Rupee drop makes US college pricier for Indian students
The rupee just hit a record low against the US dollar, and that's making American universities even more expensive for Indian students.
With the rupee down nearly 6% this year—hitting a record low of 91 per USD this week—students starting in January 2026 could see their yearly costs jump by over ₹4 lakh.
What's driving up the cost?
A $55,000 tuition (about ₹49.5 lakh) now costs ₹3.3 lakh more because of currency changes, and living expenses (roughly $15,000 or ₹13.2 lakh) add another ₹81,000 to the bill.
Depending on where you study in the US, that's an extra ₹4.11 lakh each year out of pocket.
Fewer Indian students applying
With these rising expenses, applications from India to US universities dropped a massive 44% this August compared to last year—the sharpest fall after the Pandemic.
Many families are turning to dollar loans or locking in tuition rates early; others are focusing on job-linked degrees and scholarships, according to Aritra Ghosal of OneStep Global.