Comparison
Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Georgia Institute of Technology
MS Computer Science · Champaign, IL vs MS Computer Science · Atlanta, GA
Last reviewed: July 2026
Short answer: Georgia Institute of Technology (MS Computer Science) is the cheaper program overall, Georgia Institute of Technology (MS Computer Science) reports the higher starting salary, and Georgia Institute of Technology (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 | Georgia Institute of Technology | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | USA | USA |
| City | Champaign, IL | Atlanta, GA |
| Duration | 18 months | 18 months |
| Total cost | ₹84.3L | ₹59.3L |
| Avg. starting salary | ₹1.10Cr/yr | ₹1.32Cr/yr |
| Payback period | 0.8 yrs | 0.5 yrs |
| Visa pathway | Strong | Strong |
| Min. GPA (4.0 scale) | 3.2 | 3.0 |
| Test requirement | GRE 320+ typical for competitive applicants | GRE optional |
| 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).
Georgia Institute of Technology: the honest note
Best cost-to-reputation ratio among strong US CS programs - international tuition is charged at the same rate as in-state. Salary figure is Georgia Tech's own reported median for MS CS grads (2022-23 survey, $138,500). 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
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
Georgia Institute of Technology: Tuition & GPA: cc.gatech.edu admissions · Salary: Georgia Tech Career & Salary Survey 2022-23 - median starting salary, MS Computer Science ($138,500), cc.gatech.edu/facts-and-rankings · 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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