MBA Fees for USA can range from 10 lakhs per year to 70 lakhs per year, depending on the college. Top MBA colleges in USA like HBS, Wharton, Stanford, offer MBA programs at comparatively higher cost. While there are quite a few MBA scholarships in USA for Indian students, it still might be a little steep for an average student. The reason students opt for high-end colleges for MBA in USA is the ROI. MBA graduates from any top college in USA earn around 80 lakhs INR per year, making it worth their money. Checkout: MBA Salary in USA

The cost of studying MBA in the USA can be broken down into three main components

  • MBA Fees in USA Colleges
  • Cost of Living
  • Pre-arrival Cost (Test, Visa, Application fees)

This means that with MBA in USA tuition fees, students have to maintain a budget for living costs in USA of around 25 lakhs per year. Let’s discuss the each component for cost of MBA in USA:

MBA Fees in USA Colleges

MBA Fees in USA is 55 lakhs INR per year, on average. Top MBA colleges in USA usually charge more than others. The tuition fees can go as high as 84 lakhs per year. The table below displays the annual MBA tuition fees at top-ranking business schools in the USA.

MBA in USA Fees: Cost Comparison

MBA in USA is a bit expensive than other countries for Indian students, especially in comparison to countries like Germany and Singapore. The cost comparison for MBA in USA vs other countries is showcased in the graph below:

After completion of an MBA from USA universities, students get ample job opportunities with a big amount of salaries. Top recruiters that offer employment are Amazon, BCG, Deloitte, JP Morgan, McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, etc.

Low Cost MBA in USA

USA also has MBA colleges in a more affordable price range. The cost of study can also get as low as around 10 lakhs per year. The table below lists the affordable MBA colleges in USA that offer MBA at a lower tuition fee.

  1. California Miramar University
  2. Saint Mary’s University Minnesota
  3. University of South Dakota
  4. Cameron University
  5. Lamar University

Cost of Living in USA for Indian Students

The cost of living includes accommodation in the USA, food, personal expenses, phone/internet expenses, transportation, health insurance, entertainment and other personal expenses. Living cost in USA is much more expensive than in India. An average estimate of expenses is tabulated below:

Expense Type Average Annual Cost (INR)
Accommodation 10.30 - 13.21 lakhs
Food and Beverages 3.83 lakhs
Transportation 0.85 lakhs
Utility Bills 1.87 lakhs
Health Insurance 3.18 - 7 lakhs
Personal Expenses 1.87 lakhs
Total 21.90 - 28.63 lakhs

Also Check:

These costs vary from student to student and depend on their lifestyle, financial background, interests, and different locations where students are living. Apart from the above-mentioned costs, there are books and stationery costs, entertainment costs, and other costs that students have to pay.

Costs of Living in USA Indian Students- by Cities

Indian students have to spend around 25 lakhs per year on average on living expenses in USA. New York is the most expensive city to live in with a cost of living of around 38 lakhs per year. Living in California and Pennsylvania will also cost around 35 lakhs per year for Indian students. The cheapest cities to live in USA include Illinois, Chicago and Massachusetts with living expenses of around 14 lakhs per year.


Also read: Best Student Cities in USA

With excellent training and quality education with industrial experience and a multicultural environment, world-class infrastructure, and high job opportunities, MBA in USA is much in demand amongst Indian students. Though it is expensive to study here, one can earn bigger salaries compared to an Indian MBA. by investing in these programs in USA.

MBA Fees in USA FAQs

Ques. What is pre-arrival MBA in USA Fees for Indian Students?

Ans. The pre-arrival expenses to study MBA in USA include registration fees for English proficiency tests, visa application fees, SEVIS fees, eligibility tests fees, and airfare. Average one-time expenses are mentioned below:

Category Average Amount (in INR)
USA Visa Application Fee 12,754
SEVIS Fee 27,899
TOEFL Exam Fee 7,971 - 9,565
IELTS Exam Fee 15,500
GMAT 21,921 lakhs
GRE 16,979 lakhs
Airfare 57,757 - 92,746

Ques. How much does an MBA cost in USA?

Ans. The cost of pursuing an MBA in the USA for an Indian student ranges between 90 lakhs to 1 crore per year. This includes pre-arrival expenses such as registration fees for test scores, visa fees, tuition fees and cost of living.

Ques. Is USA MBA worth it?

Ans. The USA is the top-most and largest MBA market with various specializations like accounting, finance, information technology, entrepreneurship, marketing, operation management, and many more. Globally ranked institutes like Havard, Stanford, etc are there. An MBA from a US university is highly beneficial from the point of job opportunities, personal growth, a way to earn high salaries, etc. So, it is worth doing an MBA in the USA.

Ques. How much is the cheapest MBA in USA?

Ans. The cheapest MBA in USA starts from 10 lakhs only. California Miramar University and Saint Mary's University are two cheapest MBA universities in USA.

Ques. How expensive is the accommodation facility in the USA?

Ans. Accommodation in US cities is a bit expensive. The average annual cost for accommodation in the US starts from 5 lakh and can go up to 30 lakhs.

Ques. Are there any scholarships available for MBA students in the USA?

Ans. There are many scholarships available for Indian students pursuing MBA in the USA. These include Kellogg MBA scholarships, MIT Sloan MBA scholarship, Stanford Reliance, Dhirubhai Fellowship, The Aga Khan Foundation scholarship, Columbia University need-based scholarship etc.

Ques. Is there any exam for MBA in USA?

Ans. The required exams to study MBA in the US English language proficiency tests and GMAT/GRE tests. Students can take the TOEFL iBT test for proof of language proficiency.

Ques. Is GMAT required for MBA in USA?

Ans. In most colleges, a GMAT is required for admission to business programs. However, it is possible to do an MBA without a GMAT score in some USA universities. Those universities /B-schools include Sawyer B-School, Kellogg School of Management, Marshall School of Business, Hult International B-school etc