Let's talk real money. We'll use USD 1 = ₹86, check the live rate, as it moves.
Tuition (per year)
| Type | USD/yr | INR/yr (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Public university (intl/out-of-state) | $25,000-35,000 | ~21.5-30 lakh |
| Private university (average) | ~$45,000 | ~38.7 lakh |
| Top private (Ivy etc.) | $55,000-75,000 | ~47-65 lakh |
International undergrads almost never get the cheaper in-state rate.
Living costs (per month)
- Small college towns: USD 1,200-1,600 (₹~1.0-1.4 lakh)
- Mid-size cities: USD 1,600-2,200 (₹~1.4-1.9 lakh)
- NYC / Boston / Bay Area: USD 2,000-3,000+ (₹~1.7-2.6 lakh)
One-time visa & process fees
Budget for these before you arrive:
- SEVIS I-901 fee: $350 (₹~30,000)
- DS-160 visa application fee: $185 (₹~16,000)
- Visa Integrity Fee (from Oct 1, 2025, on issuance): $250 (₹~21,500)
- Flights, initial setup, health insurance, add several lakh more
How Indians actually fund it
- Assistantships (TA/RA): the gold standard at PhD/research-MS level, tuition waiver + stipend.
- Scholarships: partial merit awards; full undergrad aid only at a few need-blind schools.
- Education loans: Indian banks/NBFCs lend up to ~₹1-1.5 crore; read the interest and moratorium terms carefully.
The debt trap to avoid: an unfunded master's on a full loan, at a school with weak placement, and a job market gated by the H-1B lottery. Run the repayment math against realistic salaries, not best-case ones.
How much for a 2-year master's?
Roughly USD 70,000-150,000 (₹~60 lakh to 1.3 crore) all-in for an unfunded program; far less with an assistantship.
Want help comparing funded vs unfunded offers and the loan math? Ask an Aurora mentor.