Computer Science Colleges in USA for Indian Students

The USA has always been a top study destination for international students from across the world. For the first time in the academic year 2015-2016, the number of international students crossed 10 Lakh in the US. In 2016, the total number of international students who went to the US for pursuing Computer Science as their majors were 1,07,682; a sharp increase of over 29%, the highest for any study area. Generally, job opportunities and pay are highest in Computer Science amongst all the fields in the IT sector.

In this article, we will inform you about:

• The trending program for studying in the US
• Popularity of Computer Science (CS) majors in the US
• Top schools that offer Computer Science
• Cost (Tuition fee and other expenses) of pursuing CS in the US
• Placement and hiring stats after completing CS in the US

In this digital age, CS course offers excellent employment opportunities; therefore, it is a preferred course for students across the globe. Out of the total number of international students coming to pursue higher studies in the US, 34% of the students come to pursue STEM courses, out of which majority of them come to study Computer Science. Majority of the international students pursuing CS are from China, India, Iran, Turkey, and Nepal. Interestingly, China and India together account for more than 50% of the international students’ population coming to the US to enrol for higher studies in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. According to Geraldine Richmond, a member of the National Science Board and chemistry professor at the University of Oregon, international students are tremendously important for the US economy. As per Geraldine, more than 50% of graduate students in technical areas are from outside the US. Whereas a maximum number of people employed in the Computer Science related profession is of Indian origin. They account for more than one-third of the total workforce in the US.

Popularity of Computer Science in the USA

Although the number of degrees awarded in Business and Management courses is much more than the degrees awarded in Computer Science, however, Computer Science is growing at an enormous rate of more than 24% annually. This also signifies the need and scope of Computer Science graduates in the coming years. Also, the average wage for a CS graduate is more than the Management graduates.

Source: datausa.io, Year: 2016

Top 3 reasons contributing to an increase in the popularity of CS

1. US is the Mecca for students wanting to pursue a major in CS. According to U.S. News and World Report because out of the top 10 Computer Science schools in the world, seven schools are US-based.
2. A variety of CS specializations helps the students to select an area of study that offers excellent career opportunities. Roughly 837 educational institutions in the USA offer 7166 courses in Computer Science. Some examples of the specialisations that students can go for: Computer Graphics, Mathematics, Algorithms, Programming Principles, and Artificial Intelligence.
3. One of the specialisations that students can pursue in CS is Artificial Intelligence, and the recent industry hiring trends have shown that top IT companies are offering hugely improved career prospects for AI professionals. The average salary for an Artificial Intelligence Engineer is more than $100,000 annually. This is also a big contributing factor to the popularity of CS.

The major specialization programs in Computer Science are:

Top schools and their tuition fee offering various specializations in Computer Science

Students looking to get into top universities offering CS must be aware of the tuition cost and other expenses of that university as these are prominent factors which students consider while selecting the educational institution.

Top schools and their tuition fee to pursue Artificial Intelligence in the US

(Source for Tutition fee and other expenses is Studyaboradshiksha.com)

(*Other expenses include Hostel & Meals, Incidental Fee, Insurance, Books & Supplies, International Student Fee, and Official Document Fee)

Top schools and their tuition fee to pursue Computing Theory in the US

(Source for Tutition fee and other expenses is Studyaboradshiksha.com)

Top schools and their tuition fee to pursue Programming in the US

(Source for Tutition fee and other expenses is Studyaboradshiksha.com)

Popular CS schools offering a maximum number of CS degrees

Source: datausa.io

The locations with the highest number of Computer Science graduates are:

• Los Angeles, California
• New York City, New York
• Chicago, Illinois
• Fairfield, Iowa
• Warrensburg, Missouri
• Hoboken, New Jersey

Counties that awarded the maximum number of CS degrees

Source: datausa.io (2016)

Placement and hiring stats for CS Grads

The Computer Science programs hold four positions out of the top 10 positions of 'Highest Paid Majors. IT graduates have maintained consistency when it comes to job creation. According to a study conducted by collegeboard.org, based on data from the U.S. Department of Labour Bureau of Labour Statistics projections for 2002-2012, six out of the 10 occupations was related to Computer Science. The average salary for a CS graduate is $92,592 and is growing at 4.33% rate annually which is itself is almost 8% higher than the average wages being commanded by the management graduates in the US.

The maximum number of people with Computer Science and related degrees are employed by Computer Systems Design companies both by share and by number. The number of CS graduates in the total workforce has been growing at 4.47% annually from 1.77 million in 2015 to 1.85 million in 2016. The highest paying industry for Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services majors, by average wage, is Internet Publishing, Broadcasting and Web Search Portals.

Preferred jobs and the average salary for CS graduates and Support Services

The number of people working as Computer Programmers, Software Developers, and Computer and Information Systems Manager is also high as these jobs offer a maximum amount of compensation.

Source: datausa.io, Year: 2016

Areas with the highest salaries for CS graduates:

Locations, where Computer Science graduates are offered the maximum salary are New York and California, this clearly explains that after completing the CS degree, grads prefer to stay in these areas.

• Huntington Town (North), New York
• Chico City, California
• Oyster Bay Town (North) & Glen Cove City, New York

The future of CS is also bright. According to The World Economic Forum’s ‘The Future of Jobs 2018’ report, 133 million new jobs could emerge by 2022. Also, technologies like Data Analytics, Blockchain, AI, and Cloud will open new opportunities for Network Engineers, Cloud Developers, and Architects.

Still have doubts about studying MS in Computer Science from the USA, read question and answers below for more clarity.

Q. Is USA good for MS in Computer Science?

A. With the rapid growth in technology, Computer Science graduates are never out of demand. MS in Computer Science in the USA is considered one of the best courses to pursue by international students. The US is home to some of the top universities offering Computer Science programs. US universities focus on imparting practical skills, so, students can develop programmes and software. Also, there are plenty of opportunities after completing your studies in the US.

Q. How long is MS in CS in the USA?

A. Majority of the universities offer a 2 years master's course in Computer Science in the USA. Usually, candidates need to have a 4-year bachelor's degree to apply for a Master's degree in the USA. Apart from this, candidates also need to have GRE scores and English language proficiency scores as well.

Q. What are the benefits of studying MS in Computer Science in the USA?

A. Computer Science is a STEM course in the USA. So, CS graduates are allowed to stay and work after completing their studies. Also, many universities have tie-up with industries, so, students get a chance to get practical knowledge while studying. Also, F1 Visa allows students to work while studying, so, you can cover your expenses while completing their course.

Q. How to apply for an MS in Computer Science in the USA?

A. Majority of the US universities ask for 16-years of education to apply for a master's program in Computer Science in the USA. Other than this, candidates need to submit the following to meet the eligibility criteria for getting into MS in CS in the USA:

• GRE/GMAT Score
• IELTS/TOEFL Score
• WES evaluation of documents (if asked by the university)
• Letters of recommendation
• SOP

Q. What is the syllabus for MS in CS in the USA?

A. Some of the core subjects in MS in CS in the USA are

• Computer Networks 
• Software Engineering
• Operating systems
• Analysis of Algorithms
• Computer Language Theory

Q. What is the average salary of a Computer Science graduate in the USA?

A. As per PayScale, the average salary of Computer Science professionals having a master's degree has average salary of $101,000. Employees with a graduate degree earn 28 percent more than students having a bachelor’s degree do. 

Q. What are the jobs one can do after completing MS in CS from the USA?

A. Software Engineer, Data Architect, Mobile Application Developer, Application Architect Data Engineer, and Web Developing are some of the top jobs available after pursuing MS in CS from the USA.

Q. Is GMAT accepted for getting admission to MS in CS in the US?

A. Majority of the US universities offering an MS program accept GRE scores, however, few universities accept GRE scores as well. Apart from this, candidates need to look at other requirements of the university like SOP and LORs as well.

Q. Which is the best university for studying MS in CS from the USA?

A. Stanford, MIT, Harvard, Northeastern University, University of California (Berkeley) are some of the top universities in the US that offer Master in Computer Science.

Q. What is the average cost of studying for an MS in Computer Science from the USA?

The average fist year tuition fee for pursuing MS in the USA is Rs 21.99L. Also, the average living expenses in the USA are Rs 7.82L.

Q. Is it worth doing a CS degree?

A. Those who like Math and problem-solving can go for Computer Science. Also, professionally, this is one of the most leading areas of study. With the advent of technology, demand for CS graduates is not going to come down anytime soon.