MS in CS from Northern Illinois University 2026 Entry: Dates, Fees, Eligibility, Entry Requirements etc.

Northern Illinois University Master of Science (M.S.) in Computer Science is a 31 to 32-credit master’s degree taught in person in DeKalb, Illinois. It accepts applicants with a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a closely related field, while students without that background may need deficiency courses. Calculated 2026-27 tuition is US$31,296.67 to US$32,306.24 (INR 29.87 Lakhs to INR 30.83 Lakhs), before term charges, for the Spring 2027 intake.

The programme combines programming, design projects, theory and research preparation across areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, visualization, software engineering and cybersecurity. It suits an Indian applicant with strong computing foundations who wants a professional master’s route with a thesis option for doctoral preparation. The main tradeoff is that missing prerequisite knowledge can add deficiency courses that generally do not count toward the degree.

• The course is available in both full-time and part-time formats, allowing applicants to match enrolment intensity to their academic plan.
• The department reports more than 80 graduate students, providing a useful scale indicator without treating it as a class-size promise.
• Graduate assistantships may combine a tuition waiver and stipend with career preparation, but funding is not automatic.

Also Check: Northern Illinois University Course Admission

NIU M.S. Computer Science Fees and Living Costs 2027

Target-cycle tuition is confirmed for international students at US$1,009.57 per credit (INR 96,344). The rate combines US$794.78 tuition (INR 75,847), US$154.79 general fee (INR 14,772) and US$60.00 differential tuition (INR 5,726), which sum to US$1,009.57.

Because the degree requires 31 to 32 credits, calculated tuition is US$31,296.67 to US$32,306.24 (INR 29.87 Lakhs to INR 30.83 Lakhs). These totals exclude the US$60 application fee (INR 5,726), student health insurance and personal living costs, so use the official 2026-27 graduate rate sheet when budgeting.

For Spring 2027, the table below uses the international rate for the on-campus Computer Science M.S. and separates mandatory or likely charges from calculated degree tuition.

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 95.4309 as of 14 August 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

• Completing 31 rather than 32 credits lowers calculated tuition by US$1,009.57 (INR 96,344), but the department determines the credits required for your approved plan.
• Health insurance is charged automatically at nine or more DeKalb-campus credits, although NIU allows a cancellation request when comparable coverage is accepted.
• The international rate includes the general and differential fees, so adding them again would overstate the tuition budget.

DeKalb living costs are not yet published for the 2026-27 graduate cycle. NIU’s latest graduate cost table gives US$16,374 (INR 15.63 Lakhs) in living expenses for 2025-26. It calls this an average allowance rather than an actual bill.

Cost of Living in DeKalb for NIU M.S. Computer Science Students

The table keeps NIU’s combined living allowance separate from tuition and visa funds. The monthly amount divides the annual allowance by 12. The annual figure is a 2025-26 prior-cycle planning reference because NIU’s 2026-27 graduate estimate was not available after official checks.

A prior-cycle planning illustration for two academic years uses 31 to 32 credits of tuition, the US$60 application fee (INR 5,726) and four insurance terms. It also uses two annual living allowances of US$16,374 each (INR 15.63 Lakhs each). The result is US$66,943.67 to US$67,953.24 (INR 63.88 Lakhs to INR 64.85 Lakhs), not an official full-degree total. NIU has not published a fixed completion duration or a target-cycle graduate living estimate.

Living costs can vary by housing choice because NIU says cost-of-attendance allowances change with residence, enrolled hours and programme. Use the official NIU cost-of-attendance page to recheck the graduate estimate, then replace the prior-cycle allowance before finalising an Indian education-loan requirement.

Read More: Northern Illinois University Courses and Fees

Also Check: USA Cost of Living for International Students

ROI reality: Target-cycle tuition is known, but the living allowance is prior-cycle and the completion period is unpublished. Confirm both with NIU before treating the calculated INR 63.88 Lakhs to INR 64.85 Lakhs illustration as a full funding requirement.

NIU M.S. Computer Science Admission 2027

Admission is suitable for applicants with a computer science or closely related bachelor’s degree, but NIU may require deficiency courses when the prior preparation is not sufficient. The department also requires the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and a structured application package.

Indian applicants must show an accepted four-year degree, a minimum Graduate School grade point average (GPA) and English proficiency unless a listed country-based waiver applies. The department does not publish a work-experience requirement, so professional experience should strengthen the statement rather than substitute for academic preparation.

Intakes and Academic Eligibility

NIU lists Fall and Spring starts for this M.S. and publishes international deadlines of 01 May for Fall and 01 October for Spring. Spring 2027 is the target intake, while the Fall date is the next recurring international cycle.

The academic threshold below combines the course page with NIU Graduate School rules. The Indian percentage and 10-point Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) figures are approximate planning equivalents because NIU makes the final equivalency decision.

• A 2.75 GPA is the Graduate School baseline, so applicants should show stronger technical grades when their transcript includes a mixed or non-computing degree.
• The GRE requirement makes this programme materially different from courses that assess applicants only through transcripts, English scores and recommendations.
• Indian applicants with a three-year degree should obtain written programme permission before paying the application fee or relying on the general Graduate School eligibility page.

English Language Proficiency

Indian applicants should plan to submit one accepted English score because India is not included in NIU’s listed degree-country waiver group. Accepted routes include the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

NIU also accepts Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), Duolingo English Test (DET) and ELS English for Academic Purposes.

NIU’s current page states “TOEFL score of at least 80” but does not identify whether that figure uses the 0 to 120 or 1.0 to 6.0 scale. Do not self-convert it; verify the scale on the current international application materials page before sending scores.

The table reproduces the published minimums without comparing different score scales. Scores should be sent from the testing provider after admission when NIU requests official reporting.

• Schedule the GRE and English test early enough to upload both before the 01 October 2026 Spring deadline.
• Check every IELTS or TOEFL waiver condition against the degree-awarding country because English-medium study in India is not listed as the general exemption.
• Keep certified marksheet translations ready while scores are pending, since NIU treats incomplete academic records as a cause of processing delay.

Tip for Indian students: The strongest application evidence is a recognised four-year degree, verified marksheets, the required GRE and a focused 500-word statement. Confirm three-year-degree permission and the TOEFL scale before submitting the US$60 application (INR 5,726).

NIU M.S. Computer Science Application 2027

Spring 2027 is the next applicant-accessible intake for Indian students, with an international deadline of 01 October 2026. Fall 2027 is the following cycle, with the recurring international deadline expected on 01 May 2027.

NIU requires the complete online application and all supporting materials by the applicable deadline. The Graduate School does not publish programme decision dates. Treat the deadline as the point by which the file must be complete, not the date to begin uploading documents.

Deadlines and Application Stages

The course page lists only Fall and Spring starts, so no Summer application stage is included. The university does not publish a clock time or timezone for these graduate deadlines; the portal cutoff controls, and a verified Indian Standard Time (IST) conversion is therefore unavailable.

Start with the target intake that matches your test and document readiness. Spring 2027 is appropriate when the GRE, English result, recommendations, statement and certified marksheets can be completed before 01 October 2026. Otherwise, use the Fall 2027 date as a separate planning route rather than submitting an incomplete Spring file.

• Select the Computer Science master’s programme online, then pay the US$60 application fee (INR 5,726) with submission.
• Upload unofficial marksheets, proof of degree, GRE scores, English evidence, two recommendation contacts, the 500-word statement and resume or CV before the deadline.
• Ask each referee in advance because NIU connects the recommendation request to the application and treats the application deadline as the due date.
• After submission, monitor the checklist and upload any missing item through the portal instead of assuming an incomplete file will be reviewed.

Recommended Indian Applicant Sequence

Take the GRE and English test before requesting final recommendations because the scores shape the completeness of the upload package. At the same time, ask the Computer Science department about three-year-degree permission if your qualification does not meet the four-year rule.

Prepare individual marksheets, degree proof, attestations and certified English translations before opening the application. This reduces the risk of a technically submitted file being delayed by records that do not meet NIU’s India-specific document instructions.

Use NIU’s current graduate application page to confirm the active cycle and submit every required document. The page also notes that academic programmes may impose earlier deadlines, so recheck Computer Science before payment.

Application tip: The October 2026 Spring deadline is usable only when the GRE, English proof and certified Indian marksheets are ready together. If one document remains uncertain, verify the programme route and target Fall 2027 instead.

NIU M.S. Computer Science Scholarships 2027

No open target-cycle scholarship deadline is currently published for Spring 2027. The latest exact Computer Science awards in NIU’s scholarship system had a 31 January 2026 deadline. Both are closed and cannot reduce a new applicant’s current funding plan.

Assistantships are the more relevant funding route because the M.S. page says many NIU graduate students receive a tuition waiver and stipend with career preparation. The department or hiring unit controls selection, and the published information does not guarantee an award or state a target-cycle stipend.

Named Computer Science Awards

The table records the latest published 2026-27 round for awards that specifically name Computer Science. Both deadlines have passed, while the next scholarship cycle and any new award amounts remain unpublished.

The Richard Gius award is modest beside the calculated tuition, so it should be treated as a supplementary award rather than a substitute for education-loan or family funding. The general Computer Science scholarship has no published fixed amount, which prevents a reliable INR estimate.

• Search the NIU scholarship system after admission for the next opening because the 2026-27 Computer Science deadlines are already closed.
• Ask the Computer Science department about assistantships because the Graduate School states that hiring is handled by the department or unit.
• Assume you will pay general and differential fees even if an assistantship waives an eligible tuition component, because the current rate sheet says those other charges remain the student’s responsibility.

Assistantships and Funding Risk

A graduate assistantship can improve the programme’s financial case by pairing a tuition waiver with a stipend and work-related training. However, the published course page gives no selection odds, stipend amount or application deadline, so an Indian applicant should model the degree without this award.

Computer Science is a technical programme with a GRE requirement and possible deficiency coursework. That combination makes assistantship conversations more useful when they include project evidence, research interests, teaching readiness and the exact credit plan.

Also Check: Scholarships for International Students in the USA

Scholarship reality: The verified Computer Science awards are closed for their 2026-27 round and the next cycle is unpublished. Budget for the full INR tuition estimate, then treat an assistantship or future award as upside after written confirmation.

NIU M.S. Computer Science Salary 2027

Current course-level salary and offer-rate outcomes are not published on NIU’s M.S. Computer Science page. Its career panel shows headings for alumni salary, job titles and employers, but no cohort, values or placement rate that can be used as a graduate outcome.

For return on investment (ROI) analysis, the closest available evidence is external market data rather than an NIU result. NIU’s department cites the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for an Illinois occupational average, while BLS separately reports a national software-developer median.

BLS wages describe workers in an occupation, not graduates of this course. That distinction matters because role, location, experience, immigration status and the employer’s hiring requirements can place an Indian graduate below or above the benchmark.

Salary Evidence and Market Benchmarks

The table contains no placement promise and labels each salary by evidence scope. The Illinois figure is an average for broad computer and mathematical occupations, while the national figure is a software-developer median for May 2024.

Source: NIU M.S. Computer Science career page, NIU Department of Computer Science and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational data.

NIU’s department also reports that software-developer employment is projected to grow 16% nationally from 2024 to 2034. This is a market projection, not evidence that the M.S. guarantees employment or that an international graduate will receive a particular role.

Take-home pay will vary with federal and state tax withholding, location, benefits and employment type. Use a current tax calculator after selecting a likely U.S. role and city, then compare net income with the verified tuition and updated living budget.

Professional-Course ROI for Indian Applicants

Return on investment (ROI) cannot be reduced to a payback period here because NIU does not publish current course salary, offer rate or a target-cycle living estimate. The following verified inputs show what should enter an applicant’s financial model.

• Target tuition is US$31,296.67 to US$32,306.24 (INR 29.87 Lakhs to INR 30.83 Lakhs); fund 31 to 32 credits without relying on a market benchmark.
• The latest official living allowance is US$16,374 (INR 15.63 Lakhs) for 2025-26, so replace this prior-cycle figure before estimating the cash needed for Spring 2027.
• The software-developer benchmark is US$133,080 (INR 1.27 Crore) gross; test a role-specific after-tax salary instead of treating the median as an NIU outcome.
• The post-study work window is up to 12 months; a 24-month science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) extension depends on the degree classification and current rules.
• No current Indian-return salary or NIU cohort exists, so model India and host-country scenarios separately before taking a loan.

The curriculum’s balance of theory, projects and a possible thesis can support software, data, research or doctoral pathways. The tradeoff is that a thesis or deficiency coursework may extend the time and cost before full-time employment, while the available outcome data cannot quantify that risk.

Read More: Post-Study Work Options in the USA

ROI reality: NIU confirms the technical curriculum and target tuition, but not a current M.S. salary or offer rate. Use the external benchmarks only to test scenarios, then fund the degree on confirmed costs and a role-specific employment plan.

United States Visa for NIU M.S. Computer Science Students 2027

Indian students use the F-1 student visa route for this in-person degree. The US$185 application fee (INR 17,655) and US$350 I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee (INR 33,401) are separate charges. The SEVIS fee is separate from the visa application, while Optional Practical Training (OPT) is the post-study work route. OPT can provide up to 12 months of work authorisation, while a possible 24-month science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) extension depends on the degree classification and current rules.

• Keep the visa fees separate from NIU tuition, living expenses and any visa financial-evidence requirement because they answer different funding questions.
• Confirm the Computer Science degree classification with NIU before relying on a 36-month OPT period that includes the STEM extension.
• H-1B selection, employer sponsorship and the higher of actual or prevailing wage control the work route after OPT.
• F-2 dependent status may cover a spouse and unmarried minor children, but F-2 dependants are not employment-authorised.

Check Out: U.S. F-1 Student Visa Requirements

Visa reality: The 12-month OPT window is the reliable planning baseline, not a guaranteed job period. Verify the degree classification and employer sponsorship path before counting any STEM extension or H-1B transition in your ROI model.