MS Computer Science at UT Austin: Fees 2026 Dates & Requirements

University of Texas at Austin Master of Science in Computer Science is a two-year, full-time, on-campus master’s degree in Austin for Fall 2027. Applicants need a comparable bachelor’s degree and GPA 3.0 on 4.0, approximately 60% to 70% or CGPA 7.0 to 8.0 on 10 in India. Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished; Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 tuition was US$9,081 per nine-credit semester (INR 8.62 Lakhs), as a prior-cycle reference.

The degree develops advanced computing and research capability through coursework-only and thesis paths, so students can test research interests before choosing a format. It best fits applicants with substantial computer science preparation who want rigorous theory, systems or artificial intelligence study rather than a primarily vocational conversion course.

• The 30-credit curriculum combines three breadth courses, two minor courses and five coursework electives or three electives plus two thesis courses.
• The Fall 2024 on-campus cohort included 43 incoming master’s students within a total master’s population of 108.
• The degree is officially STEM-designated, which supports an extended United States work-authorisation pathway for eligible F-1 graduates.

Also Check: UT Austin MS Computer Science Admission

UT Austin MS Computer Science Fees and Living Costs 2027

Fall 2027 tuition is not yet published, so applicants cannot lock a target-cycle total. UT Austin’s 2026-27 figures still provide a labelled planning floor for the on-campus Natural Sciences rate and international budget.

Prior-cycle context: Tuition rows below use Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 figures, while the international application fee is the current published charge.

Source: UT Austin 2026-27 tuition tables and Texas Global financial information, checked 26 October 2026.

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of US$ 1 = INR 94.94 as of 26 October 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

• The US$90 application fee (INR 8,545) has no international fee waiver, so payment should be included in the submission budget.
• The on-campus master’s does not include automatic funding, so applicants should build affordability without assuming an assistantship or internship.
• The online MSCS price does not apply to this on-campus research degree, despite the shared degree title.

Cost of Living in Austin for MS Computer Science Students

Texas Global estimates US$22,000 (INR 20.89 Lakhs) for 12 months of combined graduate living expenses in 2026-27. The university does not split this figure into rent, food and transport, so those components should not be inferred.

A prior-cycle planning illustration combines US$23,487 (INR 22.30 Lakhs) in tuition and fees with US$22,000 (INR 20.89 Lakhs) in living costs. That produces US$45,487 (INR 43.19 Lakhs) for one year, or US$90,974 (INR 86.37 Lakhs) across two unchanged years.

Read More: Cost of Living in the USA for Indian Students

ROI reality: The prior-cycle one-year planning total is US$45,487 (INR 43.19 Lakhs), while Fall 2027 tuition and master’s funding remain uncertain. Keep a financing buffer instead of treating an assistantship as guaranteed.

UT Austin MS Computer Science Admission 2027

Admission requires a comparable bachelor’s degree, adequate computer science preparation and at least a 3.0 GPA on 4.0 in upper-division and graduate work. The department also says successful applicants typically show stronger-than-average grades in their computer science courses.

Academic Eligibility and Cohort Context

The published minimum establishes eligibility, not an admission forecast, because the department describes the on-campus MSCS as highly selective. Applicants should therefore demonstrate readiness for graduate theory and research through transcripts, recommendations and a focused statement of purpose.

The coursework-only and thesis options share a 30-credit structure, yet they reward different evidence. Research-oriented applicants should connect prior projects to faculty areas, while undecided applicants can explain how breadth courses will refine their intended research direction.

English Language Proficiency

India appears on UT Austin’s qualifying-country exemption list, so eligible Indian applicants are exempt from English testing. Applicants who do not meet that exemption can use the current scores below, including the revised Test of English as a Foreign Language scale.

• Indian applicants should confirm the country exemption in MyStatus before paying for an English test.
• Applicants using a score route should allow four to six weeks for official transmission to UT Austin.
• TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo English Test scores must remain valid when the application is submitted.

Tip for Indian students: The India English exemption removes one testing task, but the 43-student Fall 2024 intake signals limited capacity. Prioritise research alignment and strong upper-division computer science evidence.

UT Austin MS Computer Science Application 2027

The on-campus MSCS accepts Fall 2027 entry only, with one departmental deadline rather than multiple admission rounds. Applicants must submit the main application by 15 December 2026, then ensure recommendations arrive by 20 December 2026.

Fall 2027 application cycle: UT Austin publishes the following milestones for the current on-campus Computer Science application.

The department publishes no cutoff time or timezone for these dates, so no reliable IST conversion is possible. Indian applicants should treat the portal date as controlling and finish before the final calendar day begins in Austin.

Documents and Submission Strategy

A complete application combines the graduate form, transcripts, three recommendations and a statement of purpose. The current US$90 international fee (INR 8,545) is payable through MyStatus, and fee waivers are unavailable to international citizens.

• Request Indian transcripts through TrueCopy Credentials or upload an acceptable official scan early enough for UT Austin’s verification process.
• Choose three recommenders who can evaluate advanced computing, research independence or mathematical preparation with specific examples.
• Use the statement of purpose to connect prior technical work with the thesis or coursework path and identifiable UT Computer Science research areas.
• Submit the optional GRE only when its official result adds evidence that the transcript does not already demonstrate.

Because the master’s decision is scheduled for 1 April 2027, applicants should prepare financial documents while awaiting the result. That timing leaves limited room to resolve a major funding gap after admission, especially because Fall 2027 tuition is not published.

Application tip: Finish applicant-controlled items before 15 December 2026, then verify all three recommendations by 20 December 2026. A technically specific research narrative matters more than an unsupported claim of general interest.

UT Austin MS Computer Science Scholarships 2027

Funding for the on-campus MSCS is not automatic, although international students can pursue university awards and one current external grant. The most relevant published options differ sharply by timing, eligibility and whether an incoming student can use them.

Fall 2027 and 2027-28 funding context: The university window for Fall and academic-year international scholarships runs from 1 February to 1 March 2027.

The US$4,800 STEM award (INR 4.56 Lakhs) is the clearest course-aligned university option, but its geographic preference weakens predictability for Indian applicants. Because Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished, the award cannot be converted into a reliable percentage of target-cycle tuition.

• Submit the PEO eligibility form alongside the MSCS application when its gender, return-home and coursework conditions match the applicant’s plans.
• Use the February LASSO window only after checking whether an applicant UT EID provides access to each award.
• Do not budget General ISSS Financial Aid for the first year because its two-semester completion rule excludes new Fall 2027 entrants.

The department says master’s teaching and research positions may be available, but it does not promise them at admission. Applicants should read an offer letter for appointment hours, tuition coverage, insurance and semester limits before reducing their loan requirement.

Eligible women can verify the 2027-28 P.E.O. application calendar before 15 December 2026. Its US$12,500 maximum (INR 11.87 Lakhs) supplements other funding and is not designed to cover every academic or living expense.

Check Out: UT Austin Scholarships for International Students

Scholarship reality: The US$4,800 STEM award (INR 4.56 Lakhs) is course-aligned but competitive and preference-limited. The 1 February to 1 March 2027 window should sit in every admitted student’s funding calendar.

UT Austin MS Computer Science Salary 2027

UT Austin publishes no course-cohort salary, offer rate or employer distribution for the on-campus MSCS. Current government labour data can frame relevant roles, but it cannot show what this programme’s graduates earn or how quickly they find work.

External Computer Science Job-Market Benchmarks

The following May 2025 figures are external United States labour-market evidence, not UT Austin graduate outcomes. Austin figures are annual means, while the national software developer figure is a median, so they answer different market questions.

Source: United States Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 occupational wage releases, published in 2026.

The Austin software-developer concentration indicates a substantial local occupation base, but the figure includes workers at every experience level. It should guide role research and networking targets, not replace a written employment outcome report for this MSCS.

Return on Investment for Indian Applicants

The prior-cycle two-year illustration is US$90,974 (INR 86.37 Lakhs) before travel, visa costs or any extra term. Since Fall 2027 tuition and course-specific outcomes are unpublished, a defensible return-on-investment decision must stress-test cost and employment uncertainty.

• No automatic master’s funding means applicants should prove they can finance US$90,974 (INR 86.37 Lakhs) without assuming an assistantship.
• No MSCS placement report means applicants should request master’s-specific offer and internship evidence before using United States wages in loan planning.
• The thesis path may exceed two years, so research-focused students should price an additional term before selecting that route.
• Eligible F-1 graduates can pursue up to 36 months of work authorisation, so candidates should target employers prepared for the STEM extension process.
• Indian returners should ignore Austin salary conversions and model repayment from role-specific Indian offers because the published benchmark measures the United States market.

Gross pay is not take-home pay because federal, state and payroll deductions depend on personal circumstances. Use the official tax withholding estimator after receiving an offer instead of applying a generic deduction rate.

Read More: Post-Study Work Options in the USA

ROI reality: The curriculum supports research and advanced technical roles, yet published MSCS employment evidence is absent. The degree is financially rational only when funding and role access withstand a conservative cost model.

USA Visa for UT Austin MS Computer Science Students 2027

Admitted international students normally use F-1 academic student status for this on-campus degree. The government charges US$185 (INR 17,564) for the visa application and US$350 (INR 33,229) for SEVIS, producing US$535 (INR 50,793) before travel.

• Optional Practical Training permits 12 months of eligible work, while this STEM-designated degree can support a conditional 24-month extension for 36 months total.
• An H-1B employer must pay the higher applicable actual or prevailing wage, so the course creates no universal sponsorship salary threshold.
• Permanent residence has no automatic MSCS pathway or fixed timeline, so graduates need a separate qualifying employer or family-based route.
• F-2 dependants cannot work, while UT estimates US$10,900 (INR 10.35 Lakhs) for a spouse and US$5,400 (INR 5.13 Lakhs) per child.

Check Out: USA Student Visa Requirements

Visa reality: The conditional 36-month work window can improve United States job access, but it does not guarantee sponsorship. Evaluate employers for STEM extension eligibility and future immigration support before accepting a role.

UT Austin MS Computer Science Ranking 2027

UT Computer Science is ranked 10th among United States graduate computer science programmes in the 2026 U.S. News edition. Its published speciality positions are directly relevant to the degree’s breadth and research pathways, unlike an overall university rank.

Current published programme rankings: The same 2026 U.S. News edition provides the following graduate computer science and speciality positions.

The rankings support the department’s research depth, but they do not measure individual supervision capacity, internship access or graduate salary. Applicants should use speciality positions to shortlist faculty and courses, then confirm that active research groups match their intended thesis or coursework plan.

• Artificial intelligence applicants should identify faculty and current projects instead of treating the seventh-place position as automatic research access.
• Systems and theory applicants should map their background to the ranked speciality that best supports a credible statement of purpose.
• Coursework applicants should compare available electives with their technical goals because a department rank does not guarantee every course each semester.

Also Check: UT Austin Subject Rankings

Key insight: The 2026 top-ten graduate position confirms broad departmental strength, while the speciality rankings help refine academic fit. Faculty alignment remains more useful than rank alone when choosing a research path.