A complete, unedited report. Every number below was produced by the same engine that will run on your profile. The student is fictional - 8.0 CGPA, Mechanical Engineering, NIT Warangal, ₹45L budget, balanced priority. Nothing else is.
Costs and visa rules are from official program/government sources (July 2026); starting salaries are broad published market bands, not per-university reported outcomes. Matches marked "≈ costs estimated" have a verified admission bar but QS-tier cost/salary estimates. Matches marked "⚑ consultant-push" carry our own editorial judgment that the program is heavily marketed by commission-based consultants relative to its outcomes - that flag is an opinion, not a sourced statistic. Verify against the official program page before making a real decision.

Your Honest Scorecard

Prepared for Ananya - Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Warangal

44 programs matched against your profile, ranked by fit for your stated priority.

College signal contributed +5 of 100 to your admit score

44

Programs matched

1 Safety33 Match10 Reach

Tier split

0.5 yrs

Georgia Institute of Technology

Best payback

4 of 44

within your ₹45.0L budget

Paid reports include: check any university your consultant adds, against this profile.

None of this is scored yet - it's what actually moves your file at the programs below.

  1. 1.Take formal CS/DS coursework at your college - a minor, or individual credit courses: data structures & algorithms, DBMS, linear algebra, probability & statistics, one serious programming course. Transcript evidence beats any certificate.
  2. 2.Do a project under a CS/DS professor - even one semester. This becomes the spine of your SOP and your strongest LOR source. Approach professors with a concrete idea that connects your branch to their area.
  3. 3.Source your SOP and at least one LOR from a CS/DS context - the professor above, or an internship manager on a software/data project. An SOP built on a real CS/DS project you did reads 10x stronger than one built on intent.
  4. 4.Don't hide your branch, weaponize it
  5. 5.Build a public portfolio
  6. 6.Certificates are supplements, never the centerpiece
  7. 7.GRE quant matters more for you
  8. 8.Get one software/data internship
  9. 9.Target program types honestly
  10. 10.Start 12-18 months before the application deadline
7 more steps in your personalized scorecard →

Your college: National Institute of Technology Warangal

National Institute of Technology Warangal carries strong recognition, and your scorecard includes a +5 college signal. Pair it with concrete evidence - projects, internships, a specific SOP - and you compete head-to-head with anyone.

Reach schools for your profile (10)

Ranked lower not because you can't get in, but because their cost drags down the ROI and budget scores your ranking is built on. Worth applying to alongside your best-fit picks.

Cost vs. salary, at a glance

Lower-right is the sweet spot: cheaper program, higher starting salary.

Cost →Salary →1#1 TU Berlin - ₹31.1L total, ₹59.1L/yr2#2 TU Darmstadt - ₹28.9L total, ₹56.9L/yr3#3 KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) - ₹32.9L total, ₹60.2L/yr4#4 RWTH Aachen University - ₹32.7L total, ₹54.4L/yr5#5 University of Alberta - ₹48.3L total, ₹53.7L/yr6#6 University of Toronto - ₹50.5L total, ₹63.9L/yr7#7 University of Waterloo - ₹48.0L total, ₹61.8L/yr8#8 Georgia Institute of Technology - ₹59.3L total, ₹1.32Cr/yr9#9 Simon Fraser University - ₹53.7L total, ₹57.0L/yr10#10 Technical University of Munich - ₹61.0L total, ₹63.1L/yr11#11 McGill University - ₹63.1L total, ₹57.0L/yr12#12 San Jose State University - ₹83.7L total, ₹90.6L/yr13#13 University of Texas at Dallas - ₹83.9L total, ₹83.9L/yr14#14 University at Buffalo (SUNY) - ₹83.9L total, ₹91.5L/yr15#15 University of British Columbia - ₹64.4L total, ₹60.4L/yr16#16 The Ohio State University - ₹93.4L total, ₹98.2L/yr17#17 Arizona State University - ₹95.2L total, ₹81.1L/yr18#18 Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - ₹84.3L total, ₹1.10Cr/yr19#19 New Jersey Institute of Technology - ₹97.6L total, ₹87.1L/yr20#20 University of Manchester - ₹65.3L total, ₹40.7L/yr21#21 Cornell University - ₹1.49Cr total, ₹1.19Cr/yr22#22 North Carolina State University - ₹93.4L total, ₹91.5L/yr23#23 Stony Brook University (SUNY) - ₹93.4L total, ₹83.9L/yr24#24 University of California, Irvine - ₹1.09Cr total, ₹91.5L/yr25#25 University of California, Berkeley - ₹1.26Cr total, ₹1.27Cr/yr26#26 Texas A&M University - ₹93.4L total, ₹98.2L/yr27#27 University of Florida - ₹93.4L total, ₹98.2L/yr28#28 Arizona State University (Tempe campus) - ₹97.2L total, ₹98.2L/yr29#29 University of Minnesota, Twin Cities - ₹97.2L total, ₹98.2L/yr30#30 UMass Amherst - ₹93.4L total, ₹98.2L/yr31#31 Northeastern University - ₹1.45Cr total, ₹99.1L/yr32#32 NYU Tandon School of Engineering - ₹1.64Cr total, ₹1.27Cr/yr33#33 University of Maryland, College Park - ₹93.4L total, ₹98.2L/yr34#34 Purdue University - ₹1.03Cr total, ₹1.07Cr/yr35#35 Carnegie Mellon University - ₹1.02Cr total, ₹1.24Cr/yr36#36 University College London - ₹78.4L total, ₹48.3L/yr37#37 Rutgers University, New Brunswick - ₹1.01Cr total, ₹91.5L/yr38#38 University of Southern California - ₹1.43Cr total, ₹1.06Cr/yr39#39 UNSW Sydney - ₹1.21Cr total, ₹58.2L/yr40#40 University of Oxford - ₹72.4L total, ₹63.5L/yr41#41 University of Cambridge - ₹71.1L total, ₹63.5L/yr42#42 University of Melbourne - ₹1.11Cr total, ₹54.2L/yr43#43 Stanford University - ₹1.75Cr total, ₹1.36Cr/yr44#44 Princeton University - ₹1.60Cr total, ₹1.19Cr/yr
1TU Berlin2TU Darmstadt3KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)4RWTH Aachen University5University of Alberta6University of Toronto7University of Waterloo8Georgia Institute of Technology9Simon Fraser University10Technical University of Munich11McGill University12San Jose State University13University of Texas at Dallas14University at Buffalo (SUNY)15University of British Columbia16The Ohio State University17Arizona State University18Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign19New Jersey Institute of Technology20University of Manchester21Cornell University22North Carolina State University23Stony Brook University (SUNY)24University of California, Irvine25University of California, Berkeley26Texas A&M University27University of Florida28Arizona State University (Tempe campus)29University of Minnesota, Twin Cities30UMass Amherst31Northeastern University32NYU Tandon School of Engineering33University of Maryland, College Park34Purdue University35Carnegie Mellon University36University College London37Rutgers University, New Brunswick38University of Southern California39UNSW Sydney40University of Oxford41University of Cambridge42University of Melbourne43Stanford University44Princeton University

#1 MATCH

TU Berlin

MSc Computer Science (Informatik) · Berlin, Germany

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 96
0.7 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹31.1L

Avg. salary

₹59.1L/yr

Budget fit

Within budget

! High score ≠ you qualify: TU Berlin admits by undergraduate credit profile (36 CP CS fundamentals, 18 CP math, 30 CP further CS), which our GPA-based score cannot check - verify against your transcript before treating this as a safety

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: tu.berlin M.Sc. Computer Science application & admission pages (accessed 2026-07-08) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: Germany 18-month post-study job-search visa (checked July 2026)

#2 MATCH

TU Darmstadt

MSc Computer Science (English) · Darmstadt, Germany

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 96
0.7 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹28.9L

Avg. salary

₹56.9L/yr

Budget fit

Within budget

! High score ≠ you qualify: TU Darmstadt admits by credit-profile equivalence (60 CP against its own BSc curriculum) with a possible entrance exam - our GPA-based score cannot check your credit profile

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: tu-darmstadt.de + informatik.tu-darmstadt.de application pages (accessed 2026-07-08) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: Germany 18-month post-study job-search visa (checked July 2026)

#3 MATCH

KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

MSc Computer Science (International) · Karlsruhe, Germany

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 90
0.7 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹32.9L

Avg. salary

₹60.2L/yr

Budget fit

Within budget

! High score ≠ you qualify: KIT admits by undergraduate credit minima (15 CP theoretical CS, 30 CP practical CS, 8 CP computer engineering, 25 CP math) plus a possible interview - our GPA-based score cannot check your credit profile

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: informatik.kit.edu admission Master Computer Science + sle.kit.edu (accessed 2026-07-08) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: Germany 18-month post-study job-search visa (checked July 2026)

#4 MATCH

RWTH Aachen University

MSc Data Science · Aachen, Germany

MatchScore 87
0.8 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹32.7L

Avg. salary

₹54.4L/yr

Budget fit

Within budget

! Requires the GRE for international applicants - without a score you can't submit a complete application here

Verify these numbers yourself - Tuition & GRE requirement: rwth-aachen.de · Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) · Visa: Germany 18-month post-study job-search visa (checked July 2026)

#5 MATCH

University of Alberta

MSc Computing Science · Edmonton, AB, Canada

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 87
1.2 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹48.3L

Avg. salary

₹53.7L/yr

Budget fit

Tight budget

! Leaves little financial buffer

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: ualberta.ca computing-science applications & admissions + FAQ (accessed 2026-07-08) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: IRCC Post-Graduation Work Permit policy, canada.ca (checked July 2026)

#6 MATCH

University of Toronto

MS in Applied Computing (Computer Science) · Toronto, ON, Canada

MatchScore 86
1 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹50.5L

Avg. salary

₹63.9L/yr

Budget fit

Tight budget

! Leaves little financial buffer

Verify these numbers yourself - Tuition & requirements: mscac.utoronto.ca · Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) · Visa: IRCC Post-Graduation Work Permit policy, canada.ca (checked July 2026)

#7 MATCH

University of Waterloo

MMath Data Science · Waterloo, ON, Canada

MatchScore 86
1 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹48.0L

Avg. salary

₹61.8L/yr

Budget fit

Tight budget

! Leaves little financial buffer

Verify these numbers yourself - 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 July 2026)

#8 MATCH

Georgia Institute of Technology

MS Computer Science · Atlanta, GA, USA

MatchScore 85
0.5 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹59.3L

Avg. salary

₹1.32Cr/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Admits well above its published minimums - not a safety for anyone.

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - 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 · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#9 MATCH

Simon Fraser University

Professional MSc Computer Science · Burnaby, BC, Canada

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 84
1.3 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹53.7L

Avg. salary

₹57.0L/yr

Budget fit

Tight budget

! Leaves little financial buffer

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: sfu.ca computing professional master's admission page + FAQ (accessed 2026-07-08) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: IRCC Post-Graduation Work Permit policy, canada.ca (checked July 2026)

#10 MATCH

Technical University of Munich

MSc Computer Science · Munich, Germany

MatchScore 79
1.2 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹61.0L

Avg. salary

₹63.1L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Requires the GRE for international applicants - without a score you can't submit a complete application here

Verify these numbers yourself - 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 July 2026)

#11 MATCH

McGill University

MSc Computer Science (Thesis) · Montreal, QC, Canada

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 78
1.5 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹63.1L

Avg. salary

₹57.0L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: cs.mcgill.ca graduate admission pages (accessed 2026-07-08) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: IRCC Post-Graduation Work Permit policy, canada.ca (checked July 2026)

#12 MATCH

San Jose State University

MS Data Analytics · San Jose, CA, USA

⚑ Consultant-push (our opinion)MatchScore 77
1.1 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹83.7L

Avg. salary

₹90.6L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Widely marketed through commission-paid agents and consultants - our editorial flag, not a sourced statistic. Verify placement and outcome claims independently.

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Tuition & GPA minimum: sjsu.edu Applied Data Science · Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) (Bay Area-adjusted) · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#13 MATCH

University of Texas at Dallas

MS Computer Science · Richardson, TX, USA

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 77
1.2 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹83.9L

Avg. salary

₹83.9L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: catalog.utdallas.edu graduate CS program + cs.utdallas.edu admissions FAQ (accessed 2026-07-07) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#14 MATCH

University at Buffalo (SUNY)

MS Computer Science · Buffalo, NY, USA

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 77
1.1 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹83.9L

Avg. salary

₹91.5L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: engineering.buffalo.edu CSE graduate admissions FAQ (accessed 2026-07-07) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#15 MATCH

University of British Columbia

MSc Computer Science (thesis) · Vancouver, BC, Canada

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 77
1.4 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹64.4L

Avg. salary

₹60.4L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: cs.ubc.ca/students/grad/admissions/eligibility + grad.ubc.ca (accessed 2026-07-08) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: IRCC Post-Graduation Work Permit policy, canada.ca (checked July 2026)

#16 MATCH

The Ohio State University

MS Computer Science & Engineering · Columbus, OH, USA

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 76
1.1 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹93.4L

Avg. salary

₹98.2L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: cse.osu.edu graduate admissions + gpadmissions.osu.edu (accessed 2026-07-08) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#17 MATCH

Arizona State University

MS Computer Science (Online) · Tempe, AZ, USA

⚑ Consultant-push (our opinion)MatchScore 75
1.4 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹95.2L

Avg. salary

₹81.1L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Widely marketed through commission-paid agents and consultants - our editorial flag, not a sourced statistic. Verify placement and outcome claims independently.

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Tuition: asuonline.asu.edu (2026-27) · Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#18 MATCH

Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

MS Computer Science · Champaign, IL, USA

MatchScore 75
0.9 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹84.3L

Avg. salary

₹1.10Cr/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Admits well above its published minimums - not a safety for anyone.

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Tuition & GPA minimum: illinois.edu graduate catalog · Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#19 MATCH

New Jersey Institute of Technology

MS Data Science · Newark, NJ, USA

⚑ Consultant-push (our opinion)MatchScore 75
1.3 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹97.6L

Avg. salary

₹87.1L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Widely marketed through commission-paid agents and consultants - our editorial flag, not a sourced statistic. Verify placement and outcome claims independently.

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - 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 · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#20 MATCH

University of Manchester

MSc Advanced Computer Science · Manchester, UK

⚑ Consultant-push (our opinion)SafetyScore 74
2.5 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹65.3L

Avg. salary

₹40.7L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Widely marketed through commission-paid agents and consultants - our editorial flag, not a sourced statistic. Verify placement and outcome claims independently.

Verify these numbers yourself - 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 July 2026)

#21 MATCH

Cornell University

Master of Engineering (MEng), Computer Science · Ithaca, NY, USA

≈ Costs estimatedReachScore 74
1.4 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹1.49Cr

Avg. salary

₹1.19Cr/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Meets the published bar, but this program rejects most qualified applicants - treat as a reach for every profile.

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: cs.cornell.edu/master-engineering-computer-science/apply (accessed 2026-07-12) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#22 MATCH

North Carolina State University

MS Computer Science · Raleigh, NC, USA

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 73
1.2 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹93.4L

Avg. salary

₹91.5L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Requires the GRE for international applicants - without a score you can't submit a complete application here

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: csc.ncsu.edu application procedure + catalog.ncsu.edu graduate handbook (accessed 2026-07-07) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#23 MATCH

Stony Brook University (SUNY)

MS Computer Science · Stony Brook, NY, USA

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 73
1.3 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹93.4L

Avg. salary

₹83.9L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Requires the GRE for international applicants - without a score you can't submit a complete application here

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: cs.stonybrook.edu/admissions/Graduate-Program (accessed 2026-07-07) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#24 MATCH

University of California, Irvine

MS Computer Science · Irvine, CA, USA

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 73
1.4 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹1.09Cr

Avg. salary

₹91.5L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: mcs.ics.uci.edu/prospective-students/admissions-requirement (accessed 2026-07-07) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#25 MATCH

University of California, Berkeley

Master of Engineering (MEng), EECS · Berkeley, CA, USA

≈ Costs estimatedReachScore 73
1.1 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹1.26Cr

Avg. salary

₹1.27Cr/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Meets the published bar, but this program rejects most qualified applicants - treat as a reach for every profile.

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: eecs.berkeley.edu/academics/graduate/industry-programs/meng/apply, eecs.berkeley.edu/academics/graduate/faq-3 (accessed 2026-07-12) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#26 MATCH

Texas A&M University

MS Computer Science · College Station, TX, USA

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 72
1.1 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹93.4L

Avg. salary

₹98.2L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: engineering.tamu.edu CSE graduate admissions + FAQ (accessed 2026-07-07) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#27 MATCH

University of Florida

MS Computer Science · Gainesville, FL, USA

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 72
1.1 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹93.4L

Avg. salary

₹98.2L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: cise.ufl.edu/admissions/graduate (accessed 2026-07-07) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#28 MATCH

Arizona State University (Tempe campus)

MS Computer Science · Tempe, AZ, USA

≈ Costs estimated⚑ Consultant-push (our opinion)MatchScore 72
1.2 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹97.2L

Avg. salary

₹98.2L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Widely marketed through commission-paid agents and consultants - our editorial flag, not a sourced statistic. Verify placement and outcome claims independently.

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: scai.engineering.asu.edu graduate admissions (accessed 2026-07-07) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#29 MATCH

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

MS Computer Science · Minneapolis, MN, USA

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 72
1.2 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹97.2L

Avg. salary

₹98.2L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: cse.umn.edu/cs/ms-admissions (accessed 2026-07-08) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#30 MATCH

UMass Amherst

MS Computer Science · Amherst, MA, USA

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 72
1.1 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹93.4L

Avg. salary

₹98.2L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: cics.umass.edu MS how-to-apply pages (accessed 2026-07-08) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#31 MATCH

Northeastern University

MS Computer Science · Boston, MA, USA

≈ Costs estimated⚑ Consultant-push (our opinion)MatchScore 70
1.7 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹1.45Cr

Avg. salary

₹99.1L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Widely marketed through commission-paid agents and consultants - our editorial flag, not a sourced statistic. Verify placement and outcome claims independently.

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: khoury.northeastern.edu/apply/masters-apply (accessed 2026-07-07) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#32 MATCH

NYU Tandon School of Engineering

MS Computer Science · Brooklyn, NY, USA

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 70
1.5 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹1.64Cr

Avg. salary

₹1.27Cr/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: engineering.nyu.edu graduate admissions requirements + bulletins.nyu.edu (accessed 2026-07-07) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#33 MATCH

University of Maryland, College Park

MS Computer Science · College Park, MD, USA

≈ Costs estimatedReachScore 70
1.1 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹93.4L

Avg. salary

₹98.2L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Below typical admitted-student profile - reach school

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: cs.umd.edu graduate admissions FAQ + academiccatalog.umd.edu (accessed 2026-07-08) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#34 MATCH

Purdue University

MS Computer Science · West Lafayette, IN, USA

≈ Costs estimatedReachScore 69
1.1 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹1.03Cr

Avg. salary

₹1.07Cr/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Below typical admitted-student profile - reach school

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: cs.purdue.edu/graduate/admission/requirements.html (accessed 2026-07-07) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#35 MATCH

Carnegie Mellon University

MS Computer Science · Pittsburgh, PA, USA

ReachScore 68
0.9 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹1.02Cr

Avg. salary

₹1.24Cr/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Below typical admitted-student profile - reach school

! Admits well above its published minimums - not a safety for anyone.

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Tuition & requirements: cmu.edu/sfs, csd.cmu.edu admissions · Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#36 MATCH

University College London

MSc Data Science · London, UK

MatchScore 67
2.3 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹78.4L

Avg. salary

₹48.3L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

Verify these numbers yourself - Tuition & entry requirements: ucl.ac.uk · Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) · Visa: UK Graduate Route, gov.uk (2026 rules) (checked July 2026)

#37 MATCH

Rutgers University, New Brunswick

MS Computer Science · New Brunswick, NJ, USA

≈ Costs estimatedReachScore 67
1.3 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹1.01Cr

Avg. salary

₹91.5L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Below typical admitted-student profile - reach school

! Requires the GRE for international applicants - without a score you can't submit a complete application here

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: cs.rutgers.edu M.S. program admission requirements (accessed 2026-07-08) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#38 MATCH

University of Southern California

MS Computer Science · Los Angeles, CA, USA

≈ Costs estimatedMatchScore 65
1.6 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹1.43Cr

Avg. salary

₹1.06Cr/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: viterbigradadmission.usc.edu CS eligibility pages (accessed 2026-07-07) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#39 MATCH

UNSW Sydney

Master of Data Science and Decisions · Sydney, Australia

⚑ Consultant-push (our opinion)MatchScore 62
2.8 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹1.21Cr

Avg. salary

₹58.2L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Widely marketed through commission-paid agents and consultants - our editorial flag, not a sourced statistic. Verify placement and outcome claims independently.

Verify these numbers yourself - 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 July 2026)

#40 MATCH

University of Oxford

MSc Advanced Computer Science · Oxford, UK

≈ Costs estimatedReachScore 62
1.5 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹72.4L

Avg. salary

₹63.5L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Below typical admitted-student profile - reach school

! Meets the published bar, but this program rejects most qualified applicants - treat as a reach for every profile.

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/msc-advanced-computer-science (accessed 2026-07-12) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: UK Graduate Route, gov.uk (2026 rules) (checked July 2026)

#41 MATCH

University of Cambridge

MPhil Advanced Computer Science · Cambridge, UK

≈ Costs estimatedReachScore 62
1.4 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹71.1L

Avg. salary

₹63.5L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Below typical admitted-student profile - reach school

! Meets the published bar, but this program rejects most qualified applicants - treat as a reach for every profile.

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: cst.cam.ac.uk/admissions/acs, postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cscsmpacs/requirements (accessed 2026-07-12) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: UK Graduate Route, gov.uk (2026 rules) (checked July 2026)

#42 MATCH

University of Melbourne

Master of Computer Science · Melbourne, Australia

MatchScore 61
2.8 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹1.11Cr

Avg. salary

₹54.2L/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

Verify these numbers yourself - 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 July 2026)

#43 MATCH

Stanford University

MS Computer Science · Stanford, CA, USA

≈ Costs estimatedReachScore 61
1.4 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹1.75Cr

Avg. salary

₹1.36Cr/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Below typical admitted-student profile - reach school

! Meets the published bar, but this program rejects most qualified applicants - treat as a reach for every profile.

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: cs.stanford.edu/admissions/masters-admissions-frequently-asked-questions, cs.stanford.edu/ms-requirements-overall (accessed 2026-07-12) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

#44 MATCH

Princeton University

MSE Computer Science · Princeton, NJ, USA

≈ Costs estimatedReachScore 61
1.5 yrsto pay back

Total cost

₹1.60Cr

Avg. salary

₹1.19Cr/yr

Budget fit

Exceeds budget

! Exceeds your stated budget

! Below typical admitted-student profile - reach school

! Meets the published bar, but this program rejects most qualified applicants - treat as a reach for every profile.

! Post-OPT H-1B conversion got harder in 2026: a wage-weighted lottery disadvantages entry-level applicants. Your 3-year STEM OPT window itself is unaffected. Separately, the $100,000 employer fee is vacated by court order and not being collected, and a separate $103,265 fee proposed by DHS on 24 Aug 2026 is only a proposal, not in force (checked 27 Aug 2026).

Verify these numbers yourself - Requirements: cs.princeton.edu/grad/admissions-requirements (accessed 2026-07-12) · Cost & salary: QS-rank-tier estimate (same basis as our coverage search) - NOT verified for this school · Visa: USCIS STEM OPT policy · Wage-weighted H-1B lottery: USCIS final rule, effective Feb 27, 2026, uscis.gov. H-1B $100,000 fee: Presidential Proclamation of Sep 19, 2025; vacated by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jun 8, 2026; stay pending appeal denied by the First Circuit on Jul 24, 2026 - not currently enforceable, appeal pending. Proposed $103,265 fee on cap-subject petitions: DHS notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal Register 25 Aug 2026, DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0298 (RIN 1615-AD20) - proposed only, comments close 24 Sep 2026 (checked 2026-08-27) (checked July 2026)

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University College London

Why University College London over Georgia Institute of Technology? On my budget, Georgia Institute of Technology pays back about 2 years sooner with similar admit chances for my profile.

UNSW Sydney

Why UNSW Sydney over Georgia Institute of Technology? On my budget, Georgia Institute of Technology pays back about 2 years sooner with similar admit chances for my profile.

University of Melbourne

Why University of Melbourne over Georgia Institute of Technology? On my budget, Georgia Institute of Technology pays back about 2 years sooner with similar admit chances for my profile.

Cornell University

How many students with a profile like mine (8.0 CGPA) did you place at Cornell University in the last two years - and how many applied?

University of California, Berkeley

How many students with a profile like mine (8.0 CGPA) did you place at University of California, Berkeley in the last two years - and how many applied?

University of Maryland, College Park

How many students with a profile like mine (8.0 CGPA) did you place at University of Maryland, College Park in the last two years - and how many applied?

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