Master of Computer Science in USA is a sought out and reputed course taking about 1-2 years to complete. The USA is home to many universities and institutes which offer Computer Science courses. To get into a Master of Science in Computer Science in USA, international students require a 3-4 year undergraduate degree in a relevant field in their home country. Students need a competitive score in standardized examinations like GRE or GMAT. An aggregate of 70-80% or above based on the university is also required for securing admission at a MS in Computer Science course.
The universities in the US which offer MS in Computer Science courses have tuition fees generally ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 USD per year. For an Indian student, it costs around 7.57 to 15.14 lakh INR. The living costs are variable and depend on the city and the lifestyle of the student. Students in financial need can choose from various scholarships for Indian students in USA. The outstanding employment rate with high returns on investment and pathways to pursue advanced education are the benefits of pursuing MS in Computer Science in USA. On an average, graduates of MS in USA earn an average salary of 106,000 USD per annum.
Top Universities for MS in Computer Science in USA
Some of the popular institutes offer MS in Computer Science in USA at a reasonable cost, while others are a little expensive. The leading institutes offering MS in Computer Science at an affordable cost and their tuition fees are listed below.
| Institute | Duration | Annual Tuition Fees in INR |
|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts | 2 years | 26.63 lakhs |
| Full Sail University | 2 years | 27.26 lakhs |
| Concord University | 2 years | 13.66 lakhs |
| Northeastern University | 2 years | 24.23 lakhs |
| Troy University | 2 years | 12.24 lakhs |
| Duke University | 2 years | 22.4 lakhs |
| National University | 2 years | 15.9 lakhs |
| University of South Carolina | 2 years | 23.5 lakhs |
| Long Island University | 2 years | 17.4 lakhs |
Why Study MS in Computer Science in USA?
There are several reasons as to why an international student should pursue an MS in Computer Science in the US. Apart from the country being the technological hub of the world, there are also many noteworthy points which make the US an ideal place for pursuing an MS in Computer Science course. The reasons why an international student should go for an MS in Computer Science in the USA are given below.
- The rich diversity present in the country helps an international student to blend in with the atmosphere very quickly. Students from various ethnicities and cultures come to study and the US is often called the ‘melting pot of the world’. It is very welcoming to immigrants and they can even secure employment upon completion of their degree.
- According to reputable ranking surveys like QS Top Universities and Times Higher Education, many of the institutes in the US consistently rank among the top institutes of the world. The top 15 universities in the US rank among the world’s top 50 universities for Computer Science in the world, according to 2022 QS World Rankings. The reputation of this course and US universities in general make international candidates apply every year.
- Since Computer Science is a very relevant field, there are tons of opportunities for securing employment upon completion of the course. Since the US is technically very advanced with commendable workspaces, there are several chances of getting a job or an internship related to Computer Science in a lot of companies.
- There is a high demand for many emerging workplaces for computer science graduates like software development, gaming, robotics, automation, artificial intelligence etc. Therefore, students who have an MS in Computer Science degree from a US institute can get a lot of related jobs.
- The academic culture in the US is praise-worthy with qualified faculty, technically advanced classrooms, laboratories and libraries. Even the campuses are beautifully built and residential housing is available so students can easily settle and study.
MS in Computer Science in USA Highlights
| Degrees | Master of Science in Computer Science, Master of Engineering in Computer Science |
| Eligibility | GPA of 3.5 (~89-90%) or above on a 4.0 scale in bachelor’s degree |
| Entrance exams | IELTS- 6.5 to 7.5 TOEFL- 79-102 GRE- 290-330 |
| Duration | 1-2 years |
| Course type | Full time |
| Tuition fees | 15,000 to 40,000 USD per year |
| Top recruiting companies | Amazon, Deloitte, Google, CGI, Mindtree, Infosys etc |
| Average starting salary | 60,000 to 100,000 USD |
Eligibility criteria to study MS in Computer Science in the USA
To study MS in Computer Science in the USA, an international student has to be eligible first. The eligibility criteria for getting into an MS in Computer Science course in the US are as follows.
- An applicant should have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or its equivalent from an institution in their home country.
- A degree in any technical discipline which is related to the same field is also accepted.
- A GPA of 3.0-3.5 on a 4.0 scale (~83-90%) in bachelor’s degree.
- A GRE score of 292-328. Stanford University accepts a GRE score of 328 or above and Harvard University accepts a GRE score of 292.
- English proficiency test scores including TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE.
- Satisfactory SOP and LOR for USA.
- Proof of finance availability.
- Immigration documents.
Scores Required for MS in Computer Science in USA
The top institutes in the US require a considerably high score for admission. The general GRE and TOEFL score requirements of popular institutes are given below in a table format.
| Institute | GRE Score Requirement (Average verbal section) | GRE Score Requirement (Average quantitative section) | TOEFL Score Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 160 | 164 | TOEFL iBT- 90 TOEFL PBT- 577 |
| Harvard University | 160 | 164 | TOEFL iBT- 80 |
| Stanford University | 162 | 166 | TOEFL iBT- 89-100 TOEFL PBT- 575-600 |
| University of California- Berkeley | 160 | 164 | TOEFL iBT- 80 TOEFL PBT- 550 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 159 | 168 | TOEFL iBT- 90 TOEFL PBT- 570-600 |
| Princeton University | 164 | 167 | Not required |
| Yale University | 162 | 166 | TOEFL iBT- 90 TOEFL PBT- 570-600 |
| University of Southern California | 155 | 161 | TOEFL IBT- 90-100 |
| University of California- Los Angeles | 155 | 161 | TOEFL iBT- 87 TOEFL PBT- 560 |
| Cornell University | 160 | 164 | TOEFL iBT- 80 TOEFL PBT- 550 |
| Columbia University | 155 | 161 | TOEFL iBT- 90-100 TOEFL PBT- 550-600 |
Note- Some of the universities have waived off the requirement for GRE scores due to COVID guidelines for the session 2022. In UCLA, GRE score is required only for the Fall 2022-2023 cycle.
MS in Computer Science in USA Deadlines
Most universities in the US have four intake seasons: Fall, Summer, Spring and Winter. Most international students prefer applying for the Fall intake since most subjects are available at this time and also students get a lot of time to acquire application materials. The application deadlines for MS in Computer Science in popular universities in the USA are given below in a table format.
| Institute | Application Deadlines |
|---|---|
| Stanford University | December 7, 2022 |
| Princeton University | December 15, 2022 |
| Harvard University | December 1, 2022 |
| University of California, Berkeley | December 8, 2022 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | December 1, 2022 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | December 9, 2022 |
| Columbia University | November 7, 2022 |
| Georgia Tech | February 1 |
| University of Washington | December 15, 2022 |
| New York University | March 1 |
| University of California- San Diego | December 16, 2022 |
| University of Illinois- Urban Campaign | December 15, 2022 |
| University of Pennsylvania | March 1 or May 1, 2022 |
| University of Southern California | Spring- September 15, 2022 Fall- January 15 |
| Yale University | Fall- June 1 Spring- October 1, 2022 Summer- March 1 |
| Boston University | September 1, 2022 |
| University of Michigan | January 15 |
| University of Texas, Austin | December 15, 2022 |
US Student Visa
To study in the US, an international student needs a US student visa in order to arrive and study there. Firstly, students should pay the SEVIS fee for the visa and complete the visa application along with a recent photograph. Then they should pay the visa application fee and schedule a visa interview with the nearest US embassy or consulate.
The student must prepare for a visa interview by getting in touch with a US embassy or consulate in their home country. Freshman candidates need to apply for an F-1 visa. Students or scholars with a form DS-2019 will have to apply for a J-1 visa. The visa process might be a little altered owing to the ongoing pandemic situation so the student should be patient. For attending a visa interview, the following documents are required:
- Acceptance letter from a SEVIS approved university.
- Visa application fee payment receipt.
- Passport valid beyond 6 months of the student’s stay period in USA.
- Non-immigrant visa application, DS- 160 form confirmation page and barcode.
- Photographs of the student in requested format.
- J-1 applicants should provide proof of employment or current employment form.
- J-1 applicants need a form DS-2019.
- Financial information verifying availability of funds in the form of bank statements or financial affidavit of sponsor.
- Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutes.
- English proficiency scores like IELTS, TOEFL or PTE.
- Standardized test scores like GRE or GMAT.
- Proof that the student will leave the country upon completion of course.
Once the interview has been conducted, the consular officer will let the student know if any additional steps are required. After that a stamp will be issued on the student’s passport which will act as a visa to the USA upon acceptance.
MS in Computer Science in USA Cost of Attendance
The cost of living in USA for attending a graduate course like MS in Computer Science, is dependent on a lot of factors. These include tuition fees, living expenses, personal expenses etc. The cost of attendance for studying MS in Computer Science in popular US universities is listed below.
| Expense | Cost in USD | Cost Equivalent in INR |
|---|---|---|
| University fees | $13,036 | 9.87 lakhs |
| Room and meals | $10,815 | 8.19 lakhs |
| Books and supplies | $1,998 | 1.51 lakhs |
| Transportation | $2,103 | 1.6 lakhs |
| Personal | $2,085 | 1.58 lakhs |
| Health insurance | $4,710 | 3.57 lakhs |
| Loan fees | $905 | 68,500 |
| Total | $35,661 | 27 lakhs |
Scholarships for MS in Computer Science in USA
It can be quite expensive to afford an education in the US, which is why financial assistance in the form of scholarships to study in USA are significant. Some of the most popular scholarships for an MS in Computer Science degree in the US are as follows.
| Name of the Institution | Eligibility Criteria | Amount of Scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Society Leadership Award | Students should have notable merit. | Tuition cost, monthly stipend and living costs are covered. |
| Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship program | International students with at least 5 years of professional work experience. | Tuition costs, computer subsidies, monthly stipends, travel expenses and health insurance costs are covered. |
| National Overseas Scholarship | Candidates should have 55% in bachelor’s programs in relevant fields. | Health insurance, miscellaneous costs, travel costs, tuition costs are covered. |
| Rotary Foundation Graduate Scholarship program | Students should be from an economically challenged nation. | 30,000 USD |
| PEO International Peace Scholarship for women | Women from other countries can apply for this scholarship | 12,500 USD |
MS in Computer Science in USA Placements
After graduating from an MS in Computer Science in the US, students are presented with ample job opportunities ranging from gaming to software development. Fields like virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, management networking are present where students can get jobs or internships. The demand for MS in Computer Science graduates have skyrocketed in recent years.
Successful graduates have the option of working as iOS developers, project managers, network architects, artificial intelligence experts, C++ developers and ethical hackers. They can even get employed as network engineers and lead developers. The average salaries for MS in Computer Science graduates in the US range from 75,000 USD to 117,000 USD depending on job roles and companies. The jobs and salaries of average MS in Computer Science graduates from the US are as follows.
| Type of Job | Average Salary in USD |
|---|---|
| Business and Management Manager | $71,600 |
| Computer Science engineer | $72,000 |
| Math and Science professional | $67,900 |
| Other engineer | $73,900 |
| Networking manager | $52,300 |
| Communication and Media professional | $55,700 |
Explore: Jobs after MS in USA
Every year, a large number of students from all over the globe arrive to study MS in Computer Science in USA. The USA is known for being the land of opportunities and an ideal country for pursuing higher education. The country manifests developed city life, high standard of living, richness in diversity, presence of world renowned institutions and availability of living resources for international students.
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