Comparison
Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs University of Melbourne
MS Computer Science · Champaign, IL vs Master of Computer Science · Melbourne
Last reviewed: July 2026
Short answer: Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (MS Computer Science) is the cheaper program overall, Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (MS Computer Science) reports the higher starting salary, and Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (MS Computer Science) pays back fastest against the standard ₹8L India baseline. Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (MS Computer 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.
| Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | University of Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | USA | Australia |
| City | Champaign, IL | Melbourne |
| Duration | 18 months | 24 months |
| Total cost | ₹84.3L | ₹1.11Cr |
| Avg. starting salary | ₹1.10Cr/yr | ₹54.2L/yr |
| Payback period | 0.8 yrs | 2.4 yrs |
| Visa pathway | Strong | Moderate |
| Min. GPA (4.0 scale) | 3.2 | 3.0 |
| Test requirement | GRE 320+ typical for competitive applicants | IELTS 6.5 |
| Consultant-oversold flag | No | No |
Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: the honest note
Strong CS ranking and recruiting pipeline; official minimum GPA is published and enforced. Post-OPT H-1B conversion has gotten harder for entry-level hires since 2026 (see visa risk flag).
University of Melbourne: the honest note
2-year duration raises total cost. Australia's 485 graduate visa was tightened in 2026 (age cap dropped to 35, IELTS bar raised to 6.5, fees up sharply).
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
Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Tuition & GPA minimum: illinois.edu graduate catalog · Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) · 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 Melbourne: Tuition & India entry requirements: study.unimelb.edu.au · Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) · Visa: Australia Subclass 485, homeaffairs.gov.au (2026 rules)
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