Comparison
University College London vs San Jose State University
MSc Data Science · London vs MS Data Analytics · San Jose, CA
Last reviewed: July 2026
Short answer: University College London (MSc Data Science) is the cheaper program overall, San Jose State University (MS Data Analytics) reports the higher starting salary, and San Jose State University (MS Data Analytics) pays back fastest against the standard ₹8L India baseline. San Jose State University (MS Data Analytics)currently has the stronger post-study work / visa pathway. No single program wins on everything - which one is actually "better" depends on your budget, priority (salary vs. migration vs. affordability), and your own admit odds.
| University College London | San Jose State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | UK | USA |
| City | London | San Jose, CA |
| Duration | 12 months | 24 months |
| Total cost | ₹78.4L | ₹83.7L |
| Avg. starting salary | ₹48.3L/yr | ₹90.6L/yr |
| Payback period | 1.9 yrs | 1 yrs |
| Visa pathway | Moderate | Strong |
| Min. GPA (4.0 scale) | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Test requirement | IELTS 6.5 | IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 80 |
| Consultant-oversold flag | No | Yes - our editorial flag |
University College London: the honest note
1-year program lowers opportunity cost. UK Graduate Route currently gives 2 years post-study work, but is shortening to 18 months for visas granted from Jan 2027 - timing matters.
San Jose State University: the honest note
Bay Area location genuinely helps networking and pulls salaries up despite lower program prestige - but outcomes vary a lot by individual hustle. Post-OPT H-1B conversion has also gotten harder for entry-level hires since 2026 (see visa risk flag).
How payback is calculated
Payback = total program cost ÷ (starting salary abroad − ₹8,00,000 India baseline). The baseline rises for IIT/NIT-class graduates, which lengthens payback for those students on both programs above. Full formula and worked example in the payback period guide.
Sources
University College London: Tuition & entry requirements: ucl.ac.uk · Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) · Visa: UK Graduate Route, gov.uk (2026 rules)
San Jose State University: Tuition & GPA minimum: sjsu.edu Applied Data Science · Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) (Bay Area-adjusted) · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · H-1B changes: $100k supplemental fee (USCIS Presidential Proclamation, effective Sep 21, 2025) + wage-weighted lottery (USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026), uscis.gov
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