Comparison
ASU vs UofT
MS Computer Science (Online) · Online (studied from India) vs MS in Applied Computing (Computer Science) · Toronto, ON
Last reviewed: 2026-10-01
Short answer: Arizona State University (MS Computer Science (Online)) is the cheaper program overall; University of Toronto (MS in Applied Computing (Computer Science)) reports the higher starting salary, pays back fastest against the standard ₹8L India baseline and 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.
| Arizona State University | University of Toronto | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | USA | Canada |
| City | Online (studied from India) | Toronto, ON |
| Duration | 24 months | 16 months |
| Total cost | ₹14.3L | ₹50.5L |
| Avg. starting salary | ₹12.0L/yr | ₹63.9L/yr |
| Payback period | 3.6 yrs | 1.7 yrs |
| Visa pathway | None | Strong |
| Min. GPA (4.0 scale) | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Test requirement | GRE typically waived | TOEFL 93+ (no section below 22) |
| Consultant-oversold flag | Yes - our editorial flag | No |
Arizona State University: the honest note
This is an ONLINE degree, studied from India. It carries no student visa, so there is no OPT, no STEM OPT and no route to work in the US on it - if working abroad is your goal, this programme does not provide one. Heavily marketed by consultants, with a high acceptance rate and outcomes that vary widely by individual effort. Judge it as a credential you earn while working in India, not as a way of getting to America.
University of Toronto: the honest note
16-month industry-oriented program with a corporate-partner internship. PGWP of up to 3 years for eligible master's grads.
How payback is calculated
Payback = total program cost ÷ (annual savings abroad − annual savings staying in India), where savings are salary minus destination tax and a year's living cost. It is before loan interest. The India side uses a ₹8,00,000 baseline salary, taxed, minus India living cost. 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
Arizona State University: Tuition: asuonline.asu.edu (2026-27) - $15,000 total, $500/credit x 30 credits, no fees or textbooks, checked 2026-08-28 · Salary: broad India market band for master's-qualified software engineers (approx Rs 9-14L), NOT an ASU outcome and NOT a US salary - this programme carries no US work authorisation. ZipRecruiter/Collegedunia/Simpliaxis India salary guides, accessed 2026-08-28 · Visa: ASU Online MCS does not sponsor F-1 and is STEM-OPT-ineligible (asuonline.asu.edu programme terms, checked 2026-08-28)
University of Toronto: Tuition & requirements: mscac.utoronto.ca · Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) · Visa: IRCC Post-Graduation Work Permit policy, canada.ca
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What should you check next?
You have narrowed this to two. These are the questions that decide between them, in the order they usually bite.
- 1
Do you clear the published admission bar at either one?
Converts to the 4.0 scale and lists which verified programmes' published minimums that value clears. convert your CGPA.
- 2
Are you reading the acceptance rate as an admit chance?
Across 35 programmes, QS rank and the published GPA bar correlate at -0.16 - the selective-looking school often asks for less. why that number misleads.
- 3
What does the loan actually cost month to month?
Turns the total cost above into an EMI against a starting salary, which is the number that decides whether payback is survivable. run the loan numbers.
- 4
Which one fits your profile, not just the averages?
Scores both against your own GPA, budget and priority, and shows where your shortlist contradicts itself before asking for anything. run the free assessment.