Here is the funding/Assistantships information for MS in US and PhD programs in USA Universities . Usually, US Universities provide assistatships to students to cover tuition/fee. Common types of funding are tuition waivers, various types of assistantships (TA/RA/GA) and fellowships.
1) Tuition Waiver
This means that the student does not have to pay the amount waived on tuition part at the university. However, general fees (for the use of university facilities like the library, computers, and sports and health services) usually have to be paid by the student. A tuition waiver is frequently awarded in conjunction with a scholarship or teaching/research assistantship. You may get Full tuition waiver or Partial tuition waiver. Most of the Universities will give you 2/3 tuition waiver if you are offered a waiver. In rare cases you will be given Full fee waiver.
2) Scholarships
Scholarships are awards given to students based on academic excellence and/or talent. Additionally, students may receive scholarships based on other factors, such as ethnic background, field of study, or financial need. Scholarships vary in their amounts and the number of years given aid. For example, they can be awarded a one time payment or receive aid annually for a certain number of years (Ex/ $1000 scholarship vs. $5000 per year for four years). Like a grant, students do not need to payback the money awarded in a scholarship.
Scholarships can be awarded through your school or through private sources. Institutions offer various scholarships based on merit, talent, and/or need. Contact your school for a list of scholarships being offered to students. Private scholarships are offered through organizations or companies. Some organizations make students compete for awards through performance or essay writing, whereas some look for students that fit specific requirements and standards. You can search for private scholarships on the internet, through online scholarship search engines (e.g. FastWeb), scholarship books, or by contacting your school.
3) Fellowships
Fellowships are granted to graduate and post-grad students. They are like scholarships and, similarly, do not require repayment. Fellowships are awarded by private organizations, institutions, or through the government. Fellowships vary in the amount being awarded and can be used either towards research or education. Students can be given a 1- to 4-year stipend with or without a tuition waiver. The type of fellowship awarded is based on merit, need, and the institution’s/faculty’s grant. Some schools allow you to directly apply for fellowships offered through the schools. However, some schools only award fellowships to students who have been recommended by a faculty member.
These awards are few and very competitive.
4) Assistantship
Most students who receive assistance usually do so in the form of an assistantship, i.e. a cash stipend sufficient for their living expenses, and/or tuition waiver. To get this, they have to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week. This work normally consists of teaching and research activities. Teaching assistantships are more likely to be in universities, which have large undergraduate classes whereas research assistantships tend to be more common in those fields and universities in which considerable research is in progress. Information brochures of most universities give this information.
5) Other On campus Jobs
Apart from the above funding opportunities you can earn money while you are in university by the oncampus jobs. On campus jobs won’t have tuition waiver.
Funding Opportunities in American Universities
Don’t Forget that funding and assistatnship information may change from semester to semester.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
The best in the country and the best in the world. They look at academics, your research work.with 1500+ GRE you can apply here. But your previous research work carries much weight. You must be a born intelligent to get admission for this institution.Don’t even think of applying to MIT unless you are a born intelligent.I think this university has no grading system.
Stanford University
It is located in Silicon Valley. They look at your academics and previous research, as like MIT.Don’t expect any aid from university. But u would have wonderful future if you are a student of Stanford. Google search engine is a product of a course project of MIT students…
Profile Required: Academics >85% GRE scores of 1500+ , lots of research papers.
University of California-Berkeley
They give admits to very few International Students. That too for People with Job experience. Profile Required: GRE 1500+ Academics 85+. Students of Premier Institutions like IIT
Carnegie Mellon University
It was evolved from trade school to internationally recognized research university.CMU is considered by many as the Best School for Computer Science.Mostly no chances of getting admission for CS. But a few chances for EE course.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
People call it as Michigan, Ann Arbor. It’s a Very Very Good university for placements. but bad aid situation. All Graduates of this university will be recruited through campus placements.You would see number of students from India in EE and Industrial Engineering departments.
Cornell University
Cornell’s main campus is in Ithaca, New York, but it also has medical campuses in New York City and in Doha, Qatar, and research, study, and outreach stations and programs throughout the world.Hardcore Research in going on in CS.Profile Required: GRE 1500+ , Academics >85%, Your research adds extra value.
University of Texas-Austin
University of Texas at Austin, the largest institution of The University of Texas System.Called by many as the “Most promising University” in the entire United States.Lots of Indians in the Univ. and a lot of Industrial Attachment as Austin is considered as one of the Hottest Tech Cities in the world.Good academics will be an added advantage while applying for this university.Profile Required GRE score >1350 and Academics > 80%.
University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign
Apply here if u have a GRE score > 1350 and Academics > 80%.. u must have some research work to get admit here…Placements in all of the above universities are Excellent.
Yale University
Research Oriented univ. not suitable for masters students. Requires previous research work. Recently it has reached into Top 10.
University of Washington-Seattle
Very difficult to get admission because of campus placements with Microsoft.
University of Maryland-College Park
Prefers students from reputed institutions.Proifle required 1300+ , 80% academicsGood funding.
California Institute Technology
They give admits for very very few international students.Don’t waste the application fee for applying to this university.
Princeton University
Very Very difficult to get admit…Only IITans can get admit here..An Ivy League university. Profile Required: 1500+ Excellent Academics, Under graduation in reputed institution.Ivy League is the name generally applied to eight universities (Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale) that over the years have had common interests in scholarship as well as in athletics.
Univ of California-Los Angeles
UCLA needs excellent academics when compared to test scores.1450+ , B.tech>80,Excellent research work.Lot of people from this university attended to Olympics.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Funding Scenario at this univ is Excellent.GRE 1300 , Acads-75% required for admit.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Excellent university.Well funded one. Needs high Undergraduate percentage and GRE score around 1400 for most of the majors.Famous for Good placements
Harvard University
It has a Phd. Programs only. No MS degree programs.this univ is very famous all over the worldIts business school is ranked as one in Top 10 in the world.
Research Oriented university. not suitable for masters students. Requires previous research work.
Purdue University
Don’t Expect any Funding.Very Very high fee.Admits GREs with around 1350.
New York University
Well funded university. Can accepts for Low GREs also. Academics are not as important as for above univs.
Rice University
This univ prefers IITans.Score around 1350 is ok. but needs good aggregate like >80
University of Southern California
This is an Excellent university that welcomes all even sometimes with GRE 1100 Academics 70%No funding for mastersIt has Excellent Research programs at Phd. level.Lot people joined here transferred to some other univs from 2nd sem because of lack of funding.
Columbia University
Excellent placements.with a decent GRE and Aggregate u can get admit. Generally it need GRE >1300. acads>75Costly univ. Rare to get funded.
Univ of California-San Diego
Research Oriented univ.Accepts IITans only. Very very rarely others will get admit.
Univ. of Massachusetts,Amherst
GRE 1300 Acads: 75%Good funding….Excellent CS program. It need some high GRE.
University of Chicago
Famous for its Phd programs.Admits Phd students.
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Excellent placements. Difficult to get admit. I think it is students with Good academics (>85)
GRE required >1400
Ohio State University
Very very high fee. Very rare masters students get funded.Needs GRE>1300
University of California-Irvine
Its s university which ask you for High GRE rather than academics. No funding.
Rutgers State University, New Brunswick [Main campus]
Very Very decent univ.One of my friend got admit for this univ with GRE 1350 Academics 85%.Excellent placements.
Duke University
Funding Situation is Good. Located in Research Triangle. Excellent concentration of Companies.Indians rarely apply for it. Accepting International students is rare.
Univ.of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
It has very good program for CS.Needs good academics.
University of Rochester
This university is very selective (15.5%) Also quite small as has only about 450 grad students including all engg departments.
However, the uni is well funded, research expenditures exceed 91 million dollars which is very high considering size of the university.
Sometimes MS people get around 40% aid with I20s. Later RA’s are available – Himanshu shekar
State University of New York, Stony Brook
GRE>1250 with >75% is ok..Apply early to get admit. Even though u have a good profile you will be rejected if u r late to apply.Good placements. Very difficult to get funding.
Univ. of Arizona, Tucson
Profile Required 1300+; Academics >75; some times people with low % and GRE sores were accepted.It has good funding and good placements.
University of Virginia
Requires GRE>1300 Academics>75Funding not good here as above univs.
Univ of California, Santa Barbara
Great placementsFew students will get funding. Not better to come here if you are not funded with I20. If u look for placements u can come here.1200+GRE; 75% undergrad score required.
Indiana University, Bloomington
A good university and well funded one.
Northeastern University
Well funded univ. u can select this univ for funding. If u get admitSometime it is giving admits for 1200 GRE 70% academics too.
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Welcomes Indian students, with a large contingent studying at all times
GRE > 1300 stands a chance of getting funded
CS, Mech and Aero are good areas to study
Placement average
Climate is a factor to be considered-one of the coldest in US – Information given by Saikrishnan.
University of Colorado, Boulder
Want an admit? apply here!. with above average profileBut funding position is bad.
University of Utah
This university has good funding opportunities for International Students. Mostly all departments are well funded except MS in Mechanical, EE, departments are providing students with assistantships. you can get admission in to UOU’s ME departments with 1050 GRE, Academics >62, and for chemical, computers, bio,departments 1300 GRE, >75% academics. Tuition fee: $6000/ 9 credit hours.
Oregon State university
This university is excellent (EE/CS) and has Good Research opportunities. Good Location around semiconductor companies in Oregon.
University of Pittsburgh
Excellent univ located in Pittsburgh.High profile required. Around 1350 we can say. but there are many situation of admission with 1250.Good placements.
University of Pennsylvania, Pittsburg
As usually this also need a score of 1300;
University of Florida, Gainesville
I have heard there there would be 40% waiver for some students. But Overall we can say that the funding position is bad.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Great univGives admits for very fewNo aid.
Johns Hopkins University
Good academics required . A less GRE is ok if you have Strong Undergrad percentage.I know some people who got funding after joining there.
University of California, Santa Cruz
Very good funding.Profile required GRE>1300 Academics >75.
University of Illinois, Chicago
Profile required >1200 GRE; Academics >75Funding in first sem is difficult. But u have chances from 2nd semester.
Syracuse University
Want an admit?. apply here…Average score is sufficient for admit. No funding. High fee.
Washington University, St.Louis
Needs the Aggregate…Decent acads and GRE, AGRE scores should get you through! Good univ. for Networks supposedly.
Michigan State University
Needs the Aggregate….1200+ GRE and 75% academics should be more than enough along with a decent Undergrad score. Particularly famous for Mech stream.
Pennsylvania State University
Called as Penn State.
Funding situation is ok but not too good. If u didn’t get funding , still you can go here for the placements.
City University of New York, CUNY
Funding Scene is not good. Profile required GRE>1150; even low undergrad score is acceptable.
Dartmouth College
Very few people apply here.Also admission chanced are very low.
Iowa State University
Good aid scene.
Boston University
Very costly university.No aid available. You have to pay all your own.
State University of New York, Buffalo
You will see lots of Indians here.Medium chances of aid. some students get Aid with I20, but few only.Good placements.Profile required GRE>1150,Acads: accepts low academics with our backlogs.
Arizona State University
You will see lots of Indians in all department of ASU.Funding tough for first sem. But later you have chances of funding. You can earn by internships available.Profile required 1200 and Undergrad 75%
This university has good funding opportunities for International Students. Mostly all departments are well funded except MS in CS. Mechanical, Chemical, EE, MIS, IEM departments are providing students with assistantships. you can get admission in to OSU’s CS, IEM departments with 1050 GRE, Academics >65, and for Mechanical, MIS, EE departments 1150 GRE, 70% academics. Bio systems and GIS are also highly funded departments. Tuition fee: $6000/ 9 credit hours.
Just around 700-800 GRE score is sufficient to get admission. One with with lot of backlogs can get admission here. This is Sure admit university. Few on campus jobs available. Tuition fee is also very high here.
Funding (Out of State Tuition Waivers/ Assistantships) Regarding to part time jobs- there will be lot of part time jobs so there is no need of worrying about it.
Assistantship:-In mechanical and chemical generally everyone gets an Assistantship in the dept (generally chemical students will get Aid with i20 only)
Computer science and Industrial engg also have a lot of assistantships.
Coming to EE there is no funding for them at all. but generally u can get assistantships in other depts. If you have knowledge in computers.
Generally hardly find few people who don’t have assistantships(atleast 10hrs)
Regarding assistantship:
If we get 10hrs assistantship you out of state fee will be waived and u will be asked to pay around $ 2500 and u will be paid around 400-500 per month.
If we get 20hrs assistantship you out of state fee will be waived and u will be asked to pay around $ 1200 and you will be paid $800-$1600.
Tuition fee/ Semester or Quarter $6500 / 9 credit hours (Semester system)
+ insurance
Regarding living expenses On campus housing will cost u $470and u can share it with 1 or 2 other guys.
All allowances are included in that.
So it would cost u $250-$300 (total) per month
If you want sure funding, u can apply for this univ.
Few on campus jobs available. Most of the money you should get from your pocket. Just a GRE>750 is sufficient for admission. Course work is easy. Very few people are getting assistantships.
This university has got very less funding in all the Departments, But we can get Part time jobs in campus very easily. For Electrical there is no need of GRE but should have 70% in academics. For other department one should have 1000 in GRE and 65% in academics
University of Missouri-Rolla
Good for ME/EE. GRE>1150 is required. Well funded one.
All departments have good funding so all people will end up with a good position in the first sem itself. Profile required for admission CSE, IEM GRE>1050 Academics 65%: Mech/ EE/MIS-GRE>1200 Academics>70; Chemical GRE>1250 Academics>75%. Tuition : $5800/ 9 credit hours (Semester system)
Mostly no chances of funding in all departments except for one or two people. But course work is easy. Fee is less when compared to most number of universities. Some on campus jobs are there. But people can earn money by some other means. One can complete masters at cheaper investment in this university. Indians number is high in this university.
At present we are having full funding for IE, CIVIL, CHEMICAL, CS, except EE dept. The number of EE students is very high so the competition is tough. Also we will get waivers in our univ so the fee is reduced to 5500$ from 7800$( this is for EE all other depts get full waivers most of the times so no fees for others), there is also possibility not getting waivers sometimes. So u have to prepare to pay full amt at least for one sem here in WVU for EE. U can take as many credit hrs for the same 9 credit hrs Fees upto 16 in WVU. For getting admission in WVU u should get atleast 1100 in GRE and 250 TOEFL also. Getting CS admission is very difficult i suggest u not to apply if ur from CS. High percentage is an added advantage to get admit in WVU. One thing the above said scores are for EE, IE, Civil. For chemical u shold get more than those. Thats all about WVU
Mechaical,Chemical,Evironmental,Agricultural, EE have some funding opportunities. But CSE dont has any funding facilities. but here the Funding Scene is changing from every semester to semester.
Tution fee: 1300$/3 credit hours
Univ. of North Carolina, Charlotte
While funding oppurtunity is very good in Civil and Mechanical Dept., chances of assistantships are good in almost all the departments expcept the ECE dept. However the ECE dept here is well reputed for its Embedded Sys and Optics Majors.
On can find out an admit with an average of >1050 GRE and >65% acads. Good TOEFL score around 240CBT is required too..
Overall, the univ is excellent for Mechs.
fee = $7500/sem
Univ Of Cincinnati, Cincinnati,OH
Profile required: CSE,CE,EE GRE>1350 Acads >83% . Some times GREs with 1250 are aceptable in case of Good acads and job experience.
Funding :Admission with fee waiver.
Bad funding scene for MS in CSE/CE/EE
Univ of missouri, kansas city
Hi,UMKC is a good university.It has standards of its own.It offers good number of courses for CS rather than EE in MS.you will be given funding mostly in fall based on your GRE score and academics in Engineering .I say there is less chance for funding if you apply late.Getting TA and RA is tough here bcoz lot of competiton ,more Indian students.
Getting on-campus is a bit difficult here bcoz most of them are Indian students here.But I think in fall we can get as there will be students who graduate from university and we have few positions.
University of Tulsa
Average funding scene. Some people get assitantships. If you get assitantship here, you will get full fee waiver.
Profile required: CS/EE/Mech Around 1050 GRE and 60% Acasamics.
This univ has petroleum engineering program, which s very famous.It requires very high profile than above.
University of Houston
U can see lot of indians here.
Profile required 1100 GRE, 60% Acads. It has good funding for Chemical dept.
Texas A&M University, Commerce
You can complete courses very fast. Its hard to live if you don’t get scholarship There are few on campus job employment by which you can earn money. There are many indians in MIS and CS department. Its very far from the city , dallas.
Profile required GRE 1000 and B.TECH 60%..
NJIT
Aid is rare. But in good location. I have seen lot of B.pharm students applying here, if their scores are low. I think they are aplying where for biomedical course.
NYIT
Funding is rare. Living cost is high.
Univ of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Industrial engg, poultry science, CS , MBA , Physics and Chemistry, bio chemistry are well funded ones. Generally EE, CS department need 1100+ and good academics. Visa sucess rate is high for this university.Less expensive.
Univ of Missouri, Columbia
EE has good funding[TAs]. profile required 1200+.
Southern Illinois university, Corbondale
Due to large number of Indian students funding chances are pretty low. Profile required around 950.
Univ of Texas, Elpaso
Good funding chances in most of departments. profile required =1200+ for some departments.. Low cost of living.
University of Missisippi
Funding chances are good for all departments. 1100+ GRE Required. CS students – Harsha Pogunti
Texas State University
Funding chances are good for all departments. 1000+ GRE Required. >950+ GRE could help sometimes. – Vidya Bandi
University of North florida.
International Students may get Asisstantships from 2nd sem. Course work in CS could take long titme. 1000+ GRE Required.
All this information is just for rough idea about the funding in US universities. Please enquire seniors at particular university for current and more accurate information. We are not responsible for loss or damage caused by the use of this information.
Please correct the information by adding comments to this article.
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