Gyanberry > Study in USA > cost of mbbs in the usa a comprehensive guide 2022

Cost of a Medical Degree (MD/MBBS) in the USA: A Comprehensive Guide (2022)

Nov 11, 2022

Cost of MBBS in the USA for international students: Pre-arrival cost, tuition fees, scholarships, accommodation, and cost of living 

The USA is one of the greatest places to pursue an MBBS. In most countries, the MBBS degree is an undergraduate degree in medicine but in the USA, it is a postgraduate degree known as a Doctor of Medicine (MD). Hence before applying for a four years MD degree in the USA, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in science or any other field. 

The USA is famed for its high-quality medical education, unfortunately, medical studies are quite expensive in the USA. The average annual tuition fees for an MD degree at top universities range from 52,456 to 84,996 USD/year. Even the living costs and accommodation are a bit on the higher side compared to the other countries around the world. But the good news is that many universities in the USA offer scholarships and need-based financial aid for international medical students to reduce their study burden. 

Students therefore should be aware of the cost of an MBBS in the USA so that they can be financially prepared for it. The following article is a comprehensive guide on the cost of MBBS study in the USA, especially considering international students. It includes in-depth information on pre-arrival costs, tuition fees, scholarships, accommodation, and other living expenses that are incurred by the students.

Note: For the sake of international students, we shall use the term MBBS instead of MD throughout the article.

Overview of the cost of MBBS in the USA

Take a peek at the brief highlights before reading the complete article to gain a better sense of the costs involved.

Pre-arrival cost 8,287 USD*
Annual tuition fees 52,456 to 84,996 USD*/year
Accommodation cost  22,900 USD*/year
Cost of living 21,980 USD*/year

Pre-arrival costs for MBBS studies in the USA

Although negligible, the pre-arrival cost in the USA for an MBBS degree should also be considered under the expenses. It can be classified into the following categories:

  • Flight tickets
  • Entrance exams
  • Medical insurance
  • Application fees
  • Student visa fees 

Flight tickets

The cost of a flight ticket varies depending on the airline and the country from which a student is departing. A one-way ticket from India to the USA, for example, costs between 696 and 1,483 USD*. Many airline companies provide discounts, and if student books early, it can be a lot cheaper. 

Entrance exams 

Entrance exams for MBBS programs in the USA do come with fees. English proficiency exams such as TOEFL cost 180 to 325 USD* and IELTS can cost 245 to 255 USD*. Students also need to clear the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which is a standardized, multiple-choice, computer-based test that has been a part of the medical school admissions process in the USA for around 90 years. It costs 320 USD* for registration and an additional international fee of 115 USD* for test locations outside the USA. All of the exams have additional late registration fees, plus, the students have to pay more for multiple attempts. 

Medical insurance 

Most American universities require international students enrolled at their schools to have health insurance. Some universities have their insurance policies for students, which can range anywhere from 4,000 USD* to 6,500 USD*/year. There are outside agents through which students can purchase their health insurance plans, but students should beware that sometimes they can be scammed. Students should choose a health plan that can adequately cover their medical expenses and should not go for the cheapest one.

Application fees 

The AMCAS application service is a centralized medical school application service in the USA for international students. The application fee charged by AMCAS is 170 USD* for the first school and 43 USD* for each additional school. But not all universities use this service, so students should check the websites of the respective universities for their admission processes. In that case, students might have to pay university application fees, which can range from 90 to 100 USD*. Some universities also accept secondary applications in addition to AMCAS applications, so students have to pay both the AMCAS application fee and a secondary application fee of 90 to 100 USD*.

Student visa fees

An international student wanting to pursue higher education in the USA should have a valid student visa. There are generally two types of student visas, F and M. The F visa is required for admission to medical schools. The first step is to apply to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System by paying the SEVIS I-901 fee of 350 USD* followed by the payment of the visa application fee of 170 USD*. 

MBBS fees at the top 10 universities in the USA

Although there are numerous colleges in the USA offering MBBS degrees, getting admission to top MBBS schools in the USA is quite difficult and expensive. Their acceptance rate is quite low and their admission criteria are tough. The following table contains a list of the top 10 universities in the USA offering admission to their MBBS degree programs along with their annual fees. 

University Name QS Ranking (Medicine) US News Ranking

(Medicine)

Tuition fees (USD*/year) Duration of MD Program
Harvard University 1 1 52,456 4 years 
Stanford University 3 8 84,996 4 years 
Johns Hopkins University 5 3 58,000 4 years 
University of California, Los Angeles 6 19 59,312 4 years 
Yale University 9 10 66,160 4 years 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 11 47 52,456 4 years 
University of California, San Francisco 13 3 55,036 4 years
Columbia University 14 3 66,816 4 years
University of Pennsylvania 15 6 61,586 4 years
Duke University 17 6 63,310 4 years

Gyanberry also has affiliations with accredited American universities offering MD programs for international students, such as

Applying through Gyanberry will surely increase the chances of student admission and will make the process smoother and less time-consuming. 

Note: Although the Massachusetts Institute of Technology does not own a medical school, it has a collaboration with Harvard Medical School known as Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, and offers an MD program. It gives preference to students from historically underrepresented groups in STEMM, students with non-traditional academic backgrounds, and students from academic institutions that send few or no students to Harvard and MIT.

Many universities in the USA also offer integrated MD programs of five years duration and students can engage in a one-year research study at the university. 

MBBS scholarships and financial aid for international students in the USA

Despite being one of the most expensive places to study, the USA remains one of the greatest study destinations for international students. One of the reasons is the scholarships and financial aid available to international students. Government aid is mostly accessible to citizens or permanent residents of the United States, therefore international students who come to the USA to study MBBS are not eligible. Most American medical schools provide international students with merit-based scholarships, bursaries, and student loans. Students can also seek financial assistance via their embassy’s cultural department or the education minister’s office. There are also some government and non-government organizations which offer scholarships for international students studying MBBS in the USA. Students should look at the following scholarships listed by eduPASS before applying to medical schools:

  • The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship 
  • The American Association of University Women
  • The Civil Society Leadership Awards 
  • Conacyt 
  • ColFuturo 
  • The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program 
  • Foreign Fulbright Student Program 
  • MPOWER Financing 
  • The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship 

Housing and Accommodation for MBBS students in the USA

There are two options for housing and accommodation in the USA: on-campus housing and off-campus housing. Many universities offer on-campus housing/dormitories to international students and mostly include shared rooms (often two to three students per room) with large bathrooms and toilet facilities. On-campus housing is convenient as students do not have to pay extra for transportation as it is located on campus. The off-campus accommodations can either be apartments or homestays and costs more in comparison to the on-campus housing options. The cost of these can range from 1,400 to 2,416 USD*/month (16,800 to 29,000 USD*/year). 

Cost of living for MBBS students in the USA

The USA is a large country, and depending on the region, the cost of living varies greatly. For example, states like California, New York, and Massachusetts have higher costs of living as compared to other states. Outside of campus, food can be expensive, but on-campus canteen food is less expensive, and students usually have coupon services. There are options available for students to work part-time after college hours, but it is not feasible for students pursuing MBBS studies as the course is highly extensive. Students, therefore, should smartly budget their expenses. The living costs of students studying MBBS in the USA can be summarized as below:

Type of Expense Cost in USD*/month Cost in USD*/year
Food 741 8,9000
Transportation 180 2,160
Books and medical supplies for college 160 1,920
Personal expenses  750 9,000
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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, there are many universities in the USA that offer merit-based scholarships, bursaries, and student loans to deserving students. There are also government and non-government organizations, as well as the cultural department of the embassy or the office of the education minister, where students can look for scholarships and financial aid.

Yes, medical insurance is required by several institutions in the USA. Even if some institutions do not require insurance, it is preferable to get one because not having insurance might be expensive. Students should avoid purchasing the cheapest health insurance plan because it may not provide appropriate coverage.

The USA government offers three types of student visas: F and M. Students must pay two types of fees for their visas: the SEVIS I-901 fee of 350 USD* for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System and the visa application fee of 170 USD*.

*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.

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