Comparison
New Jersey Institute of Technology vs UNSW Sydney
MS Data Science · Newark, NJ vs Master of Data Science and Decisions · Sydney
Last reviewed: July 2026
Short answer: New Jersey Institute of Technology (MS Data Science) is the cheaper program overall, New Jersey Institute of Technology (MS Data Science) reports the higher starting salary, and New Jersey Institute of Technology (MS Data Science) pays back fastest against the standard ₹8L India baseline. New Jersey Institute of Technology (MS Data Science)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.
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | UNSW Sydney | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | USA | Australia |
| City | Newark, NJ | Sydney |
| Duration | 18 months | 24 months |
| Total cost | ₹97.6L | ₹1.21Cr |
| Avg. starting salary | ₹87.1L/yr | ₹58.2L/yr |
| Payback period | 1.2 yrs | 2.4 yrs |
| Visa pathway | Strong | Moderate |
| Min. GPA (4.0 scale) | 3.0 | 2.9 |
| Test requirement | GRE not always required; IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 79 typical among admits | IELTS 6.5 |
| Consultant-oversold flag | Yes - our editorial flag | Yes - our editorial flag |
New Jersey Institute of Technology: the honest note
Popular, relatively easier admit; ROI depends heavily on individual job search effort in a competitive NY/NJ market. Salary figure is NJIT's own reported average for MS Data Science grads - note the small sample (13 salary reports, Class of 2024; 19 reports at $93,253 for Class of 2023). Post-OPT H-1B conversion has also gotten harder for entry-level hires since 2026 (see visa risk flag).
UNSW Sydney: the honest note
Widely marketed by agents; Sydney's cost of living and the 2026 485-visa tightening both cut into ROI - verify actual placement rates independently.
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
New Jersey Institute of Technology: Tuition & admissions: njit.edu, ds.njit.edu · Salary: NJIT Career Development Services Outcomes Report, Class of 2024 - avg starting salary, MS Data Science, N=13 ($91,323), njit.edu/careerservices · 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
UNSW Sydney: Tuition: unsw.edu.au, studyonline.unsw.edu.au · Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) · Visa: Australia Subclass 485, homeaffairs.gov.au (2026 rules)
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