Cost of Undergraduate Degree in USA for Indian Students

The USA is home to some of the most renowned universities in the world. The institutes here offer a wide array of 4000+ courses to choose from. One of the best things about studying in the US is that it offers you a plethora of options when it comes to employment, both in the country and around the world. 

Pursuing an undergraduate degree from here can surely brighten up your career. If you have made up your mind to study in the US, make sure that you are aware of the costs you will have to bear while studying there. Keep reading this blog to know about the cost of an undergraduate degree in the USA for Indian students. 

Pre-Arrival Cost 

The cost of an undergraduate degree in USA for Indian Students begins even before they get admitted into the university. Have a look at the table below to understand the pre-arrival cost of an undergraduate degree in the USA for Indian Students: 

Costs	Amount
TOEFL Registration Fee	$190
IELTS Registration Fee	$245-255
SAT Fee	$104
ACT Fee	$85
SEVIS Fee	$350
Visa application fee	$160
Airfare	$500-1000
Application Fees	$50-200
Insurance	$500-1,000

Also Read: Cost of Studying in UK for Indian Students

Post-Arrival Cost

After you have arrived in the US, there are regular payment commitments that you have to fulfil while studying there. The post-arrival cost mainly incorporated the tuition fees and the cost of living. 

Tuition Fees

The tuition fee in the US is determined by various factors, such as the type of university and location. We will dive deeper into these factors later in this blog. 

Cost of Living

It is not just the tuition fees that you have to keep in mind while studying in the USA, you also have to consider the cost of living. The living expenses depend on various factors, such as your lifestyle, the type of accommodation you choose, transportation, and personal costs. 

Also Read: Cost of Studying in Canada

Cost of Undergraduate Degree in USA for Indian Students

The USA is known to be one of the best choices among international students when it comes to pursuing undergraduate degrees. Let’s have a look at the average tuition fees of some of the top universities in the world: 

University	QS World University Rankings 2024	Average Tuition Fees
Harvard University	4	$52,659
Stanford University	5	$57,693
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	1	$57,590
California Institute of Technology	15	$58,479
Princeton University	17	$57,410
Columbia University	23	$65,524
Yale University	16	$62,250

Also Read: Cost of Studying in Australia

Factors Affecting Overall Cost of Undergraduate Courses in the US

The overall cost of undergraduate degrees in the USA depends on various factors. Be it the living expenses or the tuition fees, the overall expense of studying in the United States is determined by many elements. 

Let’s have a look at some of the most important factors that determine the overall cost of undergraduate degrees in the United States:

Lifestyle

The overall expense of pursuing an undergraduate degree in the USA depends on your lifestyle. Your monthly expense is going to include groceries, accommodation, food, health insurance, transportation, and miscellaneous costs. 

So, your preference for entertainment, accommodation, shopping, food, etc is going to hugely affect your overall cost of studying. 

The table provided below shows the average personal expenses you expect to bear while studying in the US:

Public Transportation	$75-150 for a Monthly Pass
Groceries	$400 Per Month
Restaurants	$800 Per Month
Shopping and Entertainment	$100 Per Month
Miscellaneous Expenses	$2,000 Throughout the Year

Type of University 

The tuition fees of public universities and private universities in the United States vary significantly. Public universities receive funds from the state government, hence they charge much lower fees when compared to private universities. 

Have a look at the table provided below to check the average fees of public and private universities in the US: 

Public Universities	$20,000-35,000 Per Year
Private Universities	$35,000-60,000 Per Year.

Location 

If you are considering pursuing an undergraduate degree in the US, then you should keep in mind that there are certain cities in this country where the living costs are much higher in comparison to others. 

Some of the cities with the highest expense of living in this country are San Francisco, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and Chicago. On the other hand, some of the most affordable cities are Atlanta, San Diego, Chicago, Dallas, Michigan, Missouri, Arkansas, and Georgia. 

Take a look at the table below to see the average cost of living in the expensive and affordable cities in the US:

Expensive Cities in the US	$1,500-4,000 Per Month
Affordable Cities in the US	$800-1800 Per Month

Accommodation Cost 

Your living expense also depends on whether you choose on-campus accommodation or off-campus accommodation. Take a look at the table given below to know the average cost of on-campus accommodation and off-campus accommodation in the US: 

On-Campus Accommodation	$9,800 – $11,000 Per Year
Off-Campus Accommodation	$3,500 per month

Also Read: Cost of Living in France: Rent, Food, Expenses and More

FAQs

So, this was all about the cost of undergraduate degree in USA for Indian Students. Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you are planning to study abroad.