MBBS (MD) in USA for Indian Students : Fees, Admission, Eligibility & Requirements

MBBS (MD) in USA is equivalent to an MD-level degree program, the reason being that MBBS in America is not a bachelor’s program it is a postgraduate program. This article will discuss about MBBS in America, MBBS fees in America, top medical colleges and other related details for international students. 

MBBS in America is not referred to as MBBS because it is an MD program. Applicants who want to study in USA for an MBBS degree will have to first qualify for a BSc degree in a relevant field and then go for a pre-med certificate course which finally leads to an MD course in the USA. Thus, the process is the same but the terminology and the path towards the degree are different in USA, unlike India, to understand about Medical Education in USA in detail. Check out the details below for MBBS in USA. 

MBBS in USA Highlights

• MBBS is more commonly referred to as the Master of Medicine or MD course.
• Medicine is a STEM education course, and applicants can apply for OPT post-degree completion. 
• In the USA, MBBS is a postgrad program which is not the case in India. In India MBBS is an undergrad program.
• More than 40,000 applications are submitted for admission to MBBS in USA by international students and only 20,000 get through.
• Jobs after MBBS in USA are highly paid, the starting annual average salary of a doctor in the USA is USD 105,000.
• The duration of MBBS in the USA is between four to six years which also includes the residency program. 

Why Study MBBS in USA?

The USA is the top-ranking country for higher education abroad and is renowned for its medical courses. Students also wish to pursue MBBS in USA because it has a good return on investment. The other reasons why international students wish to study MBBS in USA are because:

• MBBS degrees or MD degrees from US universities are accredited and approved by WHO, MCC and other leading agencies, hence it is widely accepted across the globe for practice. 
• On average MBBS in America attracts international students because of its job growth in the country since there is a shortage of medical practitioners. 
• There are a variety of scholarships available to cater to American MBBS fees for Indian students.
• There are over 30+ specialisations available for MBBS applicants in the USA. Out of which Neuro and Cardio are the most preferred ones. 

Best Medical Colleges in America

Based on QS’s subject rankings for ‘Medicine’ for the year 2024 are as follows for the best medical colleges in America for international students:

Top US Universities		QS - ‘Best Medical Colleges in America’ Rankings 2024	Course Offered
Harvard University		#1	MD
Stanford University		#3	MD
Johns Hopkins University		#4	MD
University of California, San Francisco		#9	MD
Yale University		#10	MD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)		#11	MD
University of California, LA		#12	MD
Columbia University		#15	MD
University of Pennsylvania		#16	MD
Duke University		#17	MD

There are more than 50+ US universities that offer an MBBS cum MD degree to international students. But these are top-ranking courses in the field of Medicine subject as per QS for the year 2024. 

How to Become a Doctor in USA?

Applicants can apply for MBBS in the USA after completing 12th grade, but the process is slightly different from that in India. In USA, there is no concept of a separate MBBS degree; rather, applicants have to pursue an MD (Doctor of Medicine) program directly after completing an undergraduate degree program. Here are the steps involved on how to become a doctor in USA:

Step 1. Pre-Medical Education (Or UG degree)

• A 4-year pre-medical undergraduate degree (like BSc) is essential before applying for an MD program in the USA.
• The UG degree must include prerequisite courses like Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or other equivalent subjects required for medical studies admission in USA.
• This undergraduate degree is mandatorily required to be pursued from an accredited university in the USA.

Step 2. Appear for MCAT 

After completing the UG or pre-medical degree, applicants will have to then appear for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test). The MCAT exam is a standardized exam required for admission to medical schools in the USA.

Step 3: Apply to the Desired MD Program in USA

• Once applicants get their MCAT scores, they can then begin applying to MD (Doctor of Medicine) programs in medical schools in the USA.
• An MD program in the USA is 4 years long and includes classroom-based learning + clinical training.

Step 4: Pass the USMLE

While pursuing an MD in the USA or even after the MD program, applicants must take the USMLE (Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3) exams. Qualifying for these exams is essential to becoming a licensed medical practitioner in the USA.

MBBS in USA Course Details

MD in USA is a popular medical course where admissions are limited and the tuition fees are very high because it is offered for six and a half years. The MBBS course in USA is ideally divided into three stages:

1. Complete a bachelor’s degree first and get towards the MD degree completion.
2. Complete the pre-med school which may last a year just to help students understand US medical programs.
3. Qualify for USMLE 1 which is important as part of the clinical training. After completing the training appear for the USMLE 2 exam after qualifying applicants can apply for the residency program in the USA. 

Check out the other following sections which will help students understand MBBS or MD in USA in detail and talk about different arenas relating to the course. 

MBBS Course Specialisations in USA

There are over 30+ specialisations offered in USA as part of MBBS or MD program. Some of the most popular ones are as follows:

• Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine
• Cardiothoracic Medicine
• Emergency Medical Services
• Addiction Psychiatry
• Internal Medicine-Critical Care Medicine
• Allergy & Immunology
• Medical Toxicology
• Pain Medicine
• Brain Injury Medicine
• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Sports Medicine
• Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine
• Chemical Pathology

MBBS in America Fees

The following is the tuition fee for those applying for MBBS in USA or MD in USA as Indian students:

Top US Universities for MBBS	First-Year Tuition Fee	Tuition Fee for Indian Students
Harvard University	USD 69,300	INR 57,58,588
Stanford University	USD 84,996	INR 70,62,870
Johns Hopkins University	USD 62,850	INR 52,22,615
University of California, LA	USD 84,125	INR 69,90,493
University of California, San Francisco	USD 57,369	INR 47,67,163
Yale University	USD 64,990	INR 54,00,441
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	USD 59,570	INR 49,50,059
Columbia University	USD 45,520	INR 37,82,553
University of Pennsylvania	USD 71,935	INR 59,77,547
Duke University	USD 63,000	INR 52,35,080

MBBS in America for Indian students fees is slightly on the higher side but there are enough financial aids available to cover these costs while studying in USA. 

Scholarships for MBBS in USA

There are various types of scholarships offered in USA for Indian students pursuing MBBS degrees. There are:

• Need-based scholarships (partial or full)
• Merit-based scholarships
• Government funded scholarships
• External scholarships

Each US university offers some financial aid for its medical students to waive the financial burden. Thus, applicants can check the university they’re applying to and check the funding options. 

MBBS in USA Eligibility & Requirements

To qualify for MBBS admissions in USA, Indian applicants will have to fulfil a couple of eligibility requirements. The details are as follows.

Academic Requirements

• A bachelor’s in Science in any related subject like Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics.
• GPA score of 3.0 or above on a 4.0-point scale. (may vary with the university of application, use a GPA calculator)
• Clinical or research experience may also be required at universities like UCSF or Cornell University. 

Standardized Testing 

For Indian students applying for MBBS in USA, will have to submit either MCAT or NEET scores for admission. Those who have already taken these exams in previous years can check their score validity based on the US university they are applying to for MBBS admissions.

Other Requirements 

Apart from the above-mentioned requirements, applicants applying for MBBS in USA will also have to submit:

• Statement of purpose (SOP)
• Letters of recommendation (LOR)
• Updated resume if submitting work experience
• English language proficiency test scores of either TOEFL or IELTS
• 2 admission essays may also be required 

How to Apply for MBBS in America?

All applications for MBBS or MD in USA are accepted through AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service). AMCAS is the centralised application portal for medical students applying for admissions at US universities. The applicants can just register and sign in on the AMCAS website and begin filling the form. 

MBBS Salary in America

Since, the salaries after MBBS in USA are lucrative, let us check out some of the highest-paid jobs in USA for Indian students:

Top Jobs after MBBS in USA	Average Annual Salary of Grads after MBBS in USA
Anaesthesiologist	USD 428,700
Cardiologist	USD 324,666
Neurologist	USD 213,180
Oncologist	USD 234,350
Orthodontist	USD 292,601
Paediatrician	USD 181,719
Dermatologist	USD 284,735

Thus, the average doctor salary in USA at the MD level is also very high, which in turn makes it one of the highest paying job in USA. 

Indian students aspiring to pursue MBBS in America can choose to pursue the course irrespective of the fact that the course is long and expensive. There are ample scholarships available and applicants can avail them based on the university they are applying to. Secondly, the jobs after MBBS (MD) in USA are very well paid, thus, the return on investment is profitable for Indian students in all aspects. Finally, admissions are very tough and highly selective, yet once qualified, applicants can get high in the ladder and get a license to practice Medicine in USA. 

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