{
  "name": "TruthPathMS verified MS-abroad programs",
  "version": "1.0",
  "description": "Cost, admission-bar, salary-basis, payback and visa-pathway data for MS programmes commonly considered by Indian students, limited to entries where every figure has a recorded source.",
  "licence": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licenceUrl": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "attribution": "TruthPathMS verified MS-abroad programs dataset — https://www.truthpathms.com/data",
  "checkedOn": "2026-07-06",
  "rowCount": 14,
  "caveats": [
    "Costs are published tuition plus a reasonable local living-cost estimate for the full programme, converted to INR at the mid-market rates recorded in lib/programs.ts as of the check date. They are not quotes and will not match an invoice.",
    "Salary is the university's own published career-survey figure only where salary_basis is 'university-published-survey' (2 of the rows). Everywhere else it is a broad entry-level market band for the role and country, not a per-university outcome — treat those as directionally accurate, not exact.",
    "min_gpa is the officially published minimum where the university states one; where none is published it is an estimate of a realistic competitive threshold, not an official cutoff.",
    "payback_years is computed from total_cost_inr and avg_starting_salary_inr by this project's own formula. It inherits every caveat above and is not a prediction of any individual's outcome.",
    "selectivity_band is editorial classification, not a sourced statistic.",
    "Visa strength reflects national immigration policy at the check date, not university prestige. Immigration rules change frequently; re-verify before relying on this field.",
    "This dataset covers only the fully-sourced tier. The site's wider 356-institution coverage layer is deliberately excluded because those figures are rank-tier estimates."
  ],
  "columns": [
    "id",
    "university",
    "program",
    "country",
    "city",
    "duration_months",
    "total_cost_inr",
    "min_gpa",
    "min_test_score",
    "gre_policy",
    "avg_starting_salary_inr",
    "salary_basis",
    "payback_years",
    "visa_pathway_strength",
    "selectivity_band",
    "admission_gate_note",
    "sources",
    "checked_on"
  ],
  "rows": [
    {
      "id": "us-cmu-mscs",
      "university": "Carnegie Mellon University",
      "program": "MS Computer Science",
      "country": "USA",
      "city": "Pittsburgh, PA",
      "duration_months": 16,
      "total_cost_inr": 10220000,
      "min_gpa": 3.6,
      "min_test_score": "No fixed minimum; GRE optional but recommended for weaker profiles",
      "gre_policy": "optional",
      "avg_starting_salary_inr": 12396800,
      "salary_basis": "market-band-estimate",
      "payback_years": 0.88,
      "visa_pathway_strength": "Strong",
      "selectivity_band": "selective",
      "admission_gate_note": "",
      "sources": "Tuition & requirements: cmu.edu/sfs, csd.cmu.edu admissions | 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",
      "checked_on": "2026-07-06"
    },
    {
      "id": "us-asu-mscs",
      "university": "Arizona State University",
      "program": "MS Computer Science (Online)",
      "country": "USA",
      "city": "Tempe, AZ",
      "duration_months": 24,
      "total_cost_inr": 9518000,
      "min_gpa": 3,
      "min_test_score": "GRE typically waived",
      "gre_policy": "optional",
      "avg_starting_salary_inr": 8105600,
      "salary_basis": "market-band-estimate",
      "payback_years": 1.3,
      "visa_pathway_strength": "Strong",
      "selectivity_band": "standard",
      "admission_gate_note": "",
      "sources": "Tuition: asuonline.asu.edu (2026-27) | 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",
      "checked_on": "2026-07-06"
    },
    {
      "id": "us-uiuc-mscs",
      "university": "Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign",
      "program": "MS Computer Science",
      "country": "USA",
      "city": "Champaign, IL",
      "duration_months": 18,
      "total_cost_inr": 8431800,
      "min_gpa": 3.2,
      "min_test_score": "GRE 320+ typical for competitive applicants",
      "gre_policy": "optional",
      "avg_starting_salary_inr": 10966400,
      "salary_basis": "market-band-estimate",
      "payback_years": 0.83,
      "visa_pathway_strength": "Strong",
      "selectivity_band": "selective",
      "admission_gate_note": "",
      "sources": "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",
      "checked_on": "2026-07-06"
    },
    {
      "id": "us-njit-ds",
      "university": "New Jersey Institute of Technology",
      "program": "MS Data Science",
      "country": "USA",
      "city": "Newark, NJ",
      "duration_months": 18,
      "total_cost_inr": 9764100,
      "min_gpa": 3,
      "min_test_score": "GRE not always required; IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 79 typical among admits",
      "gre_policy": "optional",
      "avg_starting_salary_inr": 8708561,
      "salary_basis": "university-published-survey",
      "payback_years": 1.23,
      "visa_pathway_strength": "Strong",
      "selectivity_band": "standard",
      "admission_gate_note": "",
      "sources": "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",
      "checked_on": "2026-07-06"
    },
    {
      "id": "uk-ucl-ds",
      "university": "University College London",
      "program": "MSc Data Science",
      "country": "UK",
      "city": "London",
      "duration_months": 12,
      "total_cost_inr": 7844500,
      "min_gpa": 3,
      "min_test_score": "IELTS 6.5",
      "gre_policy": "not-stated",
      "avg_starting_salary_inr": 4831300,
      "salary_basis": "market-band-estimate",
      "payback_years": 1.95,
      "visa_pathway_strength": "Moderate",
      "selectivity_band": "standard",
      "admission_gate_note": "",
      "sources": "Tuition & entry requirements: ucl.ac.uk | Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) | Visa: UK Graduate Route, gov.uk (2026 rules)",
      "checked_on": "2026-07-06"
    },
    {
      "id": "uk-manchester-cs",
      "university": "University of Manchester",
      "program": "MSc Advanced Computer Science",
      "country": "UK",
      "city": "Manchester",
      "duration_months": 12,
      "total_cost_inr": 6535000,
      "min_gpa": 2.6,
      "min_test_score": "IELTS 7.0",
      "gre_policy": "not-stated",
      "avg_starting_salary_inr": 4068500,
      "salary_basis": "market-band-estimate",
      "payback_years": 2,
      "visa_pathway_strength": "Moderate",
      "selectivity_band": "standard",
      "admission_gate_note": "",
      "sources": "Tuition & India-specific entry requirements: manchester.ac.uk, cs.manchester.ac.uk | Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) | Visa: UK Graduate Route, gov.uk (2026 rules)",
      "checked_on": "2026-07-06"
    },
    {
      "id": "canada-uoft-mscac",
      "university": "University of Toronto",
      "program": "MS in Applied Computing (Computer Science)",
      "country": "Canada",
      "city": "Toronto, ON",
      "duration_months": 16,
      "total_cost_inr": 5054000,
      "min_gpa": 3,
      "min_test_score": "TOEFL 93+ (no section below 22)",
      "gre_policy": "not-stated",
      "avg_starting_salary_inr": 6385900,
      "salary_basis": "market-band-estimate",
      "payback_years": 0.9,
      "visa_pathway_strength": "Strong",
      "selectivity_band": "standard",
      "admission_gate_note": "",
      "sources": "Tuition & requirements: mscac.utoronto.ca | Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) | Visa: IRCC Post-Graduation Work Permit policy, canada.ca",
      "checked_on": "2026-07-06"
    },
    {
      "id": "canada-uwaterloo-ds",
      "university": "University of Waterloo",
      "program": "MMath Data Science",
      "country": "Canada",
      "city": "Waterloo, ON",
      "duration_months": 24,
      "total_cost_inr": 4795500,
      "min_gpa": 3.1,
      "min_test_score": "GRE not required",
      "gre_policy": "optional",
      "avg_starting_salary_inr": 6184240,
      "salary_basis": "market-band-estimate",
      "payback_years": 0.89,
      "visa_pathway_strength": "Strong",
      "selectivity_band": "standard",
      "admission_gate_note": "",
      "sources": "Tuition & living costs: uwaterloo.ca/data-science | Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) | Visa: IRCC Post-Graduation Work Permit policy, canada.ca",
      "checked_on": "2026-07-06"
    },
    {
      "id": "germany-tum-cs",
      "university": "Technical University of Munich",
      "program": "MSc Computer Science",
      "country": "Germany",
      "city": "Munich",
      "duration_months": 24,
      "total_cost_inr": 6097000,
      "min_gpa": 3,
      "min_test_score": "IELTS 6.5; GRE/GATE required for applicants from India",
      "gre_policy": "required",
      "avg_starting_salary_inr": 6314460,
      "salary_basis": "market-band-estimate",
      "payback_years": 1.11,
      "visa_pathway_strength": "Strong",
      "selectivity_band": "standard",
      "admission_gate_note": "",
      "sources": "Tuition policy: tum.de (non-EU fee rules) | Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) | Visa: Germany 18-month post-study job-search visa",
      "checked_on": "2026-07-06"
    },
    {
      "id": "germany-rwth-ds",
      "university": "RWTH Aachen University",
      "program": "MSc Data Science",
      "country": "Germany",
      "city": "Aachen",
      "duration_months": 24,
      "total_cost_inr": 3265500,
      "min_gpa": 3,
      "min_test_score": "GRE Quant 75th+ percentile required",
      "gre_policy": "required",
      "avg_starting_salary_inr": 5443500,
      "salary_basis": "market-band-estimate",
      "payback_years": 0.7,
      "visa_pathway_strength": "Strong",
      "selectivity_band": "standard",
      "admission_gate_note": "",
      "sources": "Tuition & GRE requirement: rwth-aachen.de | Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) | Visa: Germany 18-month post-study job-search visa",
      "checked_on": "2026-07-06"
    },
    {
      "id": "australia-unimelb-cs",
      "university": "University of Melbourne",
      "program": "Master of Computer Science",
      "country": "Australia",
      "city": "Melbourne",
      "duration_months": 24,
      "total_cost_inr": 11104800,
      "min_gpa": 3,
      "min_test_score": "IELTS 6.5",
      "gre_policy": "not-stated",
      "avg_starting_salary_inr": 5420200,
      "salary_basis": "market-band-estimate",
      "payback_years": 2.4,
      "visa_pathway_strength": "Moderate",
      "selectivity_band": "standard",
      "admission_gate_note": "",
      "sources": "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)",
      "checked_on": "2026-07-06"
    },
    {
      "id": "australia-unsw-ds",
      "university": "UNSW Sydney",
      "program": "Master of Data Science and Decisions",
      "country": "Australia",
      "city": "Sydney",
      "duration_months": 24,
      "total_cost_inr": 12124100,
      "min_gpa": 2.9,
      "min_test_score": "IELTS 6.5",
      "gre_policy": "not-stated",
      "avg_starting_salary_inr": 5816800,
      "salary_basis": "market-band-estimate",
      "payback_years": 2.42,
      "visa_pathway_strength": "Moderate",
      "selectivity_band": "standard",
      "admission_gate_note": "",
      "sources": "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)",
      "checked_on": "2026-07-06"
    },
    {
      "id": "us-sjsu-ds",
      "university": "San Jose State University",
      "program": "MS Data Analytics",
      "country": "USA",
      "city": "San Jose, CA",
      "duration_months": 24,
      "total_cost_inr": 8369600,
      "min_gpa": 3,
      "min_test_score": "IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 80",
      "gre_policy": "not-stated",
      "avg_starting_salary_inr": 9059200,
      "salary_basis": "market-band-estimate",
      "payback_years": 1.01,
      "visa_pathway_strength": "Strong",
      "selectivity_band": "standard",
      "admission_gate_note": "",
      "sources": "Tuition & GPA minimum: sjsu.edu Applied Data Science | Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) (Bay Area-adjusted) | 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",
      "checked_on": "2026-07-06"
    },
    {
      "id": "us-gatech-cs",
      "university": "Georgia Institute of Technology",
      "program": "MS Computer Science",
      "country": "USA",
      "city": "Atlanta, GA",
      "duration_months": 18,
      "total_cost_inr": 5929200,
      "min_gpa": 3,
      "min_test_score": "GRE optional",
      "gre_policy": "optional",
      "avg_starting_salary_inr": 13207360,
      "salary_basis": "university-published-survey",
      "payback_years": 0.48,
      "visa_pathway_strength": "Strong",
      "selectivity_band": "selective",
      "admission_gate_note": "",
      "sources": "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",
      "checked_on": "2026-07-06"
    }
  ]
}