The MCAT's fee is set by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), and what you actually pay depends on two things more than on the headline price: where you test, and how close to test day you change your plans. The AAMC's fee schedule prices rescheduling and cancellation in three windows, and nothing at all can change in the last ten days. This page sets out the AAMC's current table, which it labels for the 2026 testing dates, alongside the Myndaq MCAT course. For what the test covers, see the MCAT syllabus and content categories.
What the MCAT costs
- Registration — US$355.
- With the AAMC Fee Assistance Program — US$145.
- International fee — US$130, for testing outside the United States, Canada and US territories. It is not refunded if you cancel.
A candidate testing in India therefore pays US$485 at the standard rate.
Rescheduling
The fee depends on how far ahead of your test date you move:
- 60 or more days before — US$55 (US$25 with Fee Assistance)
- 30 to 59 days before — US$110 (US$45 with Fee Assistance)
- 10 to 29 days before — US$210 (US$85 with Fee Assistance)
No changes are allowed less than 10 days before the exam. Inside that window you either sit or lose the fee.
Cancelling and refunds
- 60 or more days before — US$175 refunded (US$75 with Fee Assistance)
- 30 to 59 days before — US$175 refunded (US$75 with Fee Assistance)
- 10 to 29 days before — no refund
The refund is less than half the standard registration fee even at the earliest point, and the international fee is not returned at all. For a candidate testing in India who cancels 60 days out, US$485 paid becomes US$175 back.
Rescheduling versus cancelling
The numbers point one way. If you still intend to sit the MCAT, reschedule rather than cancel: moving 60 days out costs US$55 and keeps your registration, whereas cancelling costs you US$180 of the base fee plus the whole international fee. Even at 10 to 29 days, a US$210 reschedule leaves you with a seat; a cancellation in that window returns nothing.
The Fee Assistance Program
Candidates approved for the AAMC's Fee Assistance Program pay US$145 to register, with reduced rescheduling fees and smaller refunds in proportion, as listed above. Eligibility and the application process are set out by the AAMC; if you might qualify, check before you register rather than after.
A decision calendar
Work backwards from your test date and put three reminders in your calendar:
- Day −60: the last point at which a reschedule costs US$55 and a cancellation still returns US$175. If your full-length practice scores are well short of your target, this is the cheapest moment to move.
- Day −30: the last day of the 30–59-day window, when a reschedule costs US$110 and a cancellation still returns US$175. From the next day a reschedule costs US$210 and a cancellation returns nothing.
- Day −10: the last day anything can change. After this you sit or forfeit the fee.
Most of the money lost on the MCAT is lost by candidates who knew at day −60 that they were not ready and hoped to catch up. The fee table makes an early, honest decision worth US$155 or more against a late one.
A realistic budget from India
- One attempt, no changes: US$485.
- One attempt with an early reschedule: US$485 + US$55 = US$540.
- One attempt with a late reschedule (10–29 days): US$485 + US$210 = US$695.
- Two attempts: US$970 before any changes.
The first three differ only in when you decide. Book a date you can realistically be ready for, and set yourself a readiness check more than 60 days before it, when a change costs least.
Next year's fees
The AAMC's fee page currently shows only the 2026 testing year. It invites candidates to sign up for email updates about the 2027 testing year; check the page when 2027 scheduling opens rather than assuming the 2026 figures carry over.
Quick answers
How much is the MCAT fee for Indian students?
US$485: the US$355 registration fee plus the US$130 international fee for testing outside the US, Canada and US territories.
Is the MCAT international fee refundable?
No. The AAMC states it is non-refundable upon cancellation.
How much does it cost to reschedule the MCAT?
US$55 at 60 or more days, US$110 at 30–59 days and US$210 at 10–29 days before the exam. No changes are allowed in the last 10 days.
What refund do I get if I cancel the MCAT?
US$175 if you cancel 30 or more days before the exam; nothing at 10–29 days.
Is there a reduced MCAT fee?
Yes. Through the AAMC Fee Assistance Program, registration is US$145.
