What is the cost of pursuing an MS in the US?

School’s tuition depends on the number of credit hours you take in a semester. Usually, one course is considered as 3 credit hours (In most of the universities). For example, if you attend 3 courses in one semester, it is equivalent to 9 credit hours. Thus you have to pay tuition for the 9 credit hours in the first semester. Schools with low tuition will charge you less than $6000 per 9 credit hours or per semester. Schools that charge average tuition would cost you anywhere between 6000 to 7500 per 9 credit hours or per semester. Schools with high tuition rates will cost you over 7500 per 9 credit hours or per semester.

How much will accommodation cost me in the USA while studying?

If your university is located in or near a village, living cost (including rent + electricity + food) may go up to $350 per month. If it is a mid-level town/city, it will go up to $600 per person when you share accommodation.

Which cities in the US have a very high cost of living?

New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, Boston, Los Angeles and San Diego have a pretty high cost of living.

Which cities in the US have a very low cost of living?

Brownsville – Texas, Pueblo – Colorado, Fort Smith – Arkansas, Springfield – Illinois, Ashland – Ohio and Austin – Texas have a pretty affordable standard of living.

How to Cover Costs While you are doing MS in US?

As a student, you are allowed to work for 20 hours a week. Pay for students usually ranges from 6 – 12 $/hour. You should also try to get fee waivers. TAs, RAs, GAs will cover some part of your fee and you will be paid monthly.

Can I do an MS in Computer Science if I am an EE or ECE student?

It is possible for students from Electrical Engineering or Electrical and Communication Engineering or even Civil Engineering to switch to a Master’s in Computer Science. Because of the open education system in the USA, you are free to apply for any specialization or major as you wish. In your Statement of Purpose in MS application, you would have to articulate why you decided to pursue a different major

Is it possible for a Non-Computer Science graduate to pursue a PhD in Computer Science?

It’s common for students outside computer science and electrical engineering to attend grad school in computer science. Please refer to the above answer about pursuing MS in Computer Science for a EE/ECE student. Same requirements for per-requisite courses apply for a PhD in Computer Science.

Is it worth it to leave a well paying job in India for some MS in US university?

Yes it is. In most cases. Personally, I have met a lot of people from Premier institutes in India and even they agree that If you choose a good graduate school, you’ll learn much more than you can imagine. I came from one of the top colleges in my state (non-IIT) and I really liked the graduate program here, in a not-so-top university. I probably learnt 10 times more in a semester here than what I learnt during my Engineering (I was in top 3 all the time, that doesn't mean I learnt everything).

How feasible it is for a student from a core branch with low CGPA to pursue an MS in Computer Science?

This one’s a tough situation. Chances of you getting in are quite low, to be frank.You should ask yourself though, why do you want to do an MS? You can learn a lot about computer science without pursuing an MS. For getting an admission in a computer science program, you will need to show something to compensate for your low CGPA as well as you not being in an undergraduate computer science program.

Is it possible to get into a good US university for Masters with a low GPA?

Most graduate programs require applicants to have at least a 3.0 GPA, although a 2.5 minimum is not unheard of. Your GPA of 2.3 is very low and would not meet minimum requirements. But, although it is highly unlikely, it is possible for those minimum requirements to be waived depending on the university.

US universities require students to have undertaken an undergraduate program of 4 years in order to apply for a master’s program. Will I be eligible with 3?

No. What you can do is either do a Master’s program in India and then go for another one in the States. Or, you can transfer your credits to some college/university at the end of the third year, study one more year as an undergraduate and then apply as a fresher for a Master’s programme. You can try getting into a university in the UK as there is no hard and fast rule regarding a four-year undergraduate degree.

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MS in the US: Most Common Questions Answered

In this blog, we answer the most frequently asked questions about pursuing MS in US, including tuition fees and living expenses, changing from EE to CS, and leaving a high-paying job to pursue MS.