Comparison
New Jersey Institute of Technology vs University of Toronto
MS Data Science · Newark, NJ vs MS in Applied Computing (Computer Science) · Toronto, ON
Last reviewed: July 2026
Short answer: University of Toronto (MS in Applied Computing (Computer Science)) is the cheaper program overall, New Jersey Institute of Technology (MS Data Science) reports the higher starting salary, and University of Toronto (MS in Applied Computing (Computer 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 | University of Toronto | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | USA | Canada |
| City | Newark, NJ | Toronto, ON |
| Duration | 18 months | 16 months |
| Total cost | ₹97.6L | ₹50.5L |
| Avg. starting salary | ₹87.1L/yr | ₹63.9L/yr |
| Payback period | 1.2 yrs | 0.9 yrs |
| Visa pathway | Strong | Strong |
| Min. GPA (4.0 scale) | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Test requirement | GRE not always required; IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 79 typical among admits | TOEFL 93+ (no section below 22) |
| Consultant-oversold flag | Yes - our editorial flag | No |
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).
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 ÷ (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
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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