 lakh to INR 40 lakh |
| MIT | INR 65 lakh |
| University of Chicago | INR 42 lakh |
| Columbia University | INR 30 lakh to INR 60 lakh |
| University of California, Berkeley | INR 24 lakh |
Also Read: Top Universities in USA
Cost of Living
What else comes under the cost of MS in USA for Indian students. Having covered the journey from the cost of the application process to covering the tuition fee and student visa, the student now needs to survive living in the country, which involves meeting accommodation costs and more.
| Accommodation | INR 70,000 to INR 1.5 lakh |
| Food | INR 2,000 to INR 3,000 per meal |
| Health Coverage | INR 33,000 to INR 51,000 |
| Travel | Up to INR 22,000 |
| Miscellaneous* | INR 20,000 to INR 40,000 |
*The miscellaneous costs may include stationary, additional costs you did not see coming, repair, etc.
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FAQs
Yes, the USA is expensive for Indian students. They might need an education loan or scholarships to finance their studies abroad.
Yes, MS in USA is worth it for Indian students. This is because most students can easily find a job post their studies and can further account for the cost of MS after graduation.
Yes, MS in USA is certainly challenging for students. The high academic standards and demanding coursework makes it challenging.
No. You cannot study in the US without showing your bank statements. You need to have a minimum bank balance in your account, Besides this, you must have funds to pay your tuition fees and living expenses.
That was all about cost of MS in USA for Indian students. If you plan to study in USA, or study abroad, you can contact Leverage Edu experts and counsellors at 1800572000 to book a free consultation today!
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