MS in USA: Universities, Fees 2026, Eligibility, Jobs

An MS in USA is a great option for international students considering pursuing higher studies abroad. Home to more than 650 universities offering MS courses, the United States stands as one of the best countries for these programs due to its renowned universities and the high-quality education it provides to its students. A majority of the universities offering master's in USA have a course duration of 2 years. However, a few of the universities have a duration of 1 - 2+ years.

A few of the best universities in the USA for MS are MIT, Stanford, Harvard University, Princeton University, UCLA, etc. To pursue an MS in USA, students are required to have a bachelor's degree and an English language proficiency score. According to an unofficial source, the average salary of an MSc in Computer Science graduate is USD 113,000 per year (Around INR 98.2 lakh). Check all the details about MS in USA, such as entry requirements, top universities, cost of studying, popular specializations, etc. from this page. 

Also Check: Study in USA for International Students 

MS in USA: Highlights

On average, the cost of studying in the USA for an MS course ranges between INR 20 L - 40 L or more. A majority of the universities that are offering a master's in USA are located in California, New York, Texas, Massachusetts, etc. Listed below are some quick facts about MS in US highlights:

Particulars	MS in USA highlights
Number of MS Colleges in the USA	650+
MS in USA costs	INR 20 L - 40 L (Majority of the universities)
Top MS in USA Specializations	Computer Science Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Business Economics, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and many more
Admission Process (subject to the university)	Bachelor’s Degree, GRE/GMAT scores, Work experience, IELTS/TOEFL score

Also check: Why Study Masters in USA?

Best Universities in USA for MS: QS World University Rankings 2025: 

QS World University Ranking is a globally recognized ranking platform, used as a trusted source by employers and students. The rankings done by QS are based on various factors like Employability, ROI, Career outcomes, Class and faculty diversity, and academic reputation. Some of the top MS in USA universities are MIT, Stanford University, Harvard University, Caltech, Cornell University, etc. Listed below are the top universities in USA for MS for international students: 

Top Universities offering MS in USA	QS World University Rankings 2025: USA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	#1
Stanford University	#3
Harvard University	#5
California Institute of Technology (CalTech)	#10
University of Chicago	#13
University of Pennsylvania	#15
Cornell University	#16
UC Berkeley	#17
Yale University	#21
John Hopkins University	#24

Know more about the 100 Top Universities for MS in the USA

Top 10 MS Specialisations in the US

International students get to choose between a variety of MS courses, which are offered by the best colleges for master's in USA. An MS in Computer Science & Engineering is among the popular specializations in the country for overseas students. Some popular MS specializations include various specializations among computer science, like Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Cyber Security; Engineering, like Chemical, Mechanical, and Biomedical Engineering. Listed below are the top MS Specialisations in the US for Indian students:

Top MS Specializations in USA
Computer Science Engineering	Data Science
Chemical Engineering	Cybersecurity
Electrical Engineering	Mechanical Engineering
Chemistry	Business Analytics
Civil Engineering	Information Systems
Artificial Intelligence	Biomedical Engineering

Top MS Universities in the US by Specialisations

In the QS world ranking, they follow six simple metrics into account that effectively capture university performances and a list of top-performing universities in the world which is derived for a particular year. The metrics on which the universities are ranked are Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, Faculty/Student Ratio, Citations per faculty, and International Faculty Ratio. Given below is the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 - Engineering and Technology

Top Universities	QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 – Engineering and Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	1
Stanford University	3
University of California, Berkeley	6
Harvard University	9
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)	13
Georgia Institute of Technology	15
Carnegie Mellon University	19
University of California, Los Angeles	22
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	23
Purdue University	29

Listed below are the top colleges for MS in USA by QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 - Social Sciences and Management

Top Universities	QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 – Engineering and Technology
Harvard University	1
Stanford University	3
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	4
University of California, Berkeley	7
Yale University	8
University of Chicago	9
Columbia University	11
University of California Los Angeles	15
University of Pennsylvania	16
New York University	17

Cost of studying MS in the US: Tuition fees

Listed below is a table that provides insight into the tuition fees to study an MS Degree in the USA and the approximate cost of living for several top universities. Even though the tuition fee to study MS in the USA will be in the range of INR 10 L - 40 L or more, a majority of the top-ranked universities have tuition fees ranging from INR 20 L - 40 L or more. The table below lists the top universities in USA with their tuition fee, where Harvard University is the most expensive in terms of tuition fees, followed by Cornell University and MIT:

Top Universities offering MS in USA	Tuition fees
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	INR 36.01 L - 1.09 Cr
Stanford University	INR 17.05 L - 69.24 L
Harvard University	INR 25.48 L - 1.23 Cr
California Institute of Technology (CalTech)	INR 45.02 L - 56.26 L
University of Chicago	INR 19.52 L - 99.86 L
University of Pennsylvania	INR 14.7 L - 78 L
Cornell University	INR 17.83 L - 1.15 Cr
UC Berkeley	INR 22.42 L - 73.42 L
Yale University	INR 0 - 72.79 L
John Hopkins University	INR 12.1 L - 78.45 L

Living Expenses: Besides paying the tuition fees, students are required to bear the living expenses. For one year, this can be around INR 15 L or more. The following are the estimated costs of living of the top universities for MS in USA based on the place they are in:

University	Estimated Cost of Living Range per year (INR)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	INR 19.19 L – INR 21.81L
Stanford University	INR 21.81 L – INR 24.43 L
Harvard University	INR 19.19 L – INR 21.81 L
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)	INR 18.32 L – INR 20.94 L
University of Chicago	INR 18.32 L – INR 20.94 L
University of Pennsylvania	INR 19.19 L – INR 21.81 L
Cornell University	INR 16.58 L – INR 19.19 L
University of California, Berkeley	INR 19.19 L – INR 21.81 L
Yale University	INR 18.32 L – INR 20.94 L
Johns Hopkins University	INR 18.32 L – INR 20.94 L

Know more about the Cost of MS in the USA for Indian Students

Student Visa Cost for the US 

All international students require a USA Student Visa to study at a university in the USA. The student visas are segregated into F1 and J1 visas. The J-1 visa, also known as the J-student visa, is specially designed for international students participating in exchange programs in the United States. This visa category allows students to engage in academic or cultural exchange activities. International students who are applying for a J-1 Visa must have a sponsor. 

Indian students aspiring for a full-time MS in the USA should apply for an F-1 visa. Students must acquire the I-20 form, which would be issued by the university they are admitted. Then they would be required to pay a SEVIA I-901 fee of USD 350 (INR 30.5 K) for them to register in the US System. After this, they would be required to fill out the DS-160 form and pay the visa application fee of USD 185 (INR 16.15 K). After this, candidates must go for a visa interview at the US embassy, carrying documents like academic records, financial proofs, and test scores 

Intake Cycles and Admission Process: 

There are three major intakes for MS in the USA: Fall (largest cohort), Spring (moderate), and Summer (small). The admission process involves several crucial steps that international students should focus on.  

Step 1: Check the eligibility- International students must check the admission criteria for all the universities that offer MS in the USA. 

Step 2: Fill online application form- Students must gather all the required documents before filling the application form and meet all the requirements, such as academic records, English language requirements, work experience, etc. 

Step 3: Pay application fee- Pay the application fee if required by that particular university. 

Step 4: Check the Email- The students receive confirmation via email or directly through the official portal of the university. 

Step 5: Complete the I-20, funding proof, and housing. Prepare for a visa interview and travel 

MS in USA Requirements for International Students

Universities that offer MS in USA accept students on the basis of their ability to meet the basic eligibility criteria and document submission as per the program they have chosen. These requirements vary with universities. However, there are some general requirements that each university looks for. The students who wish to pursue MS in the US must fulfill the requirements given below:

• Statement of Purpose highlighting career goals
• GRE score which is 290 or above (GMAT might be required by business-oriented courses)
• 2-3 letters of recommendation
• Should have a 3 to 4-year bachelor’s degree in the specific field with an average GPA of 3.0 or above(might vary depending on the university the student is applying to)
• Proof of English language proficiency test scores of IELTS or TOEFL
• Updated CV/Resume highlighting projects and internships, or publications
• Some programs might require a portfolio or pre-requisite coursework
• Financial documents

Note: Students should be cautious while meeting the eligibility criteria, while holding a 3-year bachelor's degree. Some US universities accept 3-year indian bachelor's degrees when an evaluation shows equivalency to a US bachelor's. Some programs may ask for a bridging coursework, an honors year, or a higher bar on grades in that case.

Read more about the Requirements to Study in USA for International Students

Work Permit After Studying MS Degree in USA

Students who want to stay in the USA after completing their MS course need to get a post-study work visa. International students who hold an F1 Visa can complete up to 12 months of temporary employment directly related to their degree. After completing the studies, F1 visa holders can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT). During this period, students can gain work exposure in the USA and earn experience, which would help them gain long-term employment in the country. After the exhaustion of the OPT, students can transition to an H-1 B VISA, which can be sponsored by their employer. However, there should be regular filing of the H-1 B sponsorship by their employer, which would improve the candidate's chances of staying back for a long-term career in the US.

CPT / OPT Specifics:

Indian students can opt for a Curricular Practical Training (CPT) during their MS in USA to work or intern during the degree if the experience is counted as a part of the curriculum, which is often used for summer internships.
Indian students, after graduation, can opt for Optional Practical Training (OPT) that provides them with 12 months of work authorization after graduation and allows students to work temporarily in the country to gain work exposure in the USA. For Indian students with STEM tracks, a 24-month STEM-OPT is available, allowing them a total of 36 months of work authorization in the country

MS Scholarships for the USA are based on merit and the financial needs of students; this is mainly done to make education affordable for everyone. Indian students are eligible for various scholarships in the USA for graduate Levels. Students applying to the university are also eligible for some external scholarships offered by various private entities. Given below are some of the MS in USA scholarships for Indian students:

• Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships
• JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship
• Aga Khan International Foundation's Scholarship Program
• International Scholarships Award by Northeastern University

MS in USA Jobs & Salaries

The Return on Investment for pursuing a master’s degree is influenced by various factors including tuition fees and potential earnings post graduation for international students. A few of the top employers after doing Masters in USA are Amazon, Walmart, IBM, Microsoft, Apple, Accenture, etc. On average, the salary of an MSc in Computer Engineering degree is USD 109,000 (INR 94.7 L) per year. Whereas, the average salary for an MSc in CS graduate is USD 113,000 (INR 98.2 lakh) per year. Listed below are the specialization-wise salaries are given below:

Average Salary	Cost in INR
Software Engineer	USD 104,570
Data Scientist	USD 103,747
Senior Software Engineer	USD 133,408
Machine Learning Engineer	USD 113,175
Data Engineer	USD 103,959

(Source: Payscale.com)

Shreya Basu08-21-2025 22:11